Audition Tips

1. Be prepared. Bring at least two selections of music, and make sure that if any particular requests were made in the audition notice (regarding types of music) that you comply. If this is a call back or if you've been sent music to sing, be sure to practice.

2. Be confident and positive. No one wants to work with negative people, so when it comes to choosing among three or four equally good candidates, we will always choose the person with the best personality. In other words: smile when you enter (don't shake hands unless the staff offers you theirs), after your song, and when you leave. If the casting director (or producer or director) asks you some questions, that's generally because they want to get to know you a bit. Try to be friendly and personable in your answers.

3. Be flexible. All theater productions hit snags; try to accept this. If the audition is running behind schedule, and you can't stay, politely inform them that you have another appointment and to let you know if you can reschedule. Don't complain.

Also, if one of the staff asks you to sing your song in a different style, be ready to try it out. Often, directors are trying to see if actors can "take direction," so they'll throw curve balls at you (this won't happen as often in your first musical audition, but it could). So be ready to adjust quickly.

The following tips are from Francine Wolff, an acting coach:

4. Do not expect the accompanist to change keys for you -- never!

5. Prepare your selection. Have your music, in the key you will sing it, taped together in consecutive pages, so that they will not fall off the piano. You can mark in red pencil where you want the accompanist to begin and end, which will be the 16 bars that best show off your voice.

6. Don't look 'em in eyes. When you begin to sing, find a spot in the room above the professional staffs' heads to look at. Never look at them directly.

7. Never wear black. Wear something that will stand out. Women should wear skirts or dresses. Maybe I'm from the old school.

9. Never sing a cappella. If there is no accompanist, bring a karaoke CD, or the music on tape.

10. Manage your nerves. If you get nervous (most people do), squeeze your toes inside your shoes to relieve the tension. Nobody will know you are doing it and it really works.

11. Focus on your breathing. That will keep you from losing breath and not being able to hit or hold notes. Do some slow, deep breathing right before you get on stage to prepare your body for the best breath control.

Yecid Benevides had this to add:

12. Know how to interact with the accompanist. When you walk in, go to the accompanist, give him your music, explain to him which bars you want him to play. If you're doing 16 bars or just a portion of the song, ask him to give you 2 to 4 bars of intro. Also, give him the tempo. Make sure he gets it.