I was reading an article on job interviewing skills. The author said a lot about first impressions, and that in just 4 seconds, a job applicant is sized up with regard to:
- appearance,
- intelligence,
- poise,
- ability to exude confidence and
- willingness to contribute to a team effort.
So I started wondering about how those qualities might "fit" into an audition scenario.
In a job interview, the applicant may be given ample opportunity to demonstrate his talent and his potential asset to the company for which he/she is interviewing. The interview itself may be quite lengthy, cordial, friendly, even if the interviewer is not necessarily impressed and ends up tossing the resume into the trash once the applicant has left the office. All very civilized!
An audition, while containing some of the elements of a job interview, is very different! You get out onto the stage, you begin to sing, and in seconds, not minutes, the loud, bombastic sounds of THANK YOU! (pause) "NEXT?" come barreling up to the stage, stinging your ears and your pride as you slither away off the stage and out the door.
So what are the elements of a good audition? Upon listening to literally thousands of auditions, I have come up with what I believe to be the 4 basic essential elements:
Talent - Confidence - Musicianship - Authenticity
Let's take them one at a time.
TALENT
Naturally, if talent is not present and immediately recognized, the audition is a total bust and is terminated instantly! Let's assume that you do have talent and that it's sufficient to warrant this audition.
How do you SHOW your talent in the first 4 seconds?
1.Choose a song that you know blind. In other words, one that you are so sure of that you never have to worry about forgetting a lyric or whether or not you'll hit that high note.
2. Choose a song that you LOVE! It's so much easier to enjoy yourself when you sing a song you simply adore, and enjoying yourself is part of the "first impression" the judges are evaluating.
3. Choose a song that instantaneously demonstrates your range and vocal quality...even if you have to start in the middle of the song.
4.Let the song express YOU and nobody else, (in other words, do NOT imitate anyone).
CONFIDENCE
If you have prepared sufficiently, you should be able to exude confidence in spite of being nervous. Take a deep belly breath before stepping onto the stage and tell yourself that you are wonderful and will do great!
Lack of confidence is easy to recognize almost immediately, so the preparation, that is, learning your words and making them your own is vital! Those of us who hold auditions regularly are fully aware of the "butterflies" syndrome and will make allowances for a performer IF the singer has obviously taken the time to prepare his/her performance. Don't posture! Just Be yourself!
MUSICIANSHIP
As is the case with "American Idol", many auditions are held "a cappella", which is without a musical accompaniment. If you cannot hold the tune without hearing it played for you, then please...DON'T AUDITION! Get some ear training before you embarrass yourself by not being able to stay on pitch.
AUTHENTICITY
A genuine inner quality that shines through a performance gets immediate attention. I don't know how many auditions I have listened to where the singer was obviously trying to impress me rather than just being REAL. An artificial performance can really turn me off...where every note and body movement is so meticulously choreographed that there is no connection to the lyrics and a total absence of spontaneity and vitality in the performance.
One of the things I emphasize heavily and regularly in my practice is the need for a singer to truly KNOW who he/she is in order to demonstrate genuineness to an audience.
It takes courage to be YOU, but that is why we perform: to be who we are, warts and all, through our music. And it is this quality that most will instantly CONNECT with the one listening, whether it be a director, producer, or someone in the audience.
Notice, I did not mention having an excellent voice as one of the key elements. That is because if your voice is not up to par, you should hold off participating in auditions until your voice is further developed.
I wonder about those singers who tried our for "American Idol" last fall, who were totally humiliated and made fun of, first by the judges, and then by the network producers, who continued to air the most awful auditions weeks into the season. Why on earth would a person put him/herself through that? Get your voice into shape before you audition - for anything!
Finally, although it may appear to some folks at times that in America, we as a culture seem to celebrate mediocrity, for those of us who see art as the salvation of humanity, the only thing that can cut through the cynicism and go straight to the heart, performing a song is not just a way to get one's 15 minutes of fame on TV. Being an artist is a personal responsibility...to uplift, inspire, and cause an otherwise cynical fellow to stand up and say, "WOW...that moved me!"
Chrys Page is a singer, vocal coach, and eBook author of "The Art of Singing" Series, a set of "how-to's" for serious and committed singers.
Chrys provides singers worldwide with a variety of products and services geared to motivate, inspire, and help them on their vocal path wherever it may lead.
http://www.singyourlife.com has been serving singers for 8 years with online lessons, backing tracks, sheet music, and a monthly newsletter filled with timely tips and advice for singers.
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Her latest website, http://www.Karaoke-And-Beyond.com is exclusively for singers who wish to take their singing to another level, which is singing to "live" music.
At this site, the singer finds Keyboard and Guitar Lessons, and a variety of self-help music books designed to help singers learn how to accompany themselves when they sing. The "Art of Singing" series is also offered, along with great deals on musical instruments through an affiliate link.
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