Getting Kids into Theatre: Tips for Audition Day

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It’s Time for Auditions

When you are trying out for a play you must be ready to preform, which means knowing the ins and outs of auditioning. In this post you will find all types of auditioning tips and tricks for the big day.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we moved over the summer, the kids had auditions over the summer. All three were cast in a play at the local Artcraft Theatre. 

I had just found out they were going to have auditions for a local play the same week we moved to town. The kids had never auditioned for anything before so I wasn’t sure how they would do but I knew they could make friends trying.

Tips for Your Auditions

They were all anxious about the whole thing since they were brand new to the town but I was able to encourage them to at least tryout. Thankfully we learned a few things along the way which made it easy the next time they wanted to try out for a play. Here are a few auditioning tips:

• Research it! If you can find out the name of the play ahead of time that is great. Go online and see if there is anything on it. Chances are it might just be on Youtube. Read over the script or watch the clip and see if it is any interest to you.
• Practice it. If you can find it online figure out the part you want to do and start watching it over and over.
• Do the part you want in front of a mirror. If you know what script you may want to try doing it in front of a mirror. Doing it in front of a mirror lets you see what you look like doing it. Learn when you should do an emotion or what you might need to work on.
• Get family/friends involved. Ask some close family or friends if you could do a few lines in front of them so you have an audience. This way you are prepared to go in front of the casting director. Ask them where you could improve.
• Meditate before you go up. Take a few minutes before going in to just breathe so you get rid of stage-fright.
• Listen to the instructor. For my kids they had a few classes the day of try-outs to test to see where they thought the kids would be best suited for.
• Play with it. Be prepared to go up and just have fun. Don’t be boring, unless of course that’s the role you are trying out for.
• Eat a good breakfast. You don’t want to go on an empty stomach and either pass out or have everyone hear the grumbling of your stomach. Same thing goes for passing gas, you don’t want to eat something that gives you a lot of gas.
• Get sleep. You want to show up awake and alert. You don’t want baggy eyes, sleep shot eyes or to be yawning when it is your turn.
• Have a song ready. If you are trying out for a singing part chances are they’ll want you to come with a song you can sing. Learn a song and bring it.
• Own the room. When you walk on to that stage to audition do not be afraid. Walk right in, smile on your face and looking directly at your audience. This is the type of person they are looking for. They want someone that is confident and ready to go.

Songs that are popular for an Audition

Just Josie Jo has a great youtube channel to follow and learn more about auditioning and things you should know about the theatre. Her list of songs is great and even gives you a few new ones to try out with instead of the original. You may want to ask the instructor if they want you to know a particular song though.

As Katherine Steele suggests be positive and happy when you walk in. If you are frowning or upset they are not going to want to cast you. Be fun to be around because that’s not only who they’ll want to be around but who will get along with the rest of the cast. No director wants to worry about if you are going to be a sour grape and spoil the rest of the crew.

Standing Out for an Audition

Madeleine Harvey has a Youtube video on 5 ways to stand out at an audition. Just a few tips I heard about while the kids were trying out was to get expressive. Use those hands for waving, if you can cry on cue for a crying part do it. It’ll definitely get people to notice you. Change your voice if you can, my son recently had an audition for a cowboy to which he used a southern accent and howdy in his announcement. He also made sure to shout out Yee haw when the time came.

So you have quite a few things you know you need to do for your performance. But there are a few things you should NOT do at an audition. I actually did not know you should NEVER walk onto the stage in character, at least not unless the director tells you to do so.

What Not to do at an Audition

Knowing what to do an audition day is great, but here are a few audition tips that you shouldn’t do.

• Don’t be late!
• Be prepared for your piece. Don’t wing it!
• Walk with confidence, do not walk on stage scared, nervous, stuttering.
• Never be in character when you first walk in the room for an audition. Wait to be told to begin.
• Stop with excuses, once you walk in don’t tell them your entire life story. They don’t care, they want to see you act! Say morning, how are you? Stand ready.
• If you were given the script don’t walk in not knowing a single line or not being prepared. This is wasting everyone’s time and showing you aren’t really committed.
• Don’t cry because you messed up. Chances are if you don’t show them you know you messed up you can slide right through it.
• Stop comparing yourself to another actor. Be yourself and be happy with it.

You Auditioned, But Didn’t Get the Part

So you gave it your all but didn’t get the part you wanted. Oh well, maybe next time. You could always ask if there is anything you could improve on.

You’ve got a called back for a different part

You didn’t get the part you wanted, but you got a call back for another part. What do you do? My tip to you, unless you absolutely refuse I would suggest quickly reading the new script and doing it. BabyGirl was trying out for a part in her school play and didn’t get it, instead she was called back for a different character. She had to decide if she didn’t want to do the play or if she still wanted to have some fun.

I explained to her that maybe this would be a better part for her. Maybe she could play a bit in a character that was new to her. Maybe the director didn’t think the part you wanted was for you but they saw something else in you that you may not have. Could this be a piece that not only gets you a part but moves you forward in your acting career?

I hope these have helped you so that you or yours are ready to audition for that next play. If you have any auditioning tips we’d love to hear them.

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