Here is a list of things you need to be sure you do once you arrive at your audition. Happy reading!
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AT YOUR AUDITION
GENERAL
- Arrive early, and arrive prepared. You should be thoroughly stretched, warmed-up, and ready to audition the moment you arrive.
- Be polite and courteous to every single person you meet. You never know who you might be talking to.
- Turn off your cell phone and pager. Your full attention needs to be on the task at hand.
DANCING
- When the instructor is giving the combination, do not have side conversations. Give the instructor your complete focus.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions, but keep them reasonable. It is fine to ask specific, technical questions about the dance, but don't ask so many as to be an annoyance. In addition, don't ask inane questions simply to show off your dance knowledge. (It is hard to think of any other specific examples of this, but I remember in one of my dance auditions, the instructor demonstrated one part of the combination which included an inside jazz pirouette...and she called it an "inside pirouette." The whole thing was a jazz routine, and the instructor had not been using extensive ballet terminology, but after her demonstration one girl asked, "Now, is that an en dedans pirouette or an en dehors pirouette?" The instructor looked at her for a few seconds and said, "It's an inside turn. Now stop showing off.")
- Thank the instructor and the faculty sincerely but briefly when you are done.
SINGING
- As soon as you walk in, acknowledge your adjudicators (a smile, a nod, "hello," etc. are all appropriate). There is no need to shake their hands.
- Bring your sheet music over to the accompanist. Take a few moments to confer with him/her over anything you want to point out in your (carefully put-together and highlighted) sheet music. Ask them to wait for your signal before they begin playing (a nod usually suffices).
- Walk to the center of the room, face the faculty, and slate your stuff: "Hi, my name is Manly Joe, and today I will be singing 'Where Are The Simple Joys of Maidenhood' from Camelot and 'I Feel Pretty' from West Side Story."
- After you have sung, be prepared to vocalize. If you are not asked to vocalize, collect your sheet music and thank the faculty before leaving.
ACTING
- This is quite similar to the singing audition. Acknowledge the faculty when you walk in.
- Slate your name and what you will be performing. If you need to use a chair, take off your shoes, etc. ask the faculty if you may do so.
- After you do your pieces, if they do not ask for something else, thank them and collect your things before leaving.
IF YOU ARE DOING SINGING AND ACTING CONSECUTIVELY... there is no need to slate yourself twice. Ask the faculty if they would prefer that you sing or act first, and introduce your pieces immediately before you do them, not all at once. If you are acting first, don't approach the accompanist until after you finish doing your monologues.