Things to NOT Do at Auditions — Page 2

Try not to just stand in one place. Don't stand stiff as a board. Don't RUN around the stage, but don't be a statue. And if you want to move, don't just shift from one foot to another. Look up: DONT look all the way at the cieling. Try looking above the directors heads, right above, so it looks like you're making eye contact when you really dont have to look at them and get nervous. That's what I do.

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Here is what i have been told, by serious professionals. If you have made it to a callback, for example lets use CABARET as a KKG, don't show up in a long floral dress and mary jane flats. You don't want to "Dress up" but you Do want to look appropriate. ALso, i have been told at your first audition go with all black. you need to catch their attention NOT your hot pink/lime green pucci pants. Buy the same outfit in different colors, so when you get to the callback they will remember you and you know it looks good.


all this info was given to me during an audition masterclass i took while in a very intense workshop with professionals... and i don't mean local community theater directors, i mean like, BROADWAY (said a la, Corky St. Clair in waiting for guffman) so this is stuff i made up (though i do follows these rules) its fo sho.



i just wanted to defend myself before someone attacks me.

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Not to attack anyone. Esp. the teachers in your master class, but...there is also another side to the wearing all black debate..... .

I've been told that wearing all black to auditions isn't a good idea. Esp. if the audition is actually in the theatre, because its difficult for people to distinquish you from the background. Directors want to see the outline of your body.
Also, don't sing songs that are already connected to an artist. Ex. Somewhere over the Rainbow = Judy Garland. I would even suggest nothing with the current broadway celebrities. I mean My New Philosophy = Kristin Chenoweth...a lot of younger directors, theatre people make that connection.

I agree with earlier posts, don't sing Sond., don't sing ALW.

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oh no! i didn't mean the all black attack, i was refering to the "dressing appropriately" thing. Sorry, i didn't write that. I meant to. i'm dumb. haha. def. people do feel differently about the all black thing i mean the character thing.

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There's lots of good don'ts on the list, but I have to add one more: Do not give the backstory on your monologue. You would not believe how many auditions I suffered through where girls (it always seems to be the girls) give the excruciating details of their "Romeo and Juliet" monologue and succeeding only in wasting everyone's time.
I thought of another one: Don't perform scenes as monologues. One girl decided to do a scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as a monologue, playing two different characters. And yes, she made a total ass of herself.

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I took an audition class at school, which was mandatory for my major and it taught me absoulutely nothing. It actually confused me and disputed all the things I'd heard before. And my professor was suppossed to be very knowledgable on the subject.

-Jess

There's only one thing to do...


SUE THE SCHOOL


Or egg your professor's house.

"If you are doing Juliet, don't show up in your trendiest club outfit with the f***-me heels, and so on."

Amen, Borstalboy.

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***Treat every audition just as you would a performance.

For Musical Theatre, if you're not a trained dancer, try to take regular dance classes, whatever the genre of class it may be -- it will help you to pick up on the dance routine quicker.

Be sure to tell the pianist exactly how you want your piece played. I have seen this so many times, people auditioning who merely hand their music to the accompanist, then take their place in front of the auditioners and the pianist plays the song naturally how he/she thinks is best. Unfortunately, it is rarely how the person auditioning was planning to sing it.

*Sigh* Be one with the pianist. Don't compete with him/her.

Don't just stand and look pretty. I've heard some of the most fabulous singers at auditions, but they are not on callback because they just simply didn't show any acting ability. Act out the song.

P.S. Donald Oliver's "How To Audition For The Musical Theatre" is a good one, too.

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This kinda goes along with the age range thing. What do you think about younger teens and kids auditioning with songs with some sexualty and whatnot in it? Obviously there are some songs I would never do or want to be seen done by kids/teens. Like "Dance 10; Looks 3" or "The Internet Is For Porn". What do you guys think?

what is the title of shurtleff's book?-about the thing with kids and younger teens singing songs related to sex-the auditors are more concentrated on why a child chose a song like that-and how awkward and wierd it is too see/hear lyricsw like that coming out of a kid's moputh then on the actual singing ability

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Jon- Which theatre do you work for?

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is it alright to dress similar in style as the character to a school audition? i did that last year for BABE in The Pajama Game and got the callback.