Auditioning
Attire:
- Be comfortable but polished/put together.
- Dress for the job/part you want.
- This does not mean to wear a costume! But it does mean that if you want someone to take you seriously, wear clothes that will signal that. Your pajamas DON’T do that.
- If you wear heels, make sure you can actually walk and move around in them easily. (No baby gazelles wobbling on unsteady legs.)
Your “Book”:
- Music should be hole-punched in a three ring binder that is sturdy enough to stand up and open flat (and stay flat) on the piano.
- Arrange your music so that there are as few page turns as possible. You can use fold-outs to make that happen. Just make sure at least one page is clipped into the binder.
- Tape your music together. Never use staples.
- Clean, readable copies that are well-marked: clear intro and play out, breath marks, tempo changes, etc…
- Most pianists don’t like those plastic sheet protectors because of the glare.
- You should have 2 “books”: one for auditions with only the music you are prepared to perform (no more than 6) and one containing all the music you are currently working on.
- Bring only the audition book into the audition room.
- If you are doing a cut of a song, have separate music for each version. With cut versions, make sure the title of the song, the key and time signature are clearly visible.
In the room
- Enter with confidence. Smile at the panel.
- Remember that they are looking forward to hearing you!
- They have to hire someone! It might as well be YOU!
- Talk to the pianist first. Be friendly but professional. Walk them through your piece:
- where it starts, ends, any tempo changes, key changes.
- Give them the tempo by singing it. Do not clap, snap or beat on the piano.
- Slate with confidence in two sentences. “Hello, my name is… I will be singing…”
- Practice this. I have heard people forget their own names from nervousness!
- Take a moment before you start. It is YOUR TIME to do what you need to do to.
- NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR YOURSELF.
- Share your true self, not the person you think we want.
And finally, and perhaps most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!
Singing, acting, performing: they are all joyful acts. Share your love of the art form with us.
