10 Audition Tips
Here are my 10 audition tips for musical auditions.
1. Understand the breakdown
Beyond the title of the show, the characters, the pay rate, and the show dates, here are some things to look for:
what type of song is required for the audition? How long is the audition cut?
If they specify “16 bars” or “36 bars” you may need to reference the sheet music to determine the length. I recommend musicnotes.com to find sheet music. Note if you will be singing with an accompanist, backing track, or without music/acapella.
2. Do what makes you shine
I always recommend students choose a song or section of a piece that showcases them best. When in doubt, choose easy over difficult. It’s awesome to challenge yourself, but it’s also awesome when you can perform with full confidence. Trust me on this one.
3. Learn your material backward and forward
Before adding stylistic choices, get that song memorized and “in your bones.” Once each little note and word is memorized, you will be free to add movement and change up the speed.
Learning your music can be fun! Find your breaths, work on your pronunciation and vowels, roadmap your dynamics, or memorize the words as a monologue.
Artists who dive into the details always set themselves apart from the competition.
4. Start to make choices
Once everything is memorized, you can add style. Think about your placement for certain sections, rework things that feel weird, experiment with diction, and think like an actor.
Some questions you can ask yourself are:
What is happening in this scene? What happened right before this scene? Who am I talking to in this song? What range of emotions am I going through here? What is the climax of this piece and how can I make it impactful?
Think about the type of character you are auditioning for and come up with some describing words for them. Can you incorporate some of those characteristics into your audition? I like to watch multiple versions of a song being performed to get some ideas.
The very beginning and very end of your performance should be well rehearsed, as it gives the first and last impression of you.
5. Plan the physicality
The movements involved should be planned according to the character you are embodying and the actual space you are performing in. For the stage, movements should be bigger and incorporate your whole body. For the screen, the focus is more on your eyes and facial expressions. There’s no need for props unless it’s specifically called for in the audition.
Make sure movements are intentional, reflect the emotions, and give the performance life. Always play to the audience or the camera. Your eyes should also have a designated place or places to look.
I would rehearse in front of a mirror or record myself when practicing movement.
6. Prepare for different circumstances
Auditions can be unpredictable at times. An accompanist may play faster than you expect them to, or the director may want to hear the song with different choices made. Auditions may be cut short, you may be super nervous, or maybe your backing track will be too quiet to hear. What will give you confidence is the reassurance that you are prepared for different scenarios. Practice the song at different speeds, sing while doing jumping jacks, mix up your character choices - even practice it the complete opposite way. Sing in front of a friend or coach before you take it to the stage. What if you’re not feeling so well that day? Can you modify anything on the day of the audition? These are things to consider beforehand.
7. Rehearse walking into the room
When you rehearse walking into the audition, you’ve really prepared for everything. Will the light conversation before you start throw off your mojo? Nope! You have prepared for that! Practice conversing with the accompanist and giving them your tempo, practice walking into the room with confidence and finding a place where you can see the pianist. How will you introduce yourself? Practice your cue to the accompanist and the split second before you start. What thought will get you in the zone? Luckily, muscle memory often takes over at this point.
8. Get it down asap
The sooner you get your stuff nailed down, the more you’ll have time to craft your performance. Give yourself ample time to KNOW this song, so that whatever happens you can easily say you did your best!
9. Choose your wardrobe
Choose something that reflects the character, but avoid being in costume unless it’s requested for the audition. Consider practicing in the shoes you will be wearing. Pick an outfit that makes you feel good and enhances your performance. An outfit can certainly make you more memorable, for better or for worse.
10. Rest and warm up beforehand
Okay, you’re all set to go! It’s the day before your performance. Be mindful of your vocal usage today and tomorrow and have some warm-ups picked out that best suit your audition piece and your voice.
As always, you can sign up for a lesson with me right here on the website. I would love to help you crush your next audition! Luckily, I have figured out a path over the years, but I think I have made EVERY audition mistake in the book and I continue learning day after day. If there is anything you would like to learn more about or add, please leave a comment below. I hope to hear from you soon, cheers!
Suggested songs for different voice types can be found on my Free Resources page!