6 Thoughts Leading Up To and On Audition Day

In a previous post I wrote about some ways to effectively prepare for an audition. In this post, I will share some thoughts on how to be comfortable and confident on audition day.

Rest

The night prior to an audition make sure you get enough rest. Although it may be difficult because you may be anxiously waiting for the audition, a good night’s sleep is invaluable to our mental and physical health. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute during sleep our brains are forming new pathways to help us learn and remember information. Furthermore, the NHBLI states that a lack of sleep causes a decrease in performance during the day. When possible, strive for a good sleep before any big event. 

Clothing

On the day of audition make sure you wear comfortable clothing and shoes. It is important to be as comfortable as possible when performing. Irritating clothing can be distracting and cause us to lose our focus when playing.

Additionally, many auditions may have separate rooms for each assessed audition requirement. For example, one room for performing the assigned solo, one room to perform scales, and another room for sight reading. This would mean traveling around, waiting, and standing for some time. Therefore, comfortable clothes and shoes are advisable not only for your comfort when playing, but your comfort throughout what may be a long day, depending on the number of students auditioning. Furthermore, some adjudicators may consider it to be good etiquette to dress up for an audition as you are trying to put your best foot forward. 

Food

Another area of consideration may be the food or drink you may consume prior to you audition. Food is broken down and converted into glucose, which is the energy our brain needs to function. Foods like pasta, cereal, and bread convert into glucose very quickly, therefore, we get a burst of energy and then a crash according to a Harvard Business Review article. Furthermore, the article cited a study done by a team of researchers that found individuals that ate more fruits and vegetables were more productive and creative during the day. This is because fruits and vegetables provide important antioxidants which regulate mood and keep inflammation down. Furthermore, fruits and vegetables contain vitamins which foster the creation of dopamine which aids in the experiencing motivation and focus throughout the day.  With this in mind, it might be worth considering what foods you consume prior and during an audition. 

Self Talk

Consider all the work you have put in to the audition material. It is understandable to get nervous on the day of audition, I too get nervous for performances, but I try to talk to myself and calm my fears, which are often irrational and unfounded. If the work has been done and you are prepared as well as you can be, the goal would be to rest in that and be confident in the hard work you have put forth. As best you can, try to use positive self talk and be realistic about the process and the work done up to audition day.

Warm Up

Prior to beginning an audition it would be advisable to make sure you are sufficiently warmed up. It might also be helpful to come up with a warm up routine, if you don’t already have one. Depending on the day, it may take me thirty minutes or more to feel as if I am warmed up and ready to play or work on my practice material. Whether your warm up includes long tones, scales, rhythms, or etudes – consider planning and mapping out a warm up on audition day. Also consider that there may be a room with other students you may be asked to warm up in. Keep in mind you may have to warm up conditions that are not present in your usual environment.

Leave Enough Time

Whenever I have a gig or need to be at an event at a specific time I like to leave my house with enough time to factor in unforeseen circumstances like traffic or getting lost. Therefore, I like to have a buffer of at least thirty minutes before I am expected to be at an event. Leave enough time so that you can find the venue, get parked and settled, find the rooms you will be auditioning in, warm up, and basically scope out the day. If you’re like me, being late or rushing just causes more stress. When possible, avoid the stress of rushing and the worry of being late. Leave with enough time.   

Conclusion

In closing, I hope these ideas are beneficial and prove helpful on the day of audition. It is no doubt that auditions of any kind can produce all kinds of emotions. The results of an audition are certainly out of our control, however, given what we do have in our control, we should take advantage of that and utilize it for our good. I hope these ideas prove helpful.

Do you have other thoughts on how to be successful on the day of an audition?