1. Stay Away from the Vampires

Stay away from the people in the audition room or waiting area who seem to be giving off a very nervous energy and/or are having negative conversations. These vampire auditionees suck your positive, prepared energy and can affect your psyche in an unproductive way.

Do everything in your power to keep away from them, as you don’t want to end up having a bad audition because of their attitude. This may mean stepping outside the holding room and waiting in the hallway until your turn is up or finding a corner of the room where no one can bother you.

If by some chances these vampires are friends of yours, don’t be afraid to kindly tell them you are trying to stay focused so you will rock your audition. They should understand. Then, move quickly toward a more positive atmosphere.

2. Keep Yourself Busy

Busy your mind to tune out vampires and/or keep any of your own insecurities and inner negative voices at bay. Better yet, keep yourself busy with something that takes you to your happy place, whether you’re watching your favorite television show on your iPad, listening to inspirational music, reading a book, doing yoga stretches, meditating, coloring, doing a crossword puzzle or even continuing to study those sides. Keeping your mind busy and happy means staying present and in the moment, so you won’t be as worried about your impending audition.

3. Make Plans for After Your Audition

Having something fun to do after an audition leads to positivity in the audition, too. Your mind is unconsciously looking forward to what’s next. Also, don’t be afraid to plan to treat yourself to a job well done once your audition is over. This way, you are setting yourself up for success, not failure. Don’t worry — even if you don’t have the best audition, your plans become a way to keep your mind off any bombed or not-so-great auditions once they’re over.

4. Don’t Go Telling Others

As much as everyone loves to share on social media, don’t tell people (including friends and family) about your auditions before you do them. You are setting yourself up for expectations and the undue pressure and emotional stress put upon you by others who want to ask what it’s for and how you did, give you their opinions of how right or wrong for the part you are or even react negatively as another performer who didn’t land the appointment you did.

5. Stack the Deck in Your Favor

Last, if the stress of an important audition is going to wreak havoc on your nerves no matter what you do, stack the deck in your favor. If sides have not been given to you, choose to use material you know you can do in your sleep (figuratively speaking, of course). This way, you can do the best audition you possibly can and won’t be as nervous about it.

On the other side of the coin, if the casting or creative team gives you sides to learn, make sure to get as much practice and performance with the material before the audition as possible. You can even set up a few mock auditions with supportive individuals or mentors, where you can run through them and get out those initial nerves and stress that comes from performing new material for the first time. You’ll be surprised by how quickly practicing your audition in front of people will lessen stress and allow you to have much more fun when it comes time for the real thing.

How do you shake your nerves before an audition? Let us know in the comments below…

The post Stressed Out? 5 Tips For Keeping Calm At Auditions appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. Only Look at Your Material Right Before Your Audition

Instead, make sure to take the time needed to study the sides/music given to you. Nobody behind the scenes expects perfection, but they do expect preparation. If you only care to look at the material right before you go into the audition room, those behind the table may also think you won’t take the time to do your actor homework once you’re hired for the gig.

2. Dress Like You Just Rolled Out of Bed

Avoid wearing sweats or clothes that look like they were just pulled out of your pile of dirty laundry. Auditions are a job interview, and dressing to impress is important. That doesn’t mean you always have to wear a suit and tie or a nice dress, but you must comb your hair, put on your makeup and go in freshly pressed clothes that show a sense of style and personality appropriate for the show you’re auditioning for.

3. Be Late

Wanna know how to really make casting and people behind the table angry? Be late for your audition appointment. Not only is it disrespectful of their time, but it also puts a dent into their packed schedule by possibly pushing other auditionees aside to accommodate you. Being late also gives the auditors a good indication that if they hire you, it’s very possible you will be late for rehearsals or even performances.

Be on time for your auditions, or better yet, be a few minutes early. It will give yourself peace of mind and give the casting team the ability to carry out their appointment schedule as they originally intended.

4. Be Ignorant of Who Is Behind the Casting Table

If you want casting to get to know you and your talents, show them the same respect. Take the time to research who you’ll be auditioning for. A Google search is a great place to start. Learn about their offices, the theatres they cast for, what the creative teams have written, etc. You will probably be able to glean who or what you may have in common with them. Not only is it just good to know, but it could help you spark or add to a conversation while in the room.

5. Not Have a Headshot and Resume

The most important business tool for an actor is a headshot and resume. If you don’t have one, you don’t look like a professional actor. That doesn’t mean the resume has to be full of credits to get you a job, nor does the photo have to be expensive. Just make sure the photo is 8×10 and looks like you and that the resume is clear, concise, one page and truthful. Last, make sure the resume is cut to 8×10 and stapled to the back of your headshot. You don’t want them to get separated or lost once they end up on the casting table.

6. Ask Questions You Should Already Know the Answers to

Don’t ask questions you could have researched the answer to ahead of time. Take the time to read the script, Google the show, watch YouTube clips of previous productions and/or listen to cast albums on Spotify. There is no excuse for being an unprepared performer with the massive amount of information available on the internet or in your local library.

7. Touch the Reader

You’ve been given a scene that requires you to read alongside a stranger who is part of the creative team. The scene has a moment where you must kiss the other individual or hit them. DON’T DO IT! Physically, there should be an invisible wall between you and the reader, and while you can and should make eye contact with him or her, do not invade his or her personal space. Stage directions like that are done onstage after a rehearsal process. No one expects them to be done in an audition room.

8. Use Props That Could Endanger You or Those Behind the Table

This is a given no matter what. Don’t scare the people behind the table or make it seem like you have the potential to cause harm to yourself or others, even if you’re wielding a fake knife or child’s toy made to look like a gun/weapon. If a scene calls for it, just pretend.

9. Be Mean to the Monitor

A monitor, or someone who is helping to run your audition, is usually someone associated with the project you are auditioning for. Being rude or having a bad attitude in the waiting area is something the monitor will report back to the creative/casting team and could directly result in them deciding not to hire you before you even walk into the audition room. Instead, let your positive and professional personality shine through, even when you’re just sitting and waiting to be called into the audition room.

10. Ignore Direction Given to You in the Audition Room

Being prepared and making educated acting choices on the material you’re performing in an audition is a wonderful thing. However, if you’re given feedback or direction once you’ve performed your prepared material, don’t be disheartened or not listen to and take the notes. This feedback usually comes for several reasons. Maybe the project is being approached differently than the norm and they want to have you try to redo your audition in a different way. Maybe casting just wants to see how you take direction like you would have to in a rehearsal process once you’re hired for a job. Or, maybe they just want to help you with your auditions with similar material in the future. Regardless of the reason, be open to it and accept it (at least while you’re in the room). Otherwise, the inability to do so could prevent you from booking this specific gig or other acting jobs with the same creative team in the future.

What have you done that’s bombed in an audition in the past? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 10 Ways To Completely Bomb Your Audition appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Don’t panic! Here are some tips to picking the perfect song choice to nail an audition

1. Choose The Right Key

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First and foremost, you must make sure the song you choose is in a key that makes you sound phenomenal. You certainly don’t want to be screaming and you don’t want to end up doing an awkward flip into head voice when trying to belt high notes like Sutton Foster. Simply transpose the song into a key that fits your vocal range. It’s so easy nowadays to transpose music through the internet with the countless sheet music websites that are available, so take the time and pick the perfect key for you.

A great resource for finding Broadway songs and transposing them into your key is: https://www.musicnotes.com/broadway/

2. Find An Emotional Connection

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Develop a connection with the song you choose. Take emotional moments from your personal life and use them in your audition. Study the lyrics beforehand and know exactly how your character feels during each word of the song. It may also help to perform the lyrics as a monologue prior to singing through them. Casting directors can tell whether or not you are invested while singing, so make sure you can connect to your chosen piece.

3. Tell A Story

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The most important thing to do whenever you are performing is to tell a story. Yes, we all get nervous and yes, voice cracks happen, but you must stop worrying about everything that could go wrong and focus on telling the piece’s story. Once your emotional connection is found, this step is a piece of cake. Don’t believe me? Randy Graff, original Broadway Fantine in Les Miserables, cracked on every high note in her audition for the show and still booked the part. Stop worrying about the inevitable and focus on the few things that you can control in an audition. What you lack vocally, you can make up for by strong and convincing story telling.

4. Don’t Sing from the Show

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Singing from the show your auditioning for can limit the roles casting directors see you in, and ultimately narrows your chances at being cast. Doing this can also make you seem very unoriginal; directors are looking for a refreshing song that separates you out from the crowd. However, there are times when singing from the show is acceptable. If you’re going to an EPA (Equity Principal Audition) and only fit one role in the show and can perfectly sing that character’s number, it is most likely okay to sing that song. Mo Brady, who played Lucas in Broadway’s The Addams Family, sang from the show and booked the role. It’s a ballsy move, but if you have the talent and guts to pull it off, go for it. Most of the time, however, especially for open chorus calls, it’s wise to stray from singing a song from the show you are auditioning for.

5. Take Risks

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Casting directors see hundreds of hopefuls every single day. Chances are that a few other people will be singing the same song as you. Take risks, find ways to stand out, and make bold acting choices. Consider adding riffs if deemed appropriate to your song selection. Haven Burton, seen on Broadway many times including in Shrek and Violet, took a chance in her audition for Diaster! Off-Broadway by riffing up a storm in “Part of Your World” and adding strong bits of comedy to the song. Guess what? She booked the role! Taking risks will make you more memorable to the casting directors and will certainly help you book the job.

6. Be You

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At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember when auditioning is to be you. You are not Idina Menzel or Patti Lupone or Sutton Foster (and that’s okay!). Be original and be yourself. Don’t try to sound or act like these great stars because you simply can’t be them. Casting directors want to cast YOU, so show them who you truly are through your song.

Have some of your own tips to nailing an audition song? Leave a comment below and let us know…

The post 6 Steps To Picking And Nailing Your Audition Song appeared first on Theatre Nerds.