Audition with Abandon!
I wholeheartedly believe that auditioning, like performing, is essential for acquiring a well-rounded skill set as a musician. Auditioning for roles or positions isn’t just about taking advantage of potential opportunities; it can also be a valuable and transformative part of your musical journey!
Auditioning is your gateway to a world of possibilities. If you have even the slightest belief that your skills could be utilized in a casting call or position opening, I say go for it! If you never try out, the answer will always be no. Even if you don’t land the role, you’re still earning experience points for stepping out of your comfort zone, making your next audition less scary.
Going in for an audition can be nerve-wracking, but keep these tips in mind:
1. The judges/panel want to see you succeed. The people holding auditions aren’t your enemies, or the scary people you might imagine them to be. It can help to not think of your audition as a test of your skill, but an opportunity to show the panel what you’re capable of.
2. Be polite and friendly to everyone. This one’s a general good rule for your life, but the world of musicians is smaller than you think! If you’re trying to be a part of a cast or ensemble, the panel is also assessing your demeanor and how you would be to work with. Having a negative reputation preceding you could impact their decision. No divas!
3. Practice your audition, not just your audition material. Just like preparing for a performance such as an upcoming recital, you want to take time to practice your audition as a whole, not just the material you’re auditioning with. This means being in a performance mindset, and not a practicing one. Your practice mindset is for finding mistakes, improving technique, and involves stopping to correct. Being in a performance mindset is relying on the work you’ve put into your practice so that you can focus on presentation, musicality, and enjoying your performance! Personally, I like to give myself a minimum of 2 weeks prior to an audition to be “performance ready”, meaning I know and have memorized my music, have adequate technique, and am confident I can ‘make it through’ my audition. I then use the remaining time to practice performing my material, as though the judges are right in front of me. This way, I’m not worried about hitting notes correctly or using the right technique during the audition, I’m able to fully give myself to the music and be able to openly share. Recording yourself or ‘auditioning’ in front of friends, families, or teachers could also give you valuable feedback!
4. Rejection is just redirection. You absolutely have to be comfortable with being told no. A significant part of being a musician is being rejected – or redirected! Rejection doesn’t mean you’re a bad musician; it simply means you weren’t the right fit for the role you sought out, and that allows you to find the roles you are meant for.
There are more opportunities out there than you can imagine, but you’ll never find them if you don’t consistently strive for them!
