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I wanted to direct you over to Maren Montalbano’s site where she has posted about upcoming performances she is doing with The Crossing.  This is an extraordinary group.  I also have their website blogrolled.  Her concert information can be found at this post.

Top 10 Tuesdays

Top 10 things to to say (or not to say) in an audition.

1.  DON’T say you’re sorry.  At the most frustrating of auditions, this can almost seem unbearable to not do, but don’t do it!  Most of the things you thought were issues or mistakes may not even have been picked up.

2.  DO say “thank you” – You can say this no matter how unhappy you were with the audition.  I say, “Thank you for hearing me”

3.  DON’T make excuses - Walking in to an audition and starting with, “Wow, I’m really tired right now or ”I’ve got a cold” - is not the way to go.  As hard as this may be, this is not a good idea.  Don’t make excuses for your performance before you even have begun.

4.  DON’T break focus – you’ve all seen it in open auditions where someone forgets the words and they roll their eyes – my heart breaks for them when I see this in the audience and I’m instantly uncomfortable.  Just keep going.  I remember a departmental I did in school where I was singing Caro mio ben and forgot the words half way through.  I sang gibberish until I got back on track.  I actually received a comment from another coach.  Don’t lose your cool.

5.  DON’T shake hands! – don’t make them feel uncomfortable by walking right up and shaking hands with everyone UNLESS they are standing up and approaching you first which, if they are that happy to see you – that would be so cool!!

6.  DON’T look them in the eye when you are singing.  Ever.  That is all.

7. DO thank your pianist.  I can’t say this enough.  Here is a little something I do.  I put a smiley face and a “thank you” in the music at the end of my song cut.  In the audition I just had last week, the pianist stopped me as I was leaving and thanked me for that notation.  Know that in auditions, the person playing piano could be the music director.  This has happened many times with me.