Hopefully none of you ever experience that. I remember my first tryout, I was absolutely terrified, everyone trying out was new to twirling at a hs level, I had worked for months and months at my routine( though I was so scared I watered it down, so I wouldn't drop as much *no no*). I apparently did well enough to make it, I got complimented on my smile, was told not to worry so much about my drops(I believe I muttered in desperation at a drop, O NO!) and was told that I was a much better twirler than my routine, to not be afraid to try something harder.lol I've learned not to be afraid, and to really just get into and enjoy the tryout as much as possible. I hope you can too!

1) SMILE!

This is one of the most important twirling rules and tips. No matter how well you twirl, if you're not smiling.. well, it just doesn't look as good.

2) BE HAPPY!

Act like you wouldn't rather be doing anything else in the world, if you show enthusiasm in what you're doing, judges will know that you want this spot on the squad/team/whatever.

3) PRACTICE!

Practice for months and months before tryouts, the better prepared you are, the better you will feel that day. You will have the confidence to know that you CAN do that routine to the best of your twirling ability. If you aren't prepared for a tryout, it will show. You will worry about what you should've done, and what is too late to fix now. You're more likely to forget something in a routine, or be so worried about how you look(b/c you know it can't really be all that great since you never prepared properly) that you'll forget that gorgeous smile or worse.

4) EAT SOMETHING!

Never go to a tryout on an empty stomach. I know I worry that if I eat I'll get sick. But I've found that I do worse not eating, I get a headache, can't concentrate and feel just as bad as if I'd overeaten. I don't mean eat a 7 course meal, some crackers or a small snack is great. Just something to take the edge off your appetite. Try not to drink caffeinated drinks right before trying out. They cut your air supply down, and make you tired and slower. Drink some water, just not so much you're in the bathroom too much.

5) MAKE SURE YOU'VE PRACTICE IN THE OUTFIT BEFOREHAND!

There's not much worse than going in to tryout and finding out that your outfit prohibits your twirling. I've had difficult costumes before, including this year's which was Mexican/Spanish style that had giant pouffy sleeves you could take off. I really wanted to wear them, but was worried if they'd get in the way, especially on horizontal stuff, so I practiced my routines in them. Luckily they didn't mess me up, but if they had, at least I'd have known about it way before I was before a judge. Not only can some outfits inhibit your twirling, but they might bunch up, ride up, flash down, etc. All rather embarassing things you can prevent if you practice in the outfit before. (this includes shoes and earrings or props you're using... be familiar with everything you're using in the tryout).

6) CHOOSE A MUSIC STYLE(SONG) AND COSTUME THAT REFLECTS YOUR PERSONALITY

In other words, choose a song you can relate to. If you're a bouncy perky person.. Choose upbeat happy music. If you're more artisitic and well gentle personality, soulful music. These are just suggestions, and really you should choose any song you like, but I find that there are just some songs other twirlers use, that I can't see myself twirling too. I for one have never tried out to a song with words. I can't twirl with words interuppting me. I can practice with songs that have words, b/c I'm generally not twirling to the song, just practicing and it happening to be on. Others find words in songs are great for remembering where you are. But I listen to the music in my room over and over again, counting and thinking what am I doing at this spot, and if I drop here, where will I know where I am, What can I do here if I drop. This may be not normal, but I have to be able to make the trick fit with the music or I'm just going to feel weird. I have to imagine that move being done at that sopt for myself to be able to do the trick there. (I think this is supposed to happen, and is kinda my own little choreography thing)

7) WEAR APPROPRIATE MAKEUP FOR YOUR ROUTINE/COSTUME

I've looked back to my first year majorette pictures, and we didn't wear half asmuch makeup or do near as much to our hair as we do now. Not all squads do the showy makeup and hair thing. But for ours, we wear our hair in the same hairstyle, either styled the same up, or down curled extensively and sprayed to death with hairspray, or half up with barrette. Peprallies are different, but our squad always tries to look the same and uniform as possible. Your school/team may have a requirment for your tryouts. Such as same outfits,and hairstyle etc. Our school lets us be origianl and outgoing at tryouts, this is our time to shine and show off, during season our goal is to look like one body of four twirlers, doing the same thing at the same time(usually). For your tryouts, go all out, if allowed. Wear your hair in a style that's easy to twirl in, go all out with the makeup. (NOT Trashy) Just showy. Lots of blush, sparkly eyeshadow, and lipstick to show off the smile. Wear what you feel comfortable in, but wear more than you did for school that day.

8) TRY NOT TO BE NERVOUS!

Easier said than done. I find the more prepared I am for something the less nervous I get. If you know you can do it, then when you get in there and the butterflies hit, well, just say.. "LOOK, I have worked for so long on this, I can do this routine, and I will do it right, I have no reason to be nervous!" Just do that routine and whatever else you have to do like you're at home practicing. Before tryouts I always pick out trees and stuff around me,(while practicing at the house) and say that's the judge, and I look at that judge(tree) and twirl just like I hope to at tryouts. It works for me

9)RELAX BEFORE YOU GO IN TO TRYOUT

Deep breathe, repeat to yourself that you can do it, and you will do your best. Practice some of your hard tosses beforehand, if you're like me, I find that practicing a couple before I actuall do a routine at practice, helps me. B/c I remember just how I'm supposed to do them. Don't over practice, b/c you'll get tired, or do really well then, and then bomb it later at the real tryout b/c you'd already done the routine right before and got tired. I also find that the first time I do a routine, I usually do my best. Listen to your music and do the routine in your head, positively imagining that your do all tricks correctly and smile the whole time. Positive reinforcement helps alot!

10) MAKE EYE-CONTACT WITH ALL JUDGES