<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am auditioning at several universities for voice and oboe in the next month. I have an idea of what to wear, but I just wanted to see if the dress I have in mind is appropriate.</p>
<p>Here is the dress: Full</a> Figure Color Pop Lace Dress by Lane Bryant | Lane Bryant I would wear it in the jade color (black lace with teal underneath) with black tights and black flats.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>I think a more “covered up” dress would be better. It is pretty but a little too partyish for an audition.</p>
<p>Maybe like this dress: <a href=“http://www.lanebryant.com/plus-size-dresses-skirts/black-dresses/4031c21150/index.cat[/url]”>http://www.lanebryant.com/plus-size-dresses-skirts/black-dresses/4031c21150/index.cat</a></p>
<p>Too much of a party dress? That’s kind of what I thought too. Thanks for your help :)</p>
<p>Think of the audition as a job interview. Typically something with a sleeve, around the knee length, solid color. It is not a party or recital. You do not want to distract from your performance but a little color pop in shoes or accesory can help you stand out.</p>
<p>At Classical Singer last year there was a seminar on auditions. For females the dress was: no shoulder, no cleavage, no back, no knees. Hose, no bear legs. Solid color best. Ok to have some kind of decoration (not distracting) that the auditioners might could write in notes to help them remember you. For males: Suit and tie. Not sport coat. I heard the same thing at another competition in Atlanta.</p>
<p>Rules for auditioning singers- these come directly from a well known teacher and someone who hears MANY kids each season. They also hold for those going for advanced degrees and for performance auditions.</p>
<p>The dress MUST be at least knee length- remember that you may well be on a stage for your audition with the adjudicators sitting in the floor of the house- you don’t want them seeing up your skirt! Pantihose are a must, and if the dress is dark, go with dark pantihose. Tights can be worn only if you have no other option- they don’t look as professional. A bit of cleavage is OK (you don’t need a turtleneck) but stay tasteful- NO plunging necklines and a V-neck is fine. Make it something you’d wear to sing in church or for your grandmother! Go with sleeves- the only exception being if you are a really tiny build and it’s warm outside. A 3/4 length sleeve is always appropriate. As for color: you have options, so pick a solid color, no print, no lace, no huge pieces of hardware. You want attention drawn to your face while you’re singing- pick a flattering color, you don’t have to go with black (you really don’t!) but avoid neon or colors such as greens and yellows that might look bad under lighting etc. Proper undergarments are your friend! Spanx and a slip make dresses hang better and glide over your body- you don’t want straps or hems dangling or lumps and bumps showing.
Girls must wear heels, 3" or lower, depending upon your height and make sure that you know how to walk in them! Black, navy or nude, no white shoes. Even the mezzos wearing pantsuits can have heels, just make sure that the hem breaks properly on your shoe.
Keep your hair off of your face and keep jewelry and makeup tasteful (remember though that makeup enhances your looks and you want to be seen from the audience!). Do bring along a sweater or shawl to toss on while you are waiting since some buildings can be pretty cool, and don’t walk through the snow in your heels- wear boots and change in the building!</p>
<p>Guys- a suit and tie, please, look like you care! Clean,black or brown dress shoes, polished (neutral style, this is NOT the time for your latest purchase from Europe!), and dark dress socks! Do make sure that your suit fits correctly, which means that the pants are long enough and your shirt cuff should show at the bottom of the sleeve. Have your hair cut and keep it out of your face- tossing your head is a negative! If you have an earring or other visible body jewelry, remove it for audition day. </p>
<p>This will make you look professional and neutral. VP majors don’t have the options that MT majors do- let your personality show, but don’t do it through outrageous outfits. Toss a can of Static Guard in your bag to help keep hems and pant legs from creeping up and hair from flying around and a small package of Hollywood Tape is useful for ripped hems or errant buttons (These two tips come from long experience!).</p>
<p>I have a “rogues gallery” of sights that I’ve seen at major auditions and you don’t want to be one of those who sticks out for the wrong reasons! By that I mean the girl who is wearing a shiny, stretch satin mini dress, backless and sleeveless and bare legs paired with white shoes-when it was 5 degrees outside! Or the guy who appears in a polo shirt,wrinkled khakis and boat shoes with no socks… Remember your audience- those hearing you may well be of the older generations, so show respect in how you present yourself. Wishing all of you the very best of luck and looking forward to reading all of the great acceptances as they roll in!</p>
<p>But for the oboe audition, you should stick to a job interview-type outfit.</p>
<p>She could take two oufits but a nice, conservative, 3/4 sleeve dress would not be amiss for an instrumental audition either (although you could switch to flats and tights).</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your wonderful advice!</p>
<p>I’m borrowing your thread Oboe. Good luck to you by the way. Anyway everyone is the pattern on this dress too much. I think it is cute but want to know if it seems distracting. Thanks all.</p>
<p>[Kate</a> Dress WH583 Day at Boden](<a href=“http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Clearance/Womens-Dresses/Day/WH583-DPK/Womens-Berry_Black-Spot-Kate-Dress.html]Kate”>http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Clearance/Womens-Dresses/Day/WH583-DPK/Womens-Berry_Black-Spot-Kate-Dress.html)</p>
<p>Dradsmom- the cut of the dress is nice (love the darting), the length and the sleeves are great,but the pattern is distracting. Honestly the neckline is boring, you want something that will draw the eye up to her face, so look for a V-neck. Set in waists are fine, but don’t wear a belt in auditions because adjudicators end up watching the belt as the singer breathes and it’s distracting!
So, can you find one like this dress in a pretty, flattering solid color?!</p>
<p>lol thanks Mezzo. I never thought about the belt thing. That’s why black works so well!</p>
<p>Pick a color, Dradsmom! Too many girls show up wearing black, so it’s a wise move to wear a color that is really flattering and makes her stand out.</p>