Keys to a Successful Audition

We are entering audition season for a lot of high school seniors, and while there are differences between collegiate and professional auditions, they share some common elements on how to have a successful audition.

1) Be MEMORABLE (in a good way!)

• The most important element of any audition is that the judges REMEMBER your audition!  That may seem simplistic, but people forget this rule over and over.  You need an element in your audition that stands out aside from your singing - is it your acting, personality, musical interpretation, difficulty of repertoire etc...?

2) Sing What You Are Good at and Can Be Cast At RIGHT NOW

• When choosing audition material, do not pick music that you love, or want to perform in the future.  Pick music you are good at RIGHT NOW, and from roles you could be cast at RIGHT NOW!  Judges want to see and hear you perform repertoire that you can perform well and show an awareness of what you are good at, as opposed to what you might be good at in the future.
• A corollary to this rule: You do not need to have the most difficult song to succeed in an audition.  While singing a song of incredible difficulty well can be beneficial, it isn't necessarily memorable.  People want to be entertained.  Even if you can sing a difficult song well, if you sing it like a robot and it has no entertainment value whatsoever, how likely do you think you will get the job over a more 'fun' performer?

3) Look the Part!

• An audition is a JOB INTERVIEW.  Not singing in the shower or with friends; you must look like a professional.  That means nice clothes, makeup and hair done etc...It also means that you practice your introduction and anticipate any questions the judges may have for you.  For a college audition, that may mean questions about your performance history and grades.

4) Have an answer for the most important question: Why do you want to attend our college (or sing this role)?

• This is the classic audition question, and for collegiate auditions, is practically a given.  Judges want to know why you applied: was it the great theater and vocal training, friends who have attended, or reputation of the school?  If you don't have an answer, you practically DOOM your chances.  So know why you are applying, and practice your delivery.  It is that important.

5) Don't anticipate the judges' reactions.  Sing your best and put on a happy face.

• I cannot tell you how many auditions I have done in which I felt I messed up in one way or another, and then later find out that I got a role.  In fact, oddly enough, my experience has been this: when I feel I had a poor audition, I get the role!  Bizarre, right?  And yet it points to a central fact about auditioning and life in general: we greatly overestimate our flaws and undervalue our strengths.  So if you 'mess up' in audition, pretend like it didn't happen and keep going strong.  You will be amazed by how many judges miss your 'mistake' and hear the good parts of your audition.

DWS