Audition season is approaching, and you're filled with mixed emotions. There's a tornado of thoughts swirling around your head. You're falling in love with the show that's just been announced, Googling the characters in the musical, pre-casting you and your friends in each of your dream roles, singing along to the soundtrack, and probably feeling a bit out-of-control, realizing that all of this excitement could come screeching to a halt when the cast list comes out. You begin to think about the audition, and how everything hinges on that one moment. The butterflies start in the pit of your stomach, your mouth gets dry, your heart rate increases, and that inevitable dread sets in. "I hope I get it. I hope I get it. I really hope I get it".
Fear not! By the end of this post, we're going to take the hoping out of auditioning, and place the power in your hands.
Before we begin, let's discuss the GOLDEN RULE: Prepare, prepare, PREPARE! There is truly no substitute for preparation in an audition. You will surely be nervous if you are not prepared. Be sure that your song has been sung backwards and forwards, completely dissected, and put back together. Use the list below to explore your piece:
Learn pitches and rhythm accurately.
Be comfortable singing with the piano accompaniment.
Infuse your vocal technique into the piece, putting extra work into particularly challenging sections.
Play with the dynamics of the piece.
Play with the phrasing of the text.
Find the climax of the piece, and practice building to it.
Practice legato, and find resonant vowels for every word you sing.
Practice efficient breathing, and plan where you'll breathe.
Find ease in your body while you sing. Analyze where you feel tension.
Read a detailed synopsis of the show.
Thoroughly research the character. What is their journey throughout the show?
Analyze the target and goal of the song. Why is your character singing this song? What do they want, and how will they get it?
Memorize to the point of muscle memory! You should not have to think hard to remember the words... they should flow out naturally without much thought.
Plan your tactics and gestures.
Practice your slate, including name, age, song, show title, and composer, ensuring proper pronunciation of the composer(s) and speaking slowly!
Following the Golden Rule is a great way to decrease nervousness and get you on track for a successful audition. But chances are, you'll still find yourself overthinking as your performance approaches. Let's talk through it together...
Q: "What if I get nervous?"
A: You probably will! If you don't get nervous, it means you don't care. And of course you care. You love to sing, and you want to show the director how great you are at it! So, let's reframe this thought. You will get nervous, but you can still be in control:
First, take stock of what it means when you get nervous. Does your heart rate increase, or does your body get tense? Do you have trouble sitting still? Do you feel like you want to be alone? Does your mouth get dry? Once you figure out how your body reacts to being nervous, take steps to counteract them. If you feel like you can't sit still, don't! Find a place to stretch, run in place, or do a few jumping jacks. If your heart rate increases, take some time to do meditative breathing. Slow inhales, big exhales.
Next, understand what exactly being nervous is. Anatomically speaking, we're talking about epinephrine (otherwise known as adrenaline) being released into your body. It's a hormone that's released in exciting, dangerous, or stressful situations. An audition definitely falls into this category! Although we are not in danger, it can sometimes feel this way. When that nervous response starts to creep in, keep calm and remind yourself that it's just adrenaline. Our brain has the power to translate that adrenaline into a positive feeling (excitement), or a negative feeling (nervousness).
PRO TIP! When you start to feel nervous, find a mirror, look at yourself, smile, and repeat this phrase: "I am so excited to audition!"
Q: "What can I do to set myself apart from other singers?"
A: There are so many ways we can set ourselves apart, and show the directors that we would be a good casting choice:
BE PREPARED! Remember the Golden Rule. Absolutely nothing replaces preparedness. Your song should be thoroughly memorized, well-rehearsed, and well-researched. Practice not until you get it right, but until you can't get it wrong.
Stay in the moment! This may be an audition, yes. But it's also a wonderful opportunity to perform onstage. Soak up every moment, enjoy yourself, and really immerse yourself in the character.
Step out-of-the-box (no, literally)! Make big acting choices! Show the director that you're comfortable being onstage. Gesture with your whole body, not just your hands. Spread your arms out wide, take a big step forward, and create different focal points around the room. Own the stage (within reason!) instead of staying in one place.
Be social and friendly! Say hi to the adjudicators and your pianist. Ask them how they're doing today, tell them thank you, and make eye contact! Treat them like humans, instead of the "scary people who are about to judge my performance".
BE CONFIDENT (or fake it)! From the moment you step onstage, no matter how nervous you feel, hold your head high and DO THIS THING!
Q: "What should I do leading up to my audition?"
A: It's important to remember that the audition itself is only a piece of the puzzle. We can prepare our bodies and minds for success in the hours and days leading up to a performance:
Physical preparation! Remember that your body is your instrument, and should be treated as such. Be sure to get a good night's sleep, hydrate, and feed your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy and strong. Start hydrating the day before your audition. You need at least a half-gallon of water per day, plus electrolytes (i.e. coconut water, Vitamin water, or Gatorade). Fuel your body with lots of good food! Many singers lose their appetite right before an audition. Keep this in mind, and have a nice meal earlier than normal if this is the case!
Vocal preparation! You MUST warm-up before your audition, but avoid over-practicing. If you feel the need to practice a lot on the day of, consider some silent practice. We want our voice to be warm and strong, not over-used and tired. Avoid yelling or attending loud events up to a week before your audition.
Mental preparation! Take the time to envision a successful audition, and fill your mind with positive thoughts about your upcoming performance. I personally love speaking my affirmations out loud!
Q: "My audition is over... what do I do now?"
A: Congratulations! You've successfully auditioned. I'm guessing you'll spend the next few days obsessively checking if the cast list has been posted. If this sounds like you... STOP! You prepared, you auditioned, you did a great job, THE END! Now say it with me, all together now, "The results of the audition do NOT change how well I performed, or how talented I am."
AGAIN!
"THE RESULTS OF THE AUDITION DO NOT CHANGE HOW WELL I PERFORMED, OR HOW TALENTED I AM!"
How we handle the aftermath of an audition is probably the hardest skill to master. Being a singer doesn't just mean creating art and making music... it also means putting our creations out there for the world to see (and, judge). In auditions, we're inviting other people to form an opinion about our voice, which is a very vulnerable thing to do. Sometimes, we can tie our worth to these opinions. I can't tell you how many times I've thought, "If I could just land this role, or win this competition, or get into this program, THEN I can consider myself a good singer". Tying our success to other people's opinion of our artistry is always going to backfire. Let's work together to find our success within ourselves.
There is one caveat to my musings above...finding validation for our talent in other people is NOT the same thing as willingness to learn from our experiences. Receiving helpful feedback and constructive criticism from our auditions should always be welcomed. As performers, we should strive for the balance of learning from our mistakes, while also loving the journey. Just because there's room for improvement, doesn't mean we aren't already talented and creative and worthy singers.
Q: "My audition went SO well, but I didn't get the part... what did I do wrong?"
A: Absolutely nothing! We all know by now that the audition itself is just a small piece of the casting puzzle. There are so many factors that go in to a director's decisions. Let's name a few of the most common, as well as the most ridiculous:
You're too tall or too short compared to someone they've already cast.
You're an underclassman, and the director doesn't know your work ethic (yet).
They had someone else in mind for your part, even before auditions began.
You were a bit quiet during your slate.
You were too strong of a singer, or too bold of an actor, compared to the rest of the cast.
Your audition outfit was too casual.
You're a soprano, so 2,000 other sopranos auditioned for your exact role.
You didn't have chemistry with your would-be counterpart.
The pianist made a mistake, but the director thought it was your fault.
The director has heard 100 auditions already, was really tired of hearing your song, and wasn't really paying attention.
Your schedule for the rehearsal process is less flexible than other casting choices.
... and so on. Notice how none of these examples had to do with how you performed!
Auditioning is never easy. And, take it from someone who's auditioned thousands of times, it never will be. We'll always get that little flutter of nervous energy, be tempted with the urge to over-analyze every note we sing, and occasionally feel like we're no longer talented if things don't go our way. The good news is that you are in control of your experience, even if it doesn't always feel that way. Take some time to reflect on the following questions:
How can I follow the Golden Rule, and be even more prepared for my next audition? Cite 3 of the examples from the list above.
How does your body respond physically to nerves, and how can you counteract these symptoms?
Create an affirmation to say out loud to yourself before an audition!
What's your favorite way to set yourself apart from other singers in an audition?
How will you prepare your body and mind in the days leading up to an audition?
What is one thing you LOVE about your voice?
What is one thing you've been working on in lessons that makes you feel proud?
With love for my singers,
Abby
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