| Every year thousands of actors singers and | | | | to get asked back to the first call (the first invited |
| dancers leave college wanting to work in musicals. | | | | call, as opposed to the cattle call). Therefore your |
| New shows are being written and existing | | | | task is to appear professional, calm and focused. |
| musicals are often recast. But if you don't have | | | | That's it. |
| an agent, how can you be heard - how can you | | | | If you look professional (dress appropriately, |
| audition? | | | | perform to a good standard, interact well with the |
| Every year, production companies run open calls. | | | | panel) you will be noticed. If you seem calm you |
| They are particularly useful if the show is new or | | | | will score points too - cattle calls are difficult |
| in an unusual genre (grunge/folk/rock or Tuvan | | | | situations with a lot of "unknowns" - like not know |
| throat singing), if there is a serious lack of actors | | | | what time you're actually going to perform, and a |
| with the relevant casting requirements (ethnic | | | | vast number of people breathing down your neck! |
| casting or tightrope juggling), or if the casting | | | | If you are focused, you'll be able to sing your |
| directors simply want to know what's out there | | | | piece to the best of your ability, and lock into the |
| at the moment. Open calls are usually advertised | | | | character immediately. Being focused really |
| in the theatre press (The Stage newspaper in the | | | | "reads" well on a theater stage, so the panel will |
| UK is an example). The open call can be quite a | | | | notice very quickly how well you do. |
| demoralising process (not for nothing are they | | | | When I'm coaching for the 16bar audition, the key |
| called "cattle calls"), so this article will help you | | | | is practise EVERYTHING. The walk in, the hello, |
| prepare for them. | | | | the piece announcement, giving the pianist the |
| The first thing you'll see when you arrive is a long | | | | music (or the backing track), the getting into |
| queue. Depending on how popular the show is, the | | | | focus, the 16 bars (decided beforehand, please!), |
| queue could be three times round the block, or | | | | and the exit. Everything is important, even the |
| just a small crowd. Be prepared to stand in the | | | | way you interact with the auditions secretary. It |
| queue for several hours. Even 15 years ago, | | | | helps to choose song extracts that show your |
| professional singer friends of mine were kept | | | | best assets (and that's not always the loudest or |
| waiting for 7 hours on the auditions for nuns in | | | | highest you can sing). A coach will help you |
| The Sound of Music. | | | | present those extracts in the best way that fits |
| What should you carry with you? Your resume or | | | | you. |
| CV and a photograph are essential. If the | | | | Notice I haven't said what you should sing! |
| photograph is not attached, make sure that both | | | | Ultimately, in a cattle call your choice of song is |
| the resume and photograph have your name and | | | | less important than how you sing it. I have been |
| contact details on. Photographs and CV details | | | | on cattle calls where actors singing the weirdest |
| often get separated, and it would be horrible if | | | | songs have been called back for the next audition, |
| the panel remembered your face but then | | | | simply because they sang it really well. In a |
| couldn't find your contact details on the photo. A | | | | situation like this you want to stack the dice in |
| bottle of water is vital, and either a book or an | | | | your favour as much as possible. Take a piece |
| mp3 player is useful to while away the hours. | | | | you know really well - that way if nerves strike, |
| You will give your name to the auditions usher or | | | | and you will still feel secure in your song. |
| stage door manager, and the audition begins. You | | | | Panels find cattle calls just as horrible as you do, |
| might have only two minutes to walk onto the | | | | and believe me, they breathe a sigh of relief |
| stage, give your name and sing your song. If | | | | when someone professional, calm and focused |
| you're unlucky, you'll have 16 bars. If you're really | | | | turns up. There usually are three piles in front of a |
| unlucky, they will ask you for your best single | | | | cattle call casting panel. Yes, No, Maybe. Don't end |
| phrase. How do you deal with this? | | | | up in any pile other than the Yes pile. |
| Remember that the purpose of this audition is | | | | And if you give a clear, focused, professional |
| NOT to get the job! There is nothing realistic that | | | | performance and follow the rules in this article, |
| you can do to make yourself stand out from the | | | | you're much more likely to get to sing in the next |
| 1,000 other auditionees that day. Your mission is | | | | round and stay in the Yes pile. |