Don’t

1. Sing a song you just learned that morning.  You already have a song you are really comfortable singing and that sounds pretty great — but you fear it’s overdone, or you wonder if it really is in the “style of the show”.  So you scramble through your books and learn a song hours before the audition (or if you’re lucky a couple of days before).  Then you walk into the audition full of nervous energy because you’re not even sure how the accompaniment goes, and frankly, it’s a gamble that this will turn out well.
2. Make excuses before you even start your audition.  I have heard: “I have a cold so this may not sound great.”, “I got lost and just got here so I’m out of breath.”, “I brought the wrong book so I don’t know this song very well.”, “I just heard about the audition an hour ago so we’ll see how this goes.”  All this really tells me is that you have low self esteem and are attempting to sway us to feel sorry for you so that when you deliver an average audition, we will excuse it as not being your fault.  And this is insanity because we are already thinking “NEXT!” in our heads before you even open your mouth.
3. Wear uncomfortable shoes or inappropriate clothing.  Six-inch stilettos and a leopard mini-skirt?  Unless it’s your intention to help us visualize that you are perfect for Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (and even then, a risky move), wear clothing that is comfortable, makes you look professional, and doesn’t distract people from seeing what you are really capable of bringing to the table.
4. Email or pull aside a member of the Production Team to ask for feedback.  Unless you have a personal relationship with someone on the team or he/she has made it clear that they would be happy to give you some feedback, confronting them after the fact to find out why you weren’t cast or what you could have done better (no matter how nicely worded) often just comes across as a ploy to voice your displeasure.  Most of the time, not being cast had nothing to do with you.  Only you know if you did your best.  Learn from that and move on to pursue a different opportunity (that is now waiting for you because you are available!).
5. Accept a role only to change your mind later because you were cast in a bigger role somewhere else.  This pet peeve is really for the community theatre actor – as breaching a contract at the professional level is a career killer.  It’s great if you have choices right?  But there is nothing more frustrating to a production team than to lose an actor half way through a rehearsal process because the cast member thinks there’s a better part somewhere else.  Word gets around!  Other theaters WILL hear about it.  And that company will remember it next time.  When given a choice, a director will choose a person they know and trust over someone who might have more talent but has a bad reputation!

Do

1. Sing the song that shows you off the best.  Unless there are instructions to not sing a certain song or to avoid a composer (i.e., No Sondheim), it really doesn’t matter what you sing as long as it shows you off and makes the audition panel remember you!  Students often agonize over finding a song that fits the show they want to audition for, but unless that song is also a great showcase for you and you have lots of time to polish it, always sing what you know – the song you could sing in your sleep!
2. Exude confidence.  Enter the room with energy and a smile.  Look people in the eye when you introduce yourself.  Even if your knees are knocking, do your best to appear comfortable and focused.  If you make a mistake, keep going and don’t let it show!  Be polite, be kind to others.  Take ownership of your audition.  We may not even notice you are sick or nervous, and if it’s obvious, we will applaud your perseverance!  Wouldn’t you rather get extra points for a good attitude?
3. Practice your audition with a real accompanist.  Unless it’s a school production where they ask you to sing a cappella, most live theatrical and opera auditions require you to sing with a pianist.  Doing this well is a practiced skill.  Singing with an accompaniment track will only get you so far.  And worse, if you’ve never even heard your accompaniment, what will you do in the audition when you hear those notes for the first time?  Do yourself a favor and be completely prepared!
4. Have a backup song in your binder.  Every once in awhile you may be asked if you have “something else.”  Be ready to say YES!  There is nothing worse than knowing they wanted to hear more of you, and you didn’t have anything to show them!  Ideally, have several contrasting pieces in your binder (different tempos and styles).
5. Clearly mark your audition cut.  Help yourself by helping your pianist.  Clearly mark “start” and “stop” in your cut.  Talk through the cut briefly with the accompanist if necessary before you start.  Quietly sing the first couple of measures for them so they are clear on the tempo.  And mark if you need a single note or an introduction of any kind.  Finally, thank them nicely for playing for you and NEVER give them a dirty look or blame them if they don’t follow you well or if they make a mistake.  They might be helping to cast the show too!