How To Do A Successful Audition

Musical theatre, in particular dance, is one of my favourite hobbies (as I mentioned in this post). This week I have decided to talk about doing a successful audition; it isn’t something we (if you are into performing, of course) necessarily enjoy doing, but it’s something we sometimes have to do if we want a main part in a show.
Just to clarify, this post is about amateur dramatic auditions, not professional auditions.

These tips are from personal experience; if you didn’t know, a couple of weeks ago I auditioned for the first time for a musical. These auditions are open, however, meaning that everyone taking part can watch. This was quite possibly one of the scariest things I have ever done. I ended up getting a main part which I am so excited about. So here are my tips for when you have an audition coming up.

Thumbnail Photo by Brooks Leibee on Unsplash

Prepare – WELL

This is one of the most obvious things to do, but I can’t stress how important this is! The ‘judges’ at my audition specifically said one of the things they were looking for was preparation. This is the case at most auditions; not only does it look good and make the judges more willing to give you a part, but mentally it makes you feel so much more relaxed and positive. If you are standing there with the words and looking down at them the whole time, it does not look good.  

Know the character you are auditioning for

Before an audition, find out the characters personality and information about them, so that when you are acting/singing you can let the character shine through. For example, if your character is bitchy and sarcastic, make sure that is obvious and you show that through tone of voice, body language and facial expressions.

  Take everything you need

Water is the one thing you have to have with you on the day of the audition. Take plenty with you! The worst thing to happen would be singing with a dry throat. Water is the best thing to take as it’s very hydrating.

Don’t take milkshakes or fizzy drinks. Also food would be good to take if you are there all day. Maybe not chocolate or anything sickly, because feeling sick will only add to your nerves.  

Wear comfortable clothes – and shoes!

Leggings and a comfortably top is probably best, or a leotard. These are best to dance in, because who would want to dance in jeans?! The more comfortable you are, the better you will feel. Also, shoes are important. Take appropriate shoes for the day; for example, if you are dancing, don’t wear something like high heels, wear shoes you can dance in such as pumps or dance shoes.  

Stay calm

I know this is easier said than done, but staying as calm as possible helps a lot. I wasn’t that nervous the day of auditions, it was only when I stood up there and sang I kind of freaked inside. The reason I wasn’t too nervous in the day was because I kept myself busy and I didn’t spend too much time thinking about it.

I tried not to think about the negative ‘what ifs’, instead I thought about how much I wanted the part. At the end of the day, what is the worst that can happen?  

****

Up until now I didn’t have a lot of confidence, but auditioning has not only boosted my confidence loads, but something great came out of it! Even if you are not auditioning for anything anytime soon, remember these tips as they might come in handy one day, because who knows what could happen?

Comment down below your auditioning experiences (if any) and if you have any more tips!