Fall Musical Audition Tips: Collegiate and Professional Edition
Fall Musical Audition Tips: Collegiate and Professional Edition
Fall Musical Auditions: Collegiate and Professional Edition
By Rylee Vogel
Congratulations! You’ve just landed your first professional audition! Here are some tips to help you secure that contract:
1. Headshot and Resume
In a professional setting, having a proper headshot and resume is critical to booking the job. The standard requirement is an 8” by 10” headshot, printed on high-quality photo paper. Your resume should be printed on one page and stapled to the back of the headshot in the top two corners so the headshot/resume combo functions like a double-sided page.
Make sure to trim the excess paper from the resume so both pieces are the same size.
Include your (or your agent’s) contact information on your resume so casting can reachout for callbacks or future projects.
2. Fully Prepared Book
When arriving at an audition, it is important to have a book so that casting can ask for more
if the provided material was not enough to give them an idea of you as a performer. Check
out our blog from two weeks ago to see what types of music should be in your book!
3. Appropriate Attire
Make sure you are properly dressed for your audition. Dress formally because it shows casting that you are serious about the project and value their time. Be sure to bring a change of clothes should there be a dance call. You want to be as prepared as possible for any situation.
4. Other Etiquette Tips
In the audition itself, it is proper etiquette to greet everyone in the room. This means saying hello to everyone at the table, monitor (if present), and the accompanist. Hand your music to the accompanist and point out your starting measure. Make sure to allow the accompanist a moment to look at the music. They will likely ask you for the tempo. Do not snap or clap at them. Though it may seem intuitive to show the rhythm, it comes off as extremely rude. Instead, gently tap the rhythm on your body while you sing the first couple of measures acapella, or simply sing the first few measures in the tempo that you would like without tapping at all.
Once you have taken a moment with the accompanist, return to the center of the room and slate (usually your name and what you will be singing). Then, proceed into your music.
Once your audition is done, make sure to thank everyone in the room. Not only is this polite, but it also shows that you value everyone’s time.
Walk in and out of the door with confidence (no matter how it goes). Remember, the audition is your time to perform, so don’t hesitate to take up time and command the room’s attention. Just remember to be respectful and kind, and you will shine!
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