<p>Hey all! As my auditions are fast approaching, but my applications are all done, I'm in an odd sort of self-reflective limbo. But, I know that this is the calm before the storm, so I'm trying to prepare myself for battle.</p>
<p>That being said, I was just curious: if you were able to give one piece of advice only to those hopeful theatre majors, what would it be? Be it about applications, auditions, college life itself, or anything in between! I know there's certainly some people who could benefit from everyone's words of wisdom--myself included.</p>
<p>(So sorry if there's already a similar thread, but nothing very recent came up in my search!)</p>
<p>When you are finished with the audition, and walk out the door, that is it. Do not analyze or try to read into it. Move on to the next one. This is advice that my daughter was given in her freshman year at Shenandoah, and it turns out, is what most actors feel is the best way to audition. After each audition, you have a clean slate. </p>
<p>No matter how hard you try, you cannot get into the auditor’s heads so save yourselves the grief and aggravation and do not try.</p>
<p>Be yourself and show yourself in your monologues. And try to get a sense of who THEY are too–the auditors and the current students in the program–are they people you want to spend the next four years with? They’ll be watching you to try to figure that out, and you get to do the same! Oh…and enjoy yourself. It can be a fun process. :)</p>
<p>I think my one piece of advice to hopeful theatre majors would simply be (and I have said this many times before in this forum) to devote yourself 100% to theatre. This is the time to pursue your dreams.</p>
<p>Remember that the current students at each audition are not only there to help, they are making their own evaluations. Be your loveliest self from the minute you set foot inside the building! ;-)</p>
<p>And if you are flying, put all your essential items for your audition (music, dance clothes, headshot/resume) in your carry-on bag!</p>
<p>i agree with kevp but may say it differently. do what you love in college and make the most of it. Balance your theatrical goals with college life so you walk away with great memories of your colllege days and focus on growing on as an actor as this will be the least impeded 4 years of your life to do so.</p>
<p>Try to have fun with it! Remember that this is only the beginning of your career and you are getting amazing experience through these auditions and interviews that your non-theatre peers won’t. This process will serve you incredibly well as you move through life. And, be yourself! That’s the only way to know if it’s the right “fit” for YOU!</p>
<p>Don’t get so caught up in the process that you forget that and don’t lose sight of it or let any anybody steal if from you once you’re a program. It’s about plays … so PLAY! :)</p>
<p>Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, pretend like you do. Fake it till you make it! Bring extras of all paperwork! Be PREPARED. I had an audition today and was shocked at how some girls didn’t have resumes and headshots with them, sheet music, had to read through their monologues because they weren’t fully memorized, etc… and have FUN! Smile alot.</p>
<p>Choose monologues that are SHORT for the time span requested. Don’t expect to be able to do it faster. Save yourself a ton of stress. This is my single piece of advice, since there are other good ones here also.</p>
Do a piece that you love. Do a piece that touches you emotionally whether it makes you laugh or cry – they want to see a reflection of you. They do not want to see how well you can cry on cue or your funny voice. They are looking for students they would enjoy working with for two to four years, that would bring diversity to their community, and that have an opinion and a passion for theatre. Find the monologues that you feel bring this out in you.</p>
<p>2) Never say no! If you are at Unifieds and a college asks you to do a walk-in, do it! If they ask you for another monologue, don’t say no. Even if you don’t have another, say you can recite a poem or your favorite song lyrics, or half a monologue you can remember from two years ago – just do something. If they ask you to try something a different way or with a different intention or while doing jumping jacks just go for it. If it is bad, it is only bad for a minute, and good or bad, you don’t know what they want so just go for it!</p>
<p>Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t accepted to any audition-only programs. If you absolutely know for a fact that you will be happy in a non-audition program, then by all means go! But don’t go ANYWHERE if you anticipate being miserable the whole time. Society makes us think otherwise, but it’s completely okay to take a year off (or better yet, at a community college/local university) and go through the audition circuit again the following year. It takes willpower, sure, but you’ll be one of the most focused and determined people in the audition pool. And you WILL get in somewhere, even if it’s not the school you originally thought was “perfect.” No school is that.</p>