| Q. What about the audition itself? Any advice or tips?
A. I think Drama School auditions can be in some ways likened to a driving test - They are both slightly false, encapsulated ways of presenting your skills at a particular point. If you drive, you probably don't drive now anything like you did in your test - you've learnt an awful lot more since, have become more confident and assured and take more risks, but at the time, your driving test was the most effective way of showing the examiner what you were capable of.
It may seem that the audition process feels slightly unfair: After all your weeks, perhaps months of hard work on your audition speeches, not to mention the amount of money you've forked out on travel expenses and fees, you may have no more than four or five minutes in front of the audition panel to shine and to prove to them you're worthy of a place. This is one of the reasons why it is a good idea to go to as many auditions as possible, partly to give yourself the best chance of success, and to get yourself 'audition-savvy'. Remember, of course, that Drama Schools get thousands of applications every year. It may all feel a bit impersonal and 'cattle-market' to you, but the sheer number of auditions mean that as much as they may want to, audition panels simply haven't got the time to give you the amount of attention you may feel you deserve.
Hopefully, you'll be told ahead of the audition what exactly it will entail. Some schools will want you to take part in a group workshop (probably impro based) before you present your speeches. You may also be asked to take part in a movement workshop or asked to prepare a song. To those who have little or no movement or musical experience, this can cause a lot of anxiety. Musical Theatre auditions are a different kettle of fish altogether and I'm assuming that if you've applied for a MT course you'll already be of a certain level and will have sought the appropriate advice elsewhere. All the advice given on this website is concerned wholly with straight acting courses.
Movement - if you're not a natural mover and you are asked to take part in a group movement exercise or workshop try and resist the temptation to bury yourself where you're least likely to be seen. Concentrate on what the workshop leader is asking of you, keep your head up and try your absolute hardest to enjoy the experience even if you're convinced you have two left feet. The auditioners would much rather you 'had a go' at what's asked of you, and to see that at least you have a certain confidence in yourself and your body than see you skulking at the back looking pained and uncomfortable. Remember, with this part of the audition, as with the rest, the auditioners are looking to see your potential for training. It's not always about the individual either - but about being an effective part of a team, so similarly if you are confident in your movement skills, don't push your way to the front with a fixed smile and 'jazz hands'!
Singing - If you're sure you can't carry a tune in a bucket, again it's still about doing the best you can, with a healthy dose of natural unforced confidence. If you are auditioning for a straight acting course, then the singing part of the audition is just another way for the panel to see what you're about and also how you cope with new and unsual situations - it's not that they're looking for the next X-Factor winner! Do not explain or make excuses or apologies about your voice, say you have a cold, sore throat etc. Chose a song with a simple melody (quite often you will be asked to sing the song unaccompanied, so it makes sense not to chose a song with a huge range, in case you start on a wrong note and run out of room at the top or bottom end). Concentrate as much on getting the idea of the song's lyrics across - think of it almost as another speech, but one with a melody. Keep your posture relaxed and open. As with the rest of the audition - enjoy yourself. If you're really terrified about this part, it may be worth having a few lessons with a qualified singing teacher, so that you can gain a little confidence, learn how to breathe effectively, etc.
Now for some general do's and don'ts.
Do - check and re-check audition dates and times - and whether you need to ring up, or return any forms to say that you will attend. If you turn up at the wrong time, or when you weren't expected you'll have had a wasted journey and won't have created a favourable impression.
Do give yourself lots of time, much more than you think you need. If you're even slightly worried that a train or bus may run late either take an earlier one, or plan some accomodation so that you can stay overnight. It's far better to be an hour early (you can mooch around the college and get a feel for the place, or find a nearby cafe so you can relax a bit), than be even one minute late (out of breath, full of apologies, wanting the loo, you get the picture!)
Do get an early night! I'm sure you'll be full of nervous energy and will find it hard to sleep, but try your best - hot bath, milky drink, that kind of thing! Check and re-check your alarm clock and DO NOT DRINK THE NIGHT BEFORE!
Do make a checklist of things to take with you - ideally this would include, all audition paperwork, including the invite letter and directions, a copy of each of your speeches, movement/dancewear (if specified by the school), plenty of water and a light snack - you don't know how long you may be waiting and keeping your energy levels up is very important. A banana, cereal bar or something digestible and healthy (rather than fizzy pop and junk food!) will stop you from crashing and burning!
Do dress appropriately. Even if you aren't required to take part in a movement workshop, wear clothes that you can move easily and comfortably in. Don't even think of wearing the following....High heels, flip flops or heel-less shoes or sandals, low-rise or very tight trousers or jeans, tummy skimming tops or t-shirts, excessive or clunky jewellery, chains or belts or obvious logos or slogans on clothes, . Remove any tounge, lip or eyebrow piercings and keep ear and nose piercings to a simple small studs. (all other body piercings - apart from nose - shouldn't be visible anyway!) Women should keep any make-up subtle and light and floppy fringes and long hair should be kept off the face. What you don't want to be doing is tugging away at ill-fitting t-shirts, brushing away hair off your face, or limiting your movements because you're scared of showing too much flesh! Go for layers in case you get too hot or cold, natural fabrics and non-statement pieces rather than high fashion.
Don't get freaked out by other auditionees! Nearly always, there's one auditionee that has been there, done that and has the certificates to prove it! They may be doing over- elaborate warm-up exercises or talking about all the professional productions/TV/films they've been in recently, when you've only been an understudy in local am-dram. Whether they mean to or not, this kind of behaviour can easily distroy your confidence if you let it. Concentrate on yourself and what you need to do and remember - if they were that brilliant, they'd already be very successful and wouldn't need to audition! In some schools, you will be asked to audition in front of other auditionees and watching (what you think) are extremely good auditions can also start to errode all the good work you've already done on your own speeches. Again, keep your own counsel and think only about what you're doing, not what others are doing.
Don't create the wrong kind of impression. Big no-nos include shouting parts of your speech confrontationally at the audition panel, or including them within your speech as though they were also actors (they're not - they're the audience, remember), being pushy and over-zealous in team exercises (just as bad as being completely reticent), being argumentative or bolshy with auditioners or any other representative of the Drama School... Apart from assessing your acting skills, the panel are also assessing whether you are someone who can take direction, work effectively as a team member, and generally has the right attitude to become a successful actor.
Don't panic! If you have a complete blank and forget your lines (and it can happen, even if you have learnt them very well) stay calm, take a few seconds to re-assess and then carry on. If you are very near the beginning of your piece you may politely ask if it's alright to start again, but if you are half way through this probably isn't a good idea. Remember that quite often, if you do remain completely calm, and just go on to the next lines there's a chance that no-one will notice. In any case, even if they do notice, a panel will be interested in how you deal with the problem.
Don't be put off by what looks like the audition panel's lack of interest. There can be nothing more off putting than a row of impassive, stern looking faces. Sometimes it will appear that the auditioners aren't even looking at you or taking any notice.
I promise you, they are; they are seasoned professionals with an awful lot of experience of auditions, if they're not looking at you, they can still hear you and they are probably writing notes at the same time so that they can remember just who you are and what you did. Also they have to be seen to be treating everyone in exactly the same way without any favouritism. What may be construed as unfriendliness is more likely to be briskness - they don't necessarily have the time for all the social niceties and they have to keep the proceedings moving along!
AFTER THE AUDITION
As I mentioned, you may have had very little time in front of the panel, and you almost certainly will not get any kind of feedback from them. (In fact, most Drama Schools do not offer feedback at all, even if you phone them up or write to them - there's just too many people auditioning to be able to). Almost certainly you'll have a real sense of anti-climax! Most Drama Schools will let you know either way within a few weeks, and if they liked what they saw they will invite you back for a recall audition. If you get this far - Well done! Quite often this will mean you will have to prepare some new speeches, so as I said in a previous section, it's a good idea if you've already prepared some extras. The format of recall auditions also vary depending on the school. With some, this is the point where you will have to spend a whole day, or perhaps even a weekend in various workshops. With others, it'll simply mean presenting two more speeches and maybe taking some simple direction from the panel, or taking part in movement or voice workshops. Everything I've said above still applies! | |
