<p>Hmmm. Today D's teacher at school shared with me that she was struggling with her students about how to dress for competitions/auditions/recitals. The kids (particularly the girls) were pushing back a lot so she was hoping to get a third "uninvolved" party to come and help. She knows my D and I go to a variety of competitions so she asked if I would come and share my experience in that arena. I thought it would be great to use photos of properly dressed singers (a picture is worth a thousand words.) Or maybe even shots of some who could have chosen better attire/hair styles/shoes/makeup/jewelry, etc. I thought I would call upon all of my experts in this forum for advice. Perhaps you could PM me if you would consider sharing photos and I will give you my email. Or maybe you have a better idea. Thanks gang.</p>
<p>Sounds like “What Not To Wear” for auditions. What fun! How I wish we’d taken pictures of the improperly dressed young “ladies” at some of the competitions we’ve been to–cleavage down to there, dress up to here, no stockings, 6 inch heels…Maybe you could enlist some of your D’s friends to be live examples, of both properly dressed ladies and otherwise. You could do a “before” and “after.” Let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>Wow, I’ve come up with so many different responses to this post. To summarize:
1)What a great opportunity! Kids get used to thinking their peer group is the harshest judge of their appearance, and on a daily basis, that’s true. Trying to get them to understand that adjudicators are a different peer group can be quite the challenge.
2)I personally tend toward conservative, and often forget that flair has it’s place. My D has a black satin dress she’s worn for competitions. She’s paired that with some really funky necklaces, and shoes (she has a pair of red plaid heels among others). I get scared and try to gently steer her toward pearls, etc. Every single time, she’s gotten positive comments on her choices. Apparently there is such a thing as too bland! And there is no underestimating the value of feeling good in your outfit.<br>
3) I’d be curious as to how the voice teacher dresses, especially if she’s getting push back from the kids. One of my daughter’s school teachers is young and petite, and has been known to wear some pretty short dresses with high heels to concerts. I told my daughter that if she ever dresses like that once she’s a teacher, I’ll slap her silly (figuratively).<br>
Have fun! This sounds like a blast! Is this a small group of kids? If so, maybe you could actually contact a store like Nordstroms and do a workshop. We used to do that with Limited Too when the girls were pre-teens (girl scout trip). It was a blast!</p>
<p>Poto mom—you might want to some specific input from one of your local NATS adjudicators.</p>
<p>This teacher is new and compared to the previous teacher, she has a tougher regimen and doesn’t sugar coat her comments. She’s very good, just different from before. She is a size 4 and dresses very smartly, just what you’d expect from a young professional. I think she would appreciate a third party interference, because it allows her the opportunity “not to be the bad guy” in a sense. I can certainly understand it. I do think this will be fun and I certainly have seen some interesting audition choices. I think the Norstrom’s idea is great and would be really fun. The kids could actually play the role of the judges and critique presentation. I get the feeling she wants me to do this sooner rather than later since they have a recital the seond week of January.</p>
<p>Well, I’m off to “teach” my class today. Thanks for your comments. I got a local consignment store to loan me 8 dresses that I’m going to take. My D and I went shopping this weekend and I took pictures of all the “competition” dresses she tried on. We tried on some bad ones just to have variety. The girls are all bringing their recital dresses to try on and I get to be the bad guy and critique them. Turns out the group is only 7 people so that should be easy. I made a little list for them and it starts out “your prom dress is probably not a good choice!” A (very) little classroom humor.</p>
<p>Another one of those “dreadful oufit” stories- my D’s old voice teacher still remembers a competition years ago where a young woman wore a very nice long gown and bright green rubber flip flops! (She was a local girl, so nothing was lost in travel). The way the judges were seated and with the girl on stage, the footwear ended up being a focal point, which I’m sure was not what she intended. It was a large panel with many older judges who really felt that her oufit showed a lack of respect- need I tell you that she didn’t place? While it may seem petty, they hold the power,so it’s well worth it to pay attention to the little things.
It also pays to know your “Audience”- while my D, like BeezMom’s D will sometimes pair a knock-out set of heels with a plain dress, if you are singing for some more staid adjudicators, strolling out in a “barely-there” short dress and stilletos may not be the thing to do. Sometimes the knowledge comes with age and experience!</p>
<p>Or, to paraphrase Schwenck:</p>
<p>As someday it may happen that a victim must be found,
She’s got a little list — she’s got a little list
Of sartorial offenses that might well stay underground
And that never would be missed — that never would be missed!
There’s the flirty promenade dress with the slit cut up to “there”
With stilleto heels, a boa and some feathers in the hair…</p>
<p>(What else is on your list? Perhaps we can work it in.)</p>
<p>…She’s got 'em on the list — she’s got 'em on the list;
And they’ll none of 'em be missed — they’ll none of 'em be missed.</p>
<p>THANKS BASSDAD! Well, the class was great. However, I did have two boys, which is a completely different discussion. Their question was “how not to sweat in a suit?” Any takers on that one?</p>
<p>POTOMom, sons tell me that you need to wear the undershirt. That’s what it is for.</p>
<p>The sweating issue is a tough one because there are some people who will perspire copiously no matter what, particularly when they are in a situation like an audition. Antiperspirant helps some people, but not all. Undershirts keep the outer shirt from getting soaked through for a little while longer and that can make all the difference. It also helps to have a lightweight suit that breathes a bit rather than something heavy. Some like to change into the suit at the last possible moment and take it off as soon as possible afterward.</p>
<p>Longing to play Ko-Ko are you, BassDad? Seems like we could come up with quite a nice CC G&S troupe!
As for the sweating and the suit issue, go for a wool suit, tropical weight if you must, as the natural fibres breathe whereas poly-blends don’t.</p>
<p>No, my Ko-Ko days are likely over. I got to sing the title role last time round and still do a decent Pooh-Bah, though.</p>
<p>The guys should wear wicking underwear, i.e. cool-max type products…available via travel clothing company, but expensively through Sierra Trading Post.</p>