| Auditions can be nerve-wracking - it’s all too | | | | hand-written piece of paper with chord symbols |
| easy to believe that you’re going into a lions | | | | but no actual music. Make sure the sheet music is |
| den. But one important thing to bear in mind, is | | | | in the correct key – don’t assume the |
| that the people auditioning you WANT to like you. | | | | pianist will be able to transpose at sight. If you are |
| It’s not like TV Talent Shows where the | | | | making cuts or there are repeats in the music, |
| judges are competing with each other to come | | | | mark them clearly and confirm them with the |
| up with the wittiest put-down. They have a job | | | | pianist. Also make sure you have practised with |
| to do – to cast a show. They may look | | | | the sheet music so you know exactly how it |
| bored, but that’s because they’ve | | | | sounds – arrangements of pop songs are |
| probably seen lots of people already and are | | | | particularly notorious for sounding nothing like the |
| worried they’ll never find the right person for | | | | original recording. |
| a role. Having worked extensively as an audition | | | | 4) Ready to perform |
| pianist, I’m going to dispense some valuable | | | | Be courteous to the pianist – they’re |
| tips. | | | | there to help you succeed in an audition. Make |
| 1) Backing tracks or sheet music? | | | | sure you tell them how fast or slow the music |
| The vast majority of musical theatre auditions will | | | | should be played – don’t assume they |
| have an audition pianist. Where this is the case, | | | | know the song. If the pianist plays the piece a |
| the use of backing tracks is frowned upon. | | | | little too fast, just slow your singing, and they |
| 2) Material | | | | should follow your tempo if they’re worth |
| You’ll probably have been told to prepare 2 | | | | their salt! The most important thing is for you to |
| songs – one uptempo and one ballad. They | | | | be confident of your performance. If anything |
| may be specific and request these be of a | | | | should go wrong – just keep going! That |
| particular period or style. Be confident of your | | | | sometimes happens in a show, and you can’t |
| selection, but get advice if you’re not sure if | | | | just stop and say “can I start again?” |
| your songs fit the genre. If you can’t be | | | | It’s a good indication of how you cope with |
| bothered to find this out it comes across that | | | | difficult situations that can present themselves in |
| you’re not committed. Don’t come in | | | | an acting job. |
| with a huge folder of titles for the audition panel | | | | 5) Finished! |
| to choose from – this is a frequent mistake, | | | | Don’t worry if you are cut off before your |
| and wastes everybody’s valuable time. | | | | song finishes – this doesn’t mean they |
| Auditions are nearly always running behind time, | | | | don’t like you, but as mentioned earlier |
| so the more organised and efficient you are, the | | | | auditions are often running behind schedule, so |
| better. Quite often the panel will only want to | | | | they simply don’t have time to listen to the |
| hear one of your two prepared songs. | | | | whole song. However, you can help yourself here |
| 3) Preparation of your music | | | | by ensuring the song isn’t overlong in the first |
| Here, you want to make your life easy. | | | | place. If you can cut the song down to one verse |
| Photocopy your music and tape together the | | | | and one chorus that’s usually a perfect length. |
| pages, so it can be opened out by the pianist. | | | | You MAY be asked if you have any other songs |
| Dog-eared loose sheets make it difficult for the | | | | with you. Now you can get out your folder of |
| pianist to concentrate on playing, as do books | | | | other songs – just not before this point. |
| that won’t stay open! One of the worst | | | | Make sure you thank the pianist, regardless of |
| experiences I had was of a singer presenting me | | | | how well they played – they may be the |
| with the music on a single long roll of fax paper. | | | | musical director! |
| Another was when a singer came in with a | | | | |