Audition Resources

Check In/Waiting Area

Walk in, find the check-in table. Remember to practice respect and kindness to all monitors, auditioners and auditors. Say your name to the audition monitor and give them a headshot and resume. They may have you fill out an audition sheet with your info. Fill it out, give It back, and find a spot to wait. Once they call your name, walk on in!

 Working with an Accompanist

Give a warm hello to the people at the table, then say hello and introduce yourself to the accompanist. Discuss your music with your them. Demonstrate the tempo by singing a few bars. Point out where it starts, where it ends, and point out any cuts or jumps in your music. Let them know if you're going to sing or do your monologue first. Tell them if you want your starting pitch.

Slating

Here is what you need to know in order to do a strong slate;

• Your Name

• Your song title and the title of the musical 

  • • If not from a musical, state the composer/lyricist instead

• The name of the play your monologue is from

• The character who speaks your monologue

Basically any clear, simple way of conveying this Information to the auditors Is a good slate. I try to avoid the phrase "I will be performing." If you love it you can absolutely do it, but I find it makes a slate feel a little stiff and overly formal.

Here are some scripts I think work well for slates;

Hi! My name is                 and this is [character name] from [play title] by [playwright], and [song ut/e] from [musical] 

Hello! Today I'll be singing [song title] by [composer/lyricist], My monologue is a piece from [play title] by [playwright].

Say your pieces in the order that you're going to do them. The order is up to you; you don't need to ask the auditioners.

Practice your slate! Practice the exact words to memorize them. Then practice saying them the same way you would tell a friend about a great meal you had just made for them, or a playlist you are excited about sharing. Your slate isn't just about giving the info, it's about inviting the auditors into your work! Practice a warm, inviting, enticing slate.

Get Placed and Grounded

Walk to the middle of the room. I like a good 8 to 10 feet between my lf and the table. Starting further back is best, as we all tend to step foiward during our monologues/songs. Give your slate. Once you have slated, take a short mindful moment.

You get to take up space. You get to take your time. Take a breath. Acknowledge what you feel. When you feel you have your breath and support, picture the face of the person you're talking (or singing to.) Place that image on one spot on the wall behind the auditors, just above their heads. Take a breath, and jump in!

If you draw a blank, mess up, or have to start again, ask the auditors simply and without apology, "may I begin again?" If they say yes, go back to the top of the previous paragraph and repeat the steps.

When It's Over

Hold your eyes on your target for one extra moment after you've stopped talking. Then look to the auditors and say thank you. Collect your music from the accompanist and thank them for their work. Walk on out!

Sometimes it goes well and it's easy to give the auditors a warm thank you and goodbye. Sometimes, if it hasn't gone so well, it can be much harder to hold your head high and say thank you. You may feel the impulse to apologize. Understand that even if it went the worst it could possibly go, you have nothing to apologize for.

Auditioning is hard. Auditioners are not entitled to your very best work in every moment of every audition. Therefore they are not entitled to an apology, even if you are not able to bring it the way you hoped you had. Be proud of the accomplishment of staying in the room! Celebrate any other successes you had. Forgive yourself and try to learn from the stuff that didn't work.

Then treat yourself! Whether it went well or not, you did a hard thing! 

When you've had some space and distance, the next day or so, reflect on the process. Keep it short and kind; what went well? What could be improved? How did I feel at the time? How do I feel now?