Drama School Auditions - What Am I Doing Wrong?

Thousands of people audition every year for places across the country and only a handful get in. If you're one of them it's because you stood out at the audition. If you didn't, that absolutely doesn't mean you're not good enough. It takes some people years and years of trying before they are able to get in. But don't give up! It's now you're aim to be the one that stands out the next time.

Song choice: This is crucial! A bad song choice can steer you onto a never-ending path of rejection. You need something that shows you off at your BEST. Try not to go with the obvious. Everyone gets bored of sitting through the same classics from 'Les Miserables' and 'Phantom of the Opera' - that's not to say these songs are worthless, but when the aim is to stand out form the crowd, this won't get you the best results. At the same time the song can't be something so obscure that no-one has heard of it. Whilst it's good to show diversity and knowledge of other material the panel still need to be able to compare you to a version they have heard before.

Play your age: It shocks me how many people want to learn songs they are completely not suitable for. When it comes to Musical Theatre, there is context in every song. There is a reason why the character is singing about that specific topic at that specific point in time. Without that the songs won't make sense. So an 18 year old walking into a room and singing something like 'Bring him home' (meant to be played by a 40-year-old man) won't show you off at your best, and in turn, won't show the song off at it's best. Likewise, a 40-year-old woman singing 'Tomorrow' from 'Annie' would convey no sense of consideration to the context. Songs can be taken out of context but only to a certain extent. It's best to use the song to your strength and not try and re-write the background in order to fit your voice.

Be yourself: It's important to understand that a Drama School wants you for who you are! You want to show off your strengths, not your weaknesses. You will have years to master these once you've got in. So think what aspects of your voice/personality are the best attributes of you, and tailor your song choice to that. Don't try and be something you're not! Remember no one else will be able to walk in the audition room and give the performance you can give. You are utterly unique in yourself so be proud of that and embrace that.

So pick a song you're comfortable with and that suits you, play your own age and most importantly BE YOURSELF! You are the best performance you can give. That's all the panel can ask for!

Good Luck.