Hey everyone! I’m an international applicant from Uruguay, traveling to the US for MT auditions in a few days If there’s one thing I learned from applying to MT programs in the US is how drastically differently things are done there. One of them is audition attire and I wanted to ask for your help on this.
So I have been doing performing arts training all my life (in all three disciplines) and have attended many auditions here in my country. I have ALWAYS been taught that, for an MT audition, I must always wear black leggings, a black sleeveless t-shirt, and casual shoes like sneakers. In every audition I’ve been to, I’ve worn all black with a pair of old Converse shoes, and I’ve never had a problem as this is the norm in my country.
However I’ve been watching US audition videos on YouTube and was surprised to see that girls dress in a very formal way for the audition: skirts, heels, flats… even dresses! And I also saw that they incorporate colors to their outfit rather than making it just black. Is this kind of clothing what is normally expected on an audition in the US? I was planning on just auditioning with my usual outfit but now I’m a bit worried that I’ll be too out of place.
Problem is, all my shoes are either sneakers or Converse. I do not own flats, high heels, boots or character shoes, and I can’t borrow from my friends because I have huge feet plus they’re all away on summer vacation. I also don’t have any dresses or skirts similar to the type I’ve seen in audition videos. So what I have is jeans, leggings and my baggy-style dance pants (all are black). Then for the top I have black t-shirts, short sleeves and sleeveless. I also have one white formal shirt, maybe that’d be better? And the worst part: the shoes. Would my Converse sneakers really be too bad? Am I seriously expected to go in flats/heels/boots? :-?
One last thing: my hair. I have very long, straight hair that goes past my butt. Some people tell me to tie it all back so that it doesn’t interfere but others have told me to leave it loose because it’s like my “trademark”. What do you think I should do?
Please note that my question is ONLY about the singing and acting portions of the audition. I already have my leotard + freeform dance shoes for the dance portion and I don’t think i’ll have problems with that
We are in Chicago attending the Unified Auditions right now. I would say the majority of girls are wearing dresses or skirts. My D is wearing a solid color dress,black tights and black ankle booties for the vocal/monologue portion of her auditions. I think that you should probably invest in an audition outfit. Doesn’t have to expensive-just neat and professional. I do not think that sneakers would be appropriate.
I think you should wear whatever you’re comfortable wearing. Yes, it’s true that most Americans do wear a dress. But you aren’t American, and anyway, I think simple all-black as you describe has its place. And I think it will be a nice statement–professional, secure in yourself.
I would, however, definitely recommend you pull your hair out of your face–it can be a ponytail, or it can be something much simpler, like just the parts that would fall into your face, pinned back with a barrette.
Wear what you feel comfortable in. Yes, many American girls auditioning for college programs dress in colorful skirts or dresses, but it is by no means “required”. Sometimes the girls that are not dressed in the “uniform” really stand out. My S (current MT junior) had a female friend who wore black skinny jeans, black top and a very casual black blazer/jacket with perhaps a scarf and low-heeled boots - something you would see walking around any college campus. She had a very successful audition season and got snatched up by a “top-three” program. There’s no need to look sloppy, but as long as you look “neat” and and “put together”, and can comfortably move in your attire, go for it. If your Converse sneakers are in good shape and you can confidently wear them while other female auditionees are tottering around in sparkly strapless dresses (yep, I’ve seen ‘em) and sky-high heels, then you will be all the more refreshing to the auditors’ eyes. Maybe “dress up” your leggings with a short knit skirt, or your jeans with a jazzy scarf.
I would suggest following the advice above to do something with your hair so it’s out of your face and so that it is not a “distraction” if you are moving around during your song/monologue - so you are not repeatedly swinging your head or tucking it behind your ear/shoulder to get it out of the way while you perform. I think it’s always nice to see a person’s whole face while they sing. Be comfortable. Be yourself.
There was definitely a “uniform” of fit-and-flare dresses (they all seem to be burgundy this year). My daughter did her first audition in leggings and a sweater – she felt awkward/out of place compared to the other auditionees and switched to dresses, tights, and booties for her auditions after that. But that was her choice, to make her feel comfortable.
The common practice seems to be to wear dressier “interview”-type outfit for the songs and monologues, and to change into a leotard and tights/leggings for the dance call portion.
We also saw other combinations for girls: jeans with blouses, plaid slacks, skirts, sweaters. We saw flat shoes, boots, wedges, sneakers, and heels (including some that were far too tall and difficult to walk in). But I must agree, as long as you look neat, wear whatever you are comfortable and confident in.
For hair, it doesn’t need to be pulled all the way up - my daughter pulled just the top part back and left the bottom part down, and it worked fine for both monologues and dancing. It’s just so they can see your face, and so you can see during dance calls.
My daughter got her “_ss” handed to her (I’m quoting her) for a dress she was wearing by a top NYC agent who literally said to her, “what you’re wearing says, 'look at me I’m an MT and I can tell by talking to you that you are so much cooler than that.” Now this was not for a college audition it was an agent seminar in NYC and the feedback though humiliating was spot on and she knew it even when she walked out the door to the meeting with him. What she had on was fine, but she didn’t bother to make it less “uniform” by maybe pairing it with boots and a jean jacket etc.or anything else that would make the look more her. Rushed and lazy and her _ss was handed to her deservedly so. Mistake never made again.
So I don’t really know what this means in the college audition world as it has been years now, but @horizons1982, I think the attire you have already described, if you are comfortable in it, sounds perfect.
I only had one child go through the process so no expert. But I agree with go with what you are comfortable with. That sounds like a great outfit. The focus will be on your face. Your resume will make it clear where you are coming from and the understanding that the “norm” for you may be different. The hair agree either all back or at least pulled off the front portion off your face.
I love the all black outfit idea for you! You’re not from here so why not choose to really stand out in a big way?! If you want to bring some color into your outfit, you can tie a scarf around your neck or wear a cool long, open sweater.
As for your hair, how about wearing it in a long braid that you can loop up and under to keep it out of the way when you need to and just let the braid fall down your back or over one shoulder for your monologue or when you sing?
If there’s one thing I learned from applying to MT programs in the US is how drastically differently things are done there. One of them is audition attire and I wanted to ask for your help on this. 