Auditions. The word may incite feelings of excitement, fear, pride, nervousness and everything in between. Whatever your feelings are, they’re valid. Just remember not to let nerves get the best of you. Here are our Ten Tips to Help You Ace Your Audition!

For Parents

1. Be EARLY: On time is late! Bad traffic or running around unsure of where you are going is the last thing you need before an audition. Arriving early will give your child time to take a breather, rehearse a little and be calm and collected for the audition.
2. Be prepared: You would have received some information on what to expect at the audition, so be sure that your child is ready as per the instructions. Whether it’s attire or lines to rehearse, show up at the show ready to audition. And of course, auditions take time, so bring some snacks and entertainment for yourself and your child if you’re going to be there all day.
3. Be nice: Asking a lot of unnecessary questions, being demanding (or worse, rude) may have more impact on your child’s chances than you realize. The casting crew don’t want to work with difficult parents, so remember, you are an important part of your child’s audition too!
4. Be thoughtful: If you’ve got an important call to take or emails to answer, step outside. Any noise can be distracting to both auditionees and the casting crew. Even if your child has completed his/her audition, other children may be in the middle of theirs.
5. Be supportive: Regardless of whether your child gets the audition, remember that the audition itself is helpful training for him/her to become a better performer. Auditions are nerve-wracking at times, so applaud your child for being brave and giving it their best effort! Good criticism and positive reinforcement builds confidence, bad criticism breaks it.

For Kids

1. Be EARLY: NO excuses. Showing up late is disrespectful to those casting and isn’t doing you any favors either! Get in early so you have time to warm up and prep for your moment in the spotlight.
2. Be prepared: The best way to ace an audition is to be prepared for it. If you received a script beforehand, be sure to practice, practice, practice!  Did you get instructions to show up in specific attire? Make sure you’re wearing the right outfit!
3. Be focused: You may have some friends auditioning with you but audition day is not the time to play. Listen to instructions for the casting crew, stay focused on your role and DON’T WORRY about what anyone else is doing.
4. Be yourself: The person auditioning you wants to see your personality, so let your confidence shine through. Instead of focusing on how you’re feeling, think about the character that you are in and connect with the audience, making appropriate eye contact. The more you connect with your audience, the less you’ll focus on those butterflies in your tummy!
5. Be pleasant: Even a wonderful auditionee with a crummy attitude won’t get picked because, at the end of the day, we all want to work with people that are nice. Be polite to your fellow auditionees, the stage crew and the casting crew. You may very well end up working with one or all of them in your next performance! If you make a mistake, DO NOT PANIC, it’s not the mistake itself you will be judged on, but the way you recover from it. 

When the auditions are done, keep a positive outlook. Sometimes you land a role and sometimes you don’t – but the best part about auditions is that as long as you stay positive and open, you get better and better at them! Good luck acing that audition!