Audition Tips for Actors

Amuer Calderon
Music director for 24:7:365


How do you feel about auditioning?
Auditions are generally nerve wracking – you’re testing yourself to see if you’re good enough to be picked, if you’re better than the other hopefuls lining up. But you can lower your anxiety and boost your chances, and your confidence, by making sure you practise your audition song, your monologue and dance moves. 

Do you have any tips on how to choose the right audition song?
First, find out what the show is about, and the style and genre – is it pop, rock, classic Broadway, Disney? Then find songs that are similar in style. Don’t sing actual songs from the show unless you’re instructed to – the director or musical director usually have particular thoughts on how they want them performed. Second, choose songs that are age appropriate. Don’t sing Memory from Cats if you’re a teenager, that’s a song for more mature singers. Also, sing within your vocal ability and range. Don’t try a Mariah Carey song if you don’t have her five-octave range!

What qualities do you look for in aspiring actors?
I look for positive, open minded, humble and intelligent actors. There’s a phrase, “Her smile can light up the room”. You’re looking for a person who has that spark, that inner light, that X factor. With some people you can tell as soon as they walk into the room, some need a bit of polishing for their talent to shine. Lindsey and I have done so many auditions we know how to spot talent in a crowd!

As a performer, what was your most unforgettable audition experience?
About three years ago I was asked to audition for a lead role in a new musical. It was during the pandemic and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back and perform onstage. When I got to the venue, I heard another guy auditioning before me. He was singing his heart out and really going for it. I hadn’t even warmed up, hadn’t really learned my lines, had forgotten lyrics from the song I had to sing. But I quickly remembered all the advice that I’ver repeatedly reminded my students over the years. My self-discipline kicked in and I pulled myself together. In the end, I got the part but had to give it up to the other singer because of scheduling conflicts. Practise what you teach, teach what you practise.

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What tips do you have on how to prepare your voice for a singing audition?
Do vocal warm ups, like lip trills, humming and “sirens” – sliding from your lowest note to the highest note then back down, like an emergency vehicle siren. The main thing is to control your breathing. When you’re nervous, your heart starts racing and your breathing gets faster and shallower, which makes it harder to sing. The other thing is to make sure you know your lyrics. Stumbling through the lyrics affects your performance in the audition.

Any final words of advice to the actors ahead of the audition?
​Make sure you get eight hours of sleep the night before your audition. Have a good meal a few hours before you have to perform, nothing spicy, nothing that can irritate your throat. And get to the venue early so you have time to register, warm up and gather yourself.