Preparing Audition Pieces

Beatrix Von Bourbon · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 02:56 PM

I've got my first proper audition at the weekend. While I've sung in grading exams and in stage productions, I've never sung in an audition. And likewise with monologues...

I had the audition notification today and have 2 days to prepare in.

The song has been chosen and nearly nailed.

The monologue script is with a comedian friend of mine, who's being ridiculously generous in agreeing to help me out by tweaking it to make it a little funnier.

Has anyone else had any auditions recently? Any tips? Even if nothing comes of this, I'm sure the audition experience will be invaluable!

kitten kapers · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:59 PM

What are you auditioning for?
Can't really give any tips - except enjoy it! Go well prepared and learned.
When you do your monologue - will you be acting it/dancing it at the same time - ie: would it look better choreographed? I presume you have learnt it off by heart? Don't think auditioning, reading from a book, goes down at all well.
All the best!

Twinkle · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 01:37 AM

Heya, is this for the finger in the pie thing? I'm auditioning for that soon too. I've done loads of auditions, acting, dancing and singing, and to be honest each one is completely different-what you do in one may be right, but in another it could be seen as wrong, it's annoying! So the best advice I can give is to do a monolgue that has a clear beginning middle and end, in other words one that goes somewhere, and to play a character you identify with in some way. Don't be afraid to look the auditioners in the eyes when performing the monologue, unless it's one of those where the character is talking to herself or pondering aloud, which I find don't work too well in auditions anyway.

Song-wise, pick one that shows your full vocal range, and if you have trouble keeping time when singing acapella (I do!), tap time with your heel or discreetly against your leg. And make yourself physically relax, the notes will come a lot easier.

Twinkle Starr xx

Beatrix Von Bourbon · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 11:32 AM

Thanks guys, Twinkle especially, it's helped a lot.

I've already got the song sorted. I found a website that assisted with finding a song to match my range...

I think I'm more anxious about the monologue - I've not had much time to find a decent script. Grr.

Fleur du Mal · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 03:56 PM

Work on your diction! Whenever I did auditions or exams in the past, the thing that mainly let me down was my projection and diction. Remember that projection is different to shouting(!) but try to make sure your voice carries well. Try to stop any nasty bits of dialect like dropping H's or not finishing words properly, if you do that in your everyday speech (it's worth recording yourself speaking and listening back to pick up any little quirks you may have and not noticed). Make sure that your speech is clear and coherent, although you don't have to drop your accent or affect a posh one to do this. Oh, and if you have trouble commiting the monologue to memory, record yourself reading it and listen to it whenever you have the opportunity!

And let us know how it goes ^_^

Twinkle · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fleur du Mal

Work on your diction! Whenever I did auditions or exams in the past, the thing that mainly let me down was my projection and diction. Remember that projection is different to shouting(!) but try to make sure your voice carries well. Try to stop any nasty bits of dialect like dropping H's or not finishing words properly, if you do that in your everyday speech (it's worth recording yourself speaking and listening back to pick up any little quirks you may have and not noticed). Make sure that your speech is clear and coherent, although you don't have to drop your accent or affect a posh one to do this. Oh, and if you have trouble commiting the monologue to memory, record yourself reading it and listen to it whenever you have the opportunity!

And let us know how it goes ^_^

The accent and dialect actually depends on the character you play-if you play a posh character you will obviously need to use a posh accent, likewise if you play a cockney character for example, dropping t's and h's etc is necessary to portray it realistically.

Twinkle Starr xx

Fleur du Mal · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 06:35 PM

Yes there is that, but there is a difference between doing it on purpose for a character, and doing it just because it's habit. And the difference can often be quite obvious - as I was told in an exam when I was younger. If you're aware of it because you're doing it on purpose, you can still make the words coherent, whereas habit can affect your clarity

Twinkle · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 06:44 PM

I think it goes without saying, for any experienced actor anyway, that you have to watch your clarity no matter what accent you use, whether your own or another.

Tallulah T's · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 08:44 PM

I hope the audition went well......they are always a nightmare, and something happens that you didn't expect or you get asked the one thing you havent prepared for xxxx