I’ve been participating in musical theater for 12 years now, witnessing countless auditions and crafting my own. I admit that it is rare that I ever walk out of an audition room satisfied with my performance. However, I often use aspects that I can control to calm myself down and ensure that I am putting my best foot forward.
Don’t Sing the Night Before
This may seem silly, but this is my #1 piece of advice for auditioning. I have never had an instance in which I am satisfied with the way I sound the night before I audition. Your criticism is heightened, making you push your voice harder than you usually would. To make matters worse, you have the capability of straining your voice, an unneeded stressor for audition day. Practice like crazy all the way up until the night before, then give yourself a much-needed break. The day before auditions, trust in yourself and your abilities, remembering what you are capable of rather than torturing yourself with the impossible task of being perfect. Note that you are free to dance and practice acting sides the night before; however, you still shouldn’t drive yourself crazy.
Have Your Goal in Mind
You might be predicting that I am going to suggest “knowing which part you want” or “portraying the expertise of a lead,” but those should not be anywhere near your headspace in an audition. Thinking about the task of receiving the exact part you want will lead you to comparing yourself with others, which can color your performance with anxiety and make you appear like you are trying too hard. Instead, make your goal be to have an audition that you can be proud of. Every performer has a unique style and takes on a character, giving the director the difficult task of deciding where they would like each of the performers’ strengths to shine. I have learned to relax knowing that I have accurately portrayed myself and my strengths, rather than being the best in the room.
Fool Them With Your Outfits
This is one of the strange practices I do, merely because it allows me to feel like I have control. When I have a dance audition, I pack an outfit that makes me look and feel like a dancer, though I personally feel far from one. Next, I pack a change of clothes for my singing/acting audition, one that embodies the character I am auditioning for while also representing my individual personality. For Mamma Mia, this was a long turquoise skirt and a plain white top. For Mean Girls, I wore a black skirt, black top, plaid green and blue flannel, and floral headband for Cady and a black skirt, red sweater, and leather jacket for Regina. Both made me feel both authentic to the character and to myself, both extremely important in an audition.
Bring Items that Soothe Your Voice
While I’m not sure how effective they are for my actual performance, the items in my vocal kit calm me down, allowing me to control how my voice feels. I find that auditions bring out dryness in my voice, possibly due to stress or the fact that one of my nervous tics involves constant swallowing. I make sure to always bring Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (Herbal Formula) Cough Syrup, a miracle-working Chinese product that you can find at Buford Highway Farmer’s Market; a container of honey or honey spray; a mug of hot tea; and some straws for warming up vocally. Yes, it seems high-maintenance, but just having these products makes me feel prepared and relaxed.
Do Your Makeup
This might not apply to everyone, but I always feel more confident once I have done my makeup. It helps me extinguish some of my insecurities and feel like I am ready to put my best foot forward. It’s not a requirement for a successful audition; however, it might soothe your nerves as yet another aspect of yourself that you are able to control.
Tell Others How Calm You Feel
This one is so difficult. I’m not even going to pretend that I followed this advice at my last audition (sorry to everyone who witnessed my state of panic). However, if people ask you how you feel, try to respond with something along the lines of: “chill.” If you tell others it’s true, you may start to feel it yourself.
Miscellaneous Advice
- Your singing and dancing auditions are also acting auditions; don’t neglect your facial expressions!
- If you are selected to read sides, don’t stand like a statue! Move with purpose if it feels natural.
- If you feel like you did poorly, smile and pretend you crushed it in front of the director(s). Then, cry your eyes out once you get home.
- Encourage others! Making friends is just as important as anything else.
- Have fun! If you have fun performing, others will have fun watching you!
Auditioning is hard. It requires putting yourself out there, with the possibility of rejection. I’ve certainly had my share of rejections over the last 12 years; however, I’ve practiced resilience and have been blessed with many successes. If you are passionate about theater, don’t let a simple cast list break you; know your worth and keep trying.
