Killer Singing Audition Cheat Sheet

Transcription

Killer
Singing Audition
Cheat Sheet
How to
Rule
Every
Audition
And Avoid the
Mistakes
Your
Competition
Doesn’t Know
They’re
Making
BY KIM SNYDER
Voice Instructor & Artist Development Coach
www.TheVoiceClub.com
©2011 The Voice Club. All RIghts Reserved.
Killer Singing Audition
Cheat Sheet Sheet
How to Rule Every Audition
And Avoid the Mistakes Your Competition
Doesn’t Know They’re Making
by Kim Snyder
of The Voice Club
The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
Any business or medical advice that I give is my opinion based on my own experience. You should always seek the advice
of a professional before acting on something that I have published or recommended.
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www.TheVoiceClub.com
Killer Singing Audition Cheat Sheet by Kim Snyder
......about
the author
Touring in a family trio from the age of
four, Kim Snyder didnʼt know there was
anything else but to be a singer. Her
mother, a classical vocal instructor and
performance pianist taught her to
harmonize and do all of the things that
singers do.
When she turned 15 she began working
as a session vocalist and was introduced
to rock belting. No longer was the ʻlittle
girlʼ sound marketable. But belting mean
the loss of most of her notes. Kim
continued working as paid live vocalist,
studio singer and voice talent into
adulthood while struggling with the same
vocal issues most singers have; Why
canʼt I sing more notes? Why canʼt I have
more power? Why do I feel like there are
holes in my range? Am I just not that
good?
After years of searching and dozens of
vocal instructors who claimed there was
no problem that she met an instructor
who called her “a beautiful fake”. She
knew she had finally found someone
could hear what she had heard all along.
And that meant someone who could fix it.
What began as a search for knowledge to
further her own voice led into training as
an instructor to help those closest to her
who had the same questions.
Today Kim teaches students all over the
world via Skype and is a requested
conference and workshop instructor.
Having worked her entire life as a singer
in every major genre and having
struggled through a medical journey that
threatened to take her voice forever, Kim
is more passionate than ever to help
every singer find their voice and make it
heard like never before.
Jingle Credits Include:
Kansas City Royals, Anderson Erickson
Voiceover Credits Include:
Voice of the Sprint phone, Hallmark, Disney, the
NFL, Christian Dior, yada yada yada
Albums/Label:
Day by Day, Rock Foundation Records
Snow, Independent
Live Performances:
Main stage, Atlanta Fest
Main stage, Rock the Light, Kansas City
Main stage, national telecast, Kansas City Plaza
Lighting Ceremony
Opening Act, Superchic[k]
Opening Act, SonicFlood
More Importantly:
Wife of an incredible man for over 15 years and
www.thevoiceclub.com
Cheat Sheet Sheet
“
How to rule every audition and avoid
the mistakes your competition
doesn’t know they’re making
In 2011 I attended some of the ʻbig showʼ auditions with my teenage daughter. As
someone whoʼs been singing for money for most of my life and who has judged
talent competitions I knew how these things could chew up and spit out singers. I
was hoping they would be gentle to my baby. But not surprisingly, the experience
was pretty brutal; on both ends.
For one, I was really surprised at how little the potential contestants seemed to
know about the audition process which left them open for more potential pain at
rejection time. I also found it especially sad that, even for an audition (which is a
cruel process by any standards), the mobs of hopefuls were treated with a new
special level of disregard.
Letʼs be honest; auditions are tough. Yet the prize is usually tempting enough for
sometimes thousands to do whatever it takes to take a stab at it. And thereʼs
really no reason you shouldnʼt. After all, you have just as much chance of winning
as anyone, right?
So if youʼre going to take the risk wouldnʼt you rather be among the few who knew
how to prepare, to really hedge your bets and make every audition the greatest
opportunity possible, regardless of the results?
You can! So letʼs get started.”
“I really want to help you grow as an artist. Thatʼs why I took the time to put this resource together
for you. If you have any questions or just want to say hi you can connect with me on Facebook
(TheVoiceClub), tweet me @thevoiceclub or email me at kim@thevoiceclub.com. Iʼd love to hear
from you.
Also, would you please do me a favor and respect my copyright by not passing this to others?
After all, these secrets are just for YOU. Thanks!“
(clickable) Table of Contents
Types of Auditions........................................................................pg 1
Biggest Audition Mistakes............................................................pg 7
Getting the Right Kind of Attention..............................................pg 13
How to Be You...But Better..........................................................pg 17
Whatʼs in a Song?.......................................................................pg 19
Making it Yours............................................................................pg 22
Do the Judges Really Know........................................................pg 24
Preparing for TV Singing Show Auditions...................................pg 28
What If........................................................................................pg 30
The Prize Everyone is Offered....................................................pg 31
Types of Auditions
And What They Each Expect
An auditionsʼ an audition, right? We might think
so but the producers would beg to disagree. So
before we unlock the keys to designing your
perfect audition, itʼs important to take a look at
the types of auditions and the expectations of
each.
Volunteer Musical Theater
Auditions at this level are usually for a school or
community play. Judges are usually drama
instructors and/or show producers. Volunteer
theater is where it all begins. Because the
auditions are open call (open to anyone) you
have a better chance of landing a role. But in
the case of Community Theater, some
communities have a large residence of casual
actors and in those places the competition for
leading roles can almost be as tough as for paid
“Donʼt expect all volunteer
theater auditions to be a breeze.
Some can be as competitive as
those for paid theatrical roles.”
theater.
The expectations at this level are that you can
memorize and deliver a basic monologue (a one
man/woman mini play lasting a minute or so)
and a song. You might be asked to bring a
headshot. Donʼt be intimidated by other talent
who bring professional head shots. If youʼve got
them use them but itʼs not necessary. A good
picture of your face will do.
If youʼve done any other talent work; plays,
public singing, etc. put it all on a resume along
with your name, age, and contact information
and staple your picture to that. If you print your
own picture it should be printed on heavy glossy
photo stock. Put your name and contact
information on the back of it incase it gets
separated from your resume.
Depending on the show, the song audition
may be a capella (without music), with piano
accompaniment (bring sheet music) or with
a track (rarely). Sometimes youʼll be asked to
dance a few steps they teach you at the initial
audition. The initial audition posting should tell
you if youʼll be required to dance. More often
youʼll dance and sing another song at the
callback. A call back is just a second audition to
move you closer to consideration for a role.
1
Types of Auditions
What song should you pick for a volunteer
musical audition? The first rule is never to pick
you can find this. Most productions will email the
callback list with details of that audition if you
a song from the show youʼre auditioning for.
Instead, choose one that has the same feel as
the part you really want.
ask. After the cast has been selected from
callbacks the final show rehearsal schedule and
script/song details will go out.
If you do Community Theater remember that no
“Never choose a song from the
production youʼre auditioning for.
Also avoid over done audition
songs.”
role is insignificant. Keep a list of all
productions youʼve participated in, including
school plays. Youʼll want to add them to your
resume under the headings Production,
Show, Producer, and Role. Keep pictures from
each production just incase you need them for
your resume in the future.
For instance, if youʼre auditioning for Beauty and
the Beast and you really want to be Belle you
donʼt need a big power ballad to audition with.
She doesnʼt really sing any. All you need is a
medium tempo song that sounds ʻlovelyʼ like
Belle. Think something like “Somewhere Over
the Rainbow” where can show great emotion
and dynamics and still sound ʻlovelyʼ. This will
help the producer hear you in the part you want
more easily.
Avoid songs from any current Broadway
musical as well as the ones producers are
very tired of hearing. As of the printing of this
book you can find a list of over auditioned songs
and composers to avoid here. Check this before
you get your heart set on a song. Avoiding
overdone songs can matter less at a Community
Theater level but itʼs still a good habit to be in.
Once you audition for Community or School
Theater a callback list will be posted. The initial
audition posting should tell you when and where
Paid Musical Theater
Paid musical
theater is
sometimes open
to experienced
community
theater actors
but most
commonly
requires you to
be a union actor.
Despite popular
belief, pretty much anyone can become a
union actor. The reason people donʼt is that itʼs
pricey. Most actors/talent wait until theyʼve been
asked to do a job thatʼs for union talent only.
That happens when theyʼve been doing nonunion work for awhile and have the opportunity
to audition for a show, commercial, etc. usually
through a talent agent or casting agency.
2
Types of Auditions
Killer
The time to become a union member is when
youʼre offered a union job. Most of the time
what the job pays will cover most if not all of
your first time union dues which can be in the
thousands depending on the union. Itʼs only
worth joining a union if you are in a position to
seek and accept enough work to make it
financially feasible. The annual fees to renew
your union status are substantially lower but you
donʼt want to be constantly be spending more
than you make unless you have tons of extra
cash in which case I want to be your very good
friend.
Once youʼve been an AFTRA (radio and
television), SAG (screen/film), AEA (actors)
union member, or member of another qualifying
union for one year you can choose to become
an Equity Actor which allows you access to
great paid auditions. At this level the
expectation for auditions is much greater.
You will be expected to maintain a repertoire of
both music and monologues showing range of
musical skill and emotion. Youʼll want to have
your sheet music marked with the sixteen bars,
or measures, you want to sing. Youʼll want to
have at least a power ballad (longing), a soft
ballad (sad/demur), a really upbeat/fun song
and something intense (rock, fast, or just
angsty). Monologues for theater auditions will
need to show the same range of emotion.
For paid theater auditions youʼll need a
professional headshot. This may contain one
8x10 size print of your face and shoulders or a
comp card which shows several moods. Youʼll
Comp card courtesy of http://www.acjphotography.com
want to find a good agent to refer you to a
photographer who does actor headshots – they
are very different from standard portraits.
Your resume is typically included to show your
experience, which may include Community
Theater, commercials, voiceovers, singing in
bands, or any performing experience you have.
Ideally you want the bulk of your resume to be
theater work but fill as necessary with any other
talent work youʼve done; free or paid. At this
level you will need an agent. They will walk you
through what producers in your area want to
see. The best way to find a good agent is by
looking on any of the union websites and
seeing who they like to work with. Personal
recommendations from other actors should help
you narrow the list down to the ones that are
best suited to you.
3
Types of Auditions
Youʼll be auditioning for more people at this
level. Like Community Theater there are
Local/Regional Singing Competitions
typically only two levels of auditions; the
initial audition and the callback. Casting is
generally decided at that point. At a
professional level auditions are pretty efficient.
Youʼll sign in, supply your headshot and resume
For a budding singer or singer/songwriter, local
and regional
singing
competitions offer
the chance to
and wait to be called to audition.
perform, get in
front of judges
and hone your
singing chops in
front of an
Theyʼll tell you when they want to hear your
song, hear your monologue and let you know
when callbacks will be posted and where. Then
you say thank you, smile and leave. Never chat
with the producers after your audition or ask
follow up questions. One question at the
beginning is fine but itʼs considered very
unprofessional to slow down the audition
audience. These
range from radio singing contests to battle of the
bands and school/college competitions.
process in any way and they will remember it.
pitch a station, a sponsor or get community
support behind an event. They are not about
talent. But theyʼre still great opportunities for
experience and networking with other
musicians.
Local contests are almost always designed to
Itʼs important to remember that many of these
contests are not organized or run by anyone
with a profession background in singing. The
judges may be little more than local store
Callbacks are announced with information for
returning auditions, which may include a specific
song or dance to perform. After callbacks theyʼll
post the list and your agent will be notified.
owners, sponsors or notable names from the
local newscast. They may have little to no
musical experience or qualifications for
giving an intelligent assessment of your
talent. So why do them? Theyʼre great
opportunities for you to gain new fans, learn to
control your nerves on stage and test out songs
for more important auditions and performances.
4
Types of Auditions
You may or may not get comments from the
judges that you find helpful. Either way, chart
them the forms provided at the end of this book.
If you start to see a pattern of comments after
several contests (anything deeper than ʻnice
voiceʼ, etc.) you should pay special attention.
Use these contests as
great experience and a
chance to learn to
encourage other, less
gracious talent. Youʼre
gonna need that skill!
Contests at this level rarely
require the paperwork that
Musical Theater auditions
do. Usually you show up, fill
out some kind of application
and/or release and sing
when called. Each contest
can vary quite a bit in the
way they do things so make sure you check the
website and materials provided. Find a contact
number or email handy for questions you donʼt
see answers to.
Typically youʼll be given a slot number or time to
compete. Youʼll be told where to wait and when
to take the stage. These contests are a great
place to try out your ʻbig showʼ auditions. Plan
them as you would an audition for American
Idol. It will really set you apart, especially at this
stage and the experience make your big show
auditions much easier.
Nationally Televised TV Shows for
Singers
The big time....the lights....the cameras....the
dryness in your throat that doesnʼt stop and the
knocking of the knees that
threatens to topple you to
the floor. Ah yes, the big
audition.
TV talent shows are just
local contests all grown
up. At the upper level you
will have judges who
should know enough to tell
you something about your
voice. I say ʻshouldʼ
because Paula Abdul
broke the record for
wardrobe over talent
comments on American Idol.
Itʼs crucial to understand that TV talent
shows are first and almost exclusively TV
shows NOT talent shows. Thereʼs nothing
wrong with that. But understanding that will help
you make the most of your audition and the
information you receive.
“The most important thing to know
about televised talent shows is that
they are ratings, not necessarily
talent driven ventures.”
5
Types of Auditions
TV shows exist for ratings. Their goal is to
evoke an emotional response like hatred,
succeed in music, just if youʼll make it on this
season of their show.
shock, love, or joy from the widest audience
possible. Talent is just the avenue they happen
to be using. Thatʼs why they will send a
talentless clown out on stage before a sweet
little songbird from Texas. Despite what their
Have you ever wondered why itʼs so hard to
get behind the scenes details for these
shows beyond the first big audition? They
beg you to tweet about it then shut you up! It all
marketing material may say, they are not looking
for the best singers in America, or Holland or
anywhere. They are doing what all TV shows
do: typecasting.
goes back to who they are; a show. The reason
for all the silence is just business. They donʼt
want other similar shows to know anything
about their process that can be replicated
elsewhere and steal their ratings.
Thatʼs why youʼll be asked to sign a disclosure
that prevents you from ever talking about the
process of the show. Most shows will have you
sign a more detailed agreement every time you
make it to a new round.
Courtesy of http://xfactor.itv.com/
Again, nothing wrong with typecasting. Thatʼs
how shows get ratings. Who to cast on a
show is a literal science that they spend
millions of dollars on developing. What is
important is that you realize that the assessment
of your talent on a TV talent show has to be
viewed through the lens of typecasting.
They are only looking at how you fit into their
plan for their show. That is their job. While itʼs
impossible not to take their critique of you
personally, please remember they are not there
to determine whether or not youʼll every
Sometimes itʼs hard just to know if you did make
it through. Attempts in creativity from lower level
producers make things even more confusing.
Hereʼs the simplest way to tell: If you audition
for a TV talent show and hear anything other
than “Weʼd like to see you back at…..” they are
saying no. If you make it through to the next
round you will always be given detailed
instructions about your callback.
So what are they looking for in a TV talent
show? They want you to be whatʼs on their list
so they can make a great show, get good
ratings and make money. And the best way to
make the cut is to prepare a knockout,
professional audition catered to what they
need. Weʼll walk you through just how to do
that ahead.
6
Biggest Audition
Mistakes
Key Reasons Auditions Fall Flat
I have some great news for you. Of the
hundreds of thousands of talented hopefuls that
will audition for musicals, productions, singing
contests and TV talent shows this year, only a
small percentage really know what theyʼre
doing. That means that you get to choose
which category you want to be in; the small
number who really have a chance at nailing an
audition or the larger group who really donʼt.
Maybe youʼre thinking, “I got this. Iʼve taken
musical theater auditioning classes. Every
audition is the same, right?” Well, no. Each
type of show youʼre auditioning for can be the
same or totally different. Take those auditioning
techniques you learned into a different kind of
audition and you move right over to the group
you though you had escaped!
the winger. They have performed so many
songs well that itʼs really not necessary to do
much more than pull one from the pile and
saunter in to the audition. Does it work
sometimes? Have people survived going over
Niagara Falls in a barrel? Sure. But the odds
are itʼs not a smart idea. Why?
Winging an audition tells a judge 2 things
about you:
1.You donʼt care enough to prepare.
# Translation: You have more ego than work
ethic. They can find ego anywhere, but work
ethic, not so much.
2.Youʼre not serious about the role/show .
Translation: They shouldnʼt be serious about
you either.
3.You donʼt respect what theyʼre doing.
# Do you know how many ʻincredible, off the
cuffʼ auditions they have to listen through?
You just added one more. You are now not
their favorite person and youʼre not getting
through.
Besides not considering the type of audition,
here are some of the most common audition
mistakes people make:
1. Winging It
Among the worst audition offenses is the singer
who is so confident that they can do anything
that they do nothing of value at all. We call them
7
Biggest Audition Mistakes
Many singers think that winging it shows
what a pro they are when it really shows how
coming up. You need something to wear for
your petite little frame. So of course you run
little they know about auditioning. Besides,
any singer, even a truly great one, can sound ten
times better in a carefully prepared audition than
in one thrown together while waiting in line.
Show them the pro you are and make it worth
down to your neighborhood Eno-Barn, take a
quick look around and grab the first thing that
catches your eye; a size XXXL hunting vest.
your time, and theirs, by knowing exactly what
youʼre going to do and why.
There are songs that are right for the occasion
and songs that are not. There are songs that fit
you and songs that donʼt. Then there are the
songs that donʼt just fit you but really look good
on you.
Choosing a song for an audition is no different.
You donʼt want a song. You want the song
that sells you.
Maybe youʼre rethinking some past, or current,
audition song choices. Is your song wrong for
you? Here are some classic warning signs
that it might be:
•You havenʼt taken time to familiarize
2. Choosing the Wrong Song
How many times have we heard a rejected
singer claim, “It was just the wrong song.” Most
of the time there are a lot of reasons why an
audition doesnʼt result in a ticket to the next
round or the role you want. While ʻthe wrong
songʼ is rarely the only reason, itʼs usually on the
list.
yourself with the show/play enough to
know what makes them different from
their competition
•You picked the song mainly because itʼs
popular
•You picked the song because youʼve heard
others audition with it and it turned out
well for them
•You picked the song because you know it
well
•You picked the song because people seem
to like it when you sing it
Many times singers approach picking an audition
song like a shopping trip gone bad. Letʼs say
you had an important, high brow job interview
# # Did you pick the wrong song? Weʼre going
to fix that coming up.
8
Sure we want to move and get into the music.
Closing your eyes is totally fine and appropriate
3. Singing to Yourself
sometimes. Just remember this: you are not
alone.
Please tell me Iʼm not the only one who likes the
ʻbad auditionʼ episodes more than the actual
ʻgood singerʼ episodes on shows like American
Idol. Itʼs like rubbernecking when thereʼs an
accident on the road. You just canʼt look away.
Itʼs nerve wracking to put it all on the line in front
of a few strangers that have the power to crush
One thing that signals a bad audition is the
singer that stares into a black hole in the
room, never breaking focus through their
entire song. Then there are the ones who close
their eyes so tightly that you have to wonder if
theyʼre expecting it all to go away when they
open their eyes again.
your dreams. You can think about that before
and after your audition. But during your song
your job is to sing to them.
Songs are just stories with notes added. We
donʼt tell someone a story by looking at a focus
point above their head. If you approach your
song like a story and your judges as the
Where should you look?.......................AT A FACE (one at least)
What should I think about?..................THE STORY YOUʼRE TELLING
How will I know if Iʼm doing it right?....IT WILL SHOW ON YOUR FACE
What will happen?...............................YOU WILL SEE THE STORY
"
"
"
Some singers hold perfectly still during their
"
RECEIVED ON THEIR FACES
audience you will naturally look at them, connect
with the emotion of your song, move more
song like they are willing every note into place
with all that they have. Still others have
practiced ʻmovesʼ like touching their heart when
they sing ʻheartʼ or ʻmeʼ and pointing when they
sing ʻyouʼ, all while looking into that black hole.
naturally and even vocally style more naturally
and spontaneously. In the end youʼll always
come across as a much better performer.
While the intent is to look like a better performer
the result is anything but.
really connecting with the story. Let your
styling come out of that emotion, urgency, angst,
sadness, etc., and your performance will be
art.
Once you have the words down spend time
9
4. Going for Shock Value
I get that TV shows need someone to laugh at. I
understand that some singers feel that the ʻfreak
factorʼ might be their only chance at getting on
TV. But even in musical theater and other
auditions there seems to be this misconception
that setting yourself apart from the competition
means putting yourself in another space-time
continuum altogether.
As a disclaimer I have to tell you that Iʼve never
really had the desire to be on TV so maybe this
all seems weirder to me than it should, but it was
so hard to watch.
For one, the large woman was putting herself
out there to be laughed at and judged as a non
talent. Donʼt we all get enough of that without
a costume? Why would you put yourself
through that?
The middle aged man was clearly a good opera
Sometimes itʼs outrageous costumes or just
really weird song choices. Lord help us,
sometimes itʼs both. At the X-Factor audition I
attended in Seattle there were two that are
seared into my memory; a very large woman
who dressed like a clown and sang like one too
and a middle aged man in a flamboyant hat with
the worlds largest white feather who sang opera.
This is not him pictured below but clearly this
has been tried before!
singer. He made it through to the second round.
But the reality is that the X-Factor is not an
opera star making machine. If he made it
through he would have gotten some face time to
brag about but either wanted to be viewed as
talent, it was a total fail.
I donʼt know about you but if Iʼm going to stand
in line for two days I want to be taken seriously.
Is it just me or dies this look like the same guy?
Could he be a serial costumer?
10
If youʼre going for little more than your 5 (or
less) minutes of fame, this book is not for
who audition for these shows really do believe
that being accepted or rejected here determines
you. But if youʼve read this far Iʼm going to
assume that you do want to be taken seriously
as a singer. So avoid the temptation to go so far
over crazy hill that your talent is no longer the
object of your audition.
their value as a singer and either begins or
abruptly ends their chances at every
succeeding. Heck, Iʼd be crying like a baby if I
believed that too!
Color your hair all funky, wear something edgy
but functional; which automatically omits the
homemade
Transformer Car
What breaks my heart is that no one has helped
them to understand that an audition is just a
casting call for a specific role. Good singers will
be passed up.
Bad, or at least
getup. Just make
sure the star of
your audition is
your voice.
Auditioning is hard
sub par singers
will go through.
You will feel
horrible if youʼre
rejected. It
work. Donʼt waste it
all on being the butt
of someoneʼs joke.
doesnʼt matter if it
happens at round
one or round
twenty one. But it
doesnʼt have to
5. Not Saving
the Drama for
Your Mama
I spent the last year
attending some of
the larger auditions
with my teenage daughter, a budding
independent artist. I really love her. No one
else could get me to stand in line in the cold
Seattle air that long without sleep, adequate
Starbucks refueling or bathroom breaks!
Not having lived under a rock, I knew we were
going to see high drama. After all, many people
determine who
you are or dictate
whether or not
you should do
something you
love.
Auditioning is a chance to see if what you do fits
what someone is casting for. Many times there
are good reasons you donʼt go through that
should be looked at; musical ability,
performance skills, unique styling,
experience, etc. But many times youʼre just
not right for the role.
11
6. Defying Gravity
The most painful part of attending the X-Factor
auditions for me was the stadium filled with over
styling power singers all singing at once in their
respective fabric lined audition booths.
Too….many……loud…..wandering……
notes….at….once!
Everybody wants to show off what they can do at
an audition; talent show or otherwise. Most
shows/plays want you to have a solid power
voice so you have to show that in some way. Of
course we all want to sound like a star so we
grab every trill and run weʼve ever heard or
rehearsed and cram it into every possible open
Simple space is a rare commodity in an audition
song. Use that to your advantage. Hold out a
note. Just hold it. When you start to run out of
air snap it off. This is most easily done by
overemphasizing the last consonant. If you
were to do this with the word ʻTakeʼ it would
sound more like
ʻTaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaKeʼ. Snapping off
a note is like saying “yeah, I meant to do that”.
No one even notices you were running out of
breath. Itʼs a great way take command of a song
especially when you only have a short time to
establish what you can do.
place in our song.
Look at the rest of your styling in your audition
songs. Throw in those incredible trills
Whatʼs wrong with that? A good song (one
that fits you) is like a woman putting on the
perfect little black dress. All it needs is a tiny
somewhere just make sure you vary your styling
tools and place them carefully so you can set
yourself apart. Control is a very attractive quality
in a singer.
bit of bling (styling) to bring it all together.
But most singers grab everything theyʼve ever
heard and cram it into their audition song. Itʼs
like wearing fifty necklaces over that little black
dress. Pretty soon youʼre so distracted by the
If youʼre looking for
a good resource to
develop your own
unique styling and
sparkle that you canʼt even notice how great that
dress is. (Sorry guys, Iʼm a girl. I just go there.)
understand what
you should put
Styling well makes a song sparkle at just the
right moment. Styling includes runs and trills
check out my video
(notes that go off melody and run around),
dynamics (getting softer/louder, money notes;
holding and pressing into a note for a long time)
and any other tool you use to vary the basic
melody, tempo, feel and texture of a line.
where to perfectly
style every song
course with bonus
E-book “7 Steps to
Successful
Styling”.
.
12
Getting the Right Kind
of Attention
Standing Out as a Talent, Not a
Joke
questions. And theyʼre generally very few. If you
prepare well you can maximize the information
you give the judges/producers to every answer.
And the result is like getting to submit an
additional page to your resume that no one else
is allowed to submit.
Yes itʼs true that pretty much every
televised talent based show purposefully
casts, well, ʻnonʼ-talent. But if youʼre
taking the time to read this Iʼm going to
assume you want to be taken seriously.
Even so, many well-meaning singers
who perfectly expect to be taken
seriously find that the feeling is not so
mutual. So what is it that a judge takes
seriously?
Preparation
The fact that youʼre reading this tells me
youʼre willing to prepare. It also means youʼll
have the tools to know how to prepare for your
next big audition. Preparation tells the judges
that you respect their time and that you are
worth taking seriously in return.
In theater auditions the simple question “What
similar roles have you played before?” can be
answered to let them know not only what role
youʼve played but what you brought to the table.
Instead of “I played Captain George Von
Prepare your songs You donʼt have to learn all
the verses, just the parts youʼll use to audition
with. Weʼll get to how to choose which parts
those are in a little bit. Know the melody well and
Trapp in Sound of Music,” instead say, “I
enjoyed bringing the tender side of Captain
George Von Trapp to life.” Why?
know exactly where youʼre going to show off
what you do.
Now they know that:
Prepare your answers All auditions have basic
1) have experience in a similar role and
2) really do your homework to bring the nuances
of a character alive.
13
To answer the question “Why do you want to
be the next American Idol?”, skip the over
done “I want to inspire others with my music”
and give them a real reason to want to put you
there. Make it personal and plan it ahead. “l
lost my mom when I was twelve and felt so
alone. One day there was a song on the radio
that really made me feel like I could go on. I
want to be that voice for someone.”
At the end of this book youʼll find a great
resource to walk you step by step through
preparing your audition right the first time.
Poise
Hereʼs the cheat sheet on instant poise:
Not to be confused with the adult diaper, poise is
a quiet confidence that tells people you know
1. Slow deep breath in.
what you can do but draws them in to find out
more instead of throwing it up all over them.
2. Slow breath out.
3. Chin up.
Great, so how do you act all quiet and confident
when youʼre hands are shaking and your heart is
beating out of your chest? Well that comes with
experience and control. Thatʼs why itʼs always in
your benefit to audition for whatever suits you
and perform whenever possible.
4. Casual walk.
5. Look them in the eyes.
6. Friendly smile.
7. Resist the urge to rush anything; your
rate of speech, your song, your walk.
“It takes no more time to carefully prepare an audition to give yourself an
advantage against the competition than it takes to weed through dozens of
songs when youʼre not sure how to prepare. “
8. Choose to relax and take the time you
14
Getting the Right Kind of Attention
Rushing anything is a dead giveaway that youʼre
nervous and while they honestly expect that,
You donʼt have a band forcing you to sing to their
tempo. Itʼs just you and the judges. And
poise is the answer to a basic human
communication barrier.
theyʼre waiting on you.
When you meet someone for the first time you
react to the feel they give off; if theyʼre shifty
If youʼve ever read a magazine or know anything
about graphic arts you know that ʻwhite spaceʼ is
important. Without it the coolest graphics in the
eyed you donʼt trust them. If theyʼre too touchy
you want to back away. When theyʼre really
nervous it puts you a little on edge too. So the
more you can look approachable and relaxed in
your audition the more approachable and
world would be lost in a sea of color and the eye
couldnʼt set them apart to see how amazing they
are. Without white space you couldnʼt read this
line. It may not be the star, but white space is
essential for good layout and design.
relaxed you make the judges feel. And that can
translate into more conversation, opportunities to
show them what else you can do and ultimately,
getting the part or getting through to the next
level.
In the same way your audition should have
white space. Slight pauses before you answer
a question. A deep breath whenever you need
it. And the most powerful of all audition white
space maneuvers; milking the space in a song.
Own Your Time
Auditioning can be so unsettling that the urge
to rush and just get it over with can be
overwhelming. The problem with rushing is
that it both makes us look unprepared and
usually results in the ʻjewelryʼ of our song just
getting lost in the pace.
Weʼve already touched on slowing down and
regaining poise. Now letʼs take that to the
next level and talk about how to own your
audition time.
The beautiful thing about an audition that
most people overlook is that those few
minutes belong completely to you.
15
Getting the Right Kind of Attention
To experience what itʼs like sing this line:
“When you wish upon a star makes no
difference who you are. When you wish upon a
star your dreams come true.”
Now sing it with a distinct pause at the commas:
“When you wish upon a star, makes no
difference who you are, when you wish upon a
star, your dreams, come, true.”
Hear the difference? Letʼs take it one step
further. This time press into every bold word
and slow it down, pausing even longer at the
dots.
Give it a try.
“When you wish upon a star…. makes no
difference…… who you are.
When you wish upon a star…. your dreams
with potentially millions in the viewing audience
and millions of their dollars on the line,
Try adding white space in your audition. See
what a difference it makes.
come true.”
What do you think?
Which is more interesting?
Which makes you want to lean in and
anticipate?
Taking control of the timing of your song gives
you a chance to show how in your element you
really are. After all, if youʼre not fun or
interesting to watch at your first audition theyʼre
not going to give you the chance to try again
WHITE
S PAC E
IS
GOOD
16
How to Be You... But
Better
Start by making a ʻyouʼ list. What makes you
you? Write down your personality and qualities
Selling Yourself in 90 Seconds or
Are you friendly, serious, fun, loud, edgy,
sarcastic, shy, nerdy? Write ʻem down.
Less
On average, an audition song should be under
two minutes. Add to that the little bit of
conversation you might have and youʼre looking
at three minutes maximum to make a good
impression. Thatʼs a problem when the typical
judge makes their decision in the first sixty
to ninety seconds. So how do you show
someone all youʼve got in ninety seconds or
less?
people mention when they talk about you.
Now for your story. Everyone has one. What
are the 3 hardest things that youʼve gone
through? How have they changed you? How
was your music there for you? Did it encourage
you? Make you not feel alone? Bring healing?
What are the three greatest things about your
life? How does your music relate to them? Take
your time with this and write down anything that
comes to mind.
Now look at those lists and circle the ones that
stand out most to you. Narrow it down to three
qualities, one hard thing and one great thing and
how music was a part of that for you.
In business there is whatʼs called an ʻelevator
pitchʼ. Itʼs basically a few lines describing your
business that should last no longer than a short
elevator ride.
The Pitch
Who are you? If I asked you to tell me in fifteen
seconds right now could you? You could if you
have a ʻYou Pitchʼ prepared.
Youʼre ʻYou Pitchʼ is your personal elevator
pitch. Label artists are constantly developing
new short pitches like this to sell themselves and
their latest project in their interviews with media
and potential business partners so why shouldnʼt
you?
17
How to be You...but Better
Having a ʻYou Pitchʼ rehearsed enables you to
get out the most important information in the
top ten appropriate. Donʼt go for shock value, go
for “This is so me….dressed up and ready for
shortest amount of time.
the top ten. Now put me in!”
So the next time youʼre asked something like,
“Why should you be the next American Idol” your
ʻYou Pitchʼ will not only answer the question but
Then go in with a ʻtop tenʼ attitude. Expect that
they already like you and are anticipating
hearing more from you. Combine that with a
give them a condensed sales speech to
convince them that youʼre a keeper.
well prepared audition piece and in ninety
seconds or less they really will like you.
The Hit
Think Susan Boyle AFTER, not BEFORE
When you have such a short amount of time to
let someone know who you are, every little detail
counts. This includes what you wear.
A general rule for TV show auditions is to dress
like youʼve made the top ten and are dressing for
a live show. But now that youʼve developed your
ʻYou Pitchʼ you can customize your wardrobe
choices to really drive home who you are to the
judges.
Courtesy of http://www.telegraph.co.uk
A general rule for TV show auditions is to dress
like youʼve made the top twenty and are
dressing for a live show. But now that youʼve
developed your ʻYou Pitchʼ you can customize
your wardrobe choices to really drive home who
you are to the judges.
In choosing your ʻtop tenʼ outfit, what should
your clothes say about you? If one of your
qualities is funny, wear lime green shoes or
some little fun and unexpected thing. If youʼre
edgy, show off the tats (tattoos) and nose rings.
If youʼre sweet, find a sweet skirt that still looks
18
What’s in a Song?
off the songs that donʼt fit that purpose from your
possible audition list. If youʼre auditioning for X-
How to Narrow it Down to the
Best Audition Pieces for You
Factor, which tends to cater to big voices you
can skip your smoky soft version of Blackbird in
favor of something you can really take
somewhere to show off the feature in your voice
that theyʼre really looking for.
Most people start picking an audition piece by
going through piles of songs theyʼve done before
or raking through the internet for some stranger
on Yahoo answers to unlock the key to it all. But
picking the perfect audition piece is actually
a lot less work than that if you just know
where to start; at the very beginning.
Narrowing Down Your Choices
First, what is the show or play youʼre auditioning
for? If itʼs a musical, whatʼs the main theme?
What is the personality of the
character youʼd like to be cast as?
If itʼs a talent competition, what is
the purpose: sponsor attention,
money for a cause, to discover
power voices, pop voices, unique
voices? Who is the target
audience: local residents, 14yr. old
girls, grandmothers? How do you
fit into the showʼs concept? Do you have a great
story? Do you have a unique texture or quality
to voice?
Classics or Hits?
I often get asked the question, “Should I pick an
old song or a new song?” And while neither is
nearly as important as picking the right song
for you and the production/show youʼre
auditioning for, you might still have both new and
old songs on your newly narrowed list that you
have to choose between. So whatʼs the best
way to decide?
1) Your age: If youʼre
young (under 20) singing
an older song or a classic
can give you that appeal
of being an ʻold soulʼ. If
youʼre in this age group
and you find that
sounding really young
has been a comment
youʼve heard a lot, an older song might be the
better choice for you.
On the other hand, if youʼre over 30 singing a
Once youʼve taken the show and itʼs purpose
into consideration and have taken an honest
look at how you fit into it, you can start to scratch
ʻclassicʼ tends to draw attention to your age
rather than your talent. If youʼre between 20 and
30 lean toward the one that makes you appear
younger or older, whichever you want.
19
Whats in a Song
2) The Audience: if the target audience is 14
year old girls youʼre not going to find much wild
on the internet but a good general rule is that
if itʼs super famous, itʼs overdone. At this
applause for a Credence Clearwater Revival
song. That said, the popularity of ʻretroʼ songs
has now made remixes of older songs new to
younger audiences.
point almost all Michael Jackson, Celine Dion,
etc. hits should be avoided unless you
honestly can bring something completely
unique to them. What does that mean? If
you have created a totally unexpected
To check if an ʻoldieʼ is really a ʻnewbieʼ
again, just search for it in iTunes and see
which two versions are most popular. If one
of them is a new remix of the song, you can use
it for any age audience. If not, pick songs that
arrangement to a popular song, go for it. It is
a risk. But if you do it well it can really pay off.
But if your version is not 75% different than
the original song, move instead to lesserknown songs from your favorite artists.
are closer to the main age of the target audience
to be safe.
Which One Fits YOU Best
Most network TV shows aim for the widest
appeal possible. If they can rearrange classics
Now that you have a good idea for which songs
or older rock songs into tween versions they can
capitalize on the interests of both age groups.
Thatʼs why weʼve seen tons of retro mixes in the
last few years. If you donʼt need to pick a song
to counteract your age and youʼre auditioning of
are going to fit the show and not annoy the judge
itʼs time to plug in the ʻYou Factorʼ. Lay your list
of potential songs aside for a minute and answer
the following questions:
a network TV talent show, any age song will
work. Just avoid #3:
1) What do you love about your voice? (control,
range, power, texture?)
2) When are you the most connected to what
youʼre singing? (when youʼre rocking, when
youʼre singing a sad story)
3) Songs That Have Been There and Done
That: Unless you sing regularly and have a
large repertoire, the first ten audition songs
that come to mind are probably on the
blacklist of songs to audition with. That
includes songs in the last five years that were
chart toppers and songs of any age that have
3) What are the comments people make most
about your singing? (Do they love the softness in
your voice, the power, the way you
communicate, the edginess?)
been SO overdone that many producers and
judges just canʼt get beyond being sick of
them to hear the great voice thatʼs behind it.
There are lists of overdone songs everywhere
Now revisit your potential audition song list and
ask yourself which songs meet that criteria.
Those are the songs that are perfect for this
audition and your voice.
20
Whats in a Song
Three Must Have Songs for Every
Audition
You are a fortunate soul if you get asked to sing
three songs for any audition. But the following
songs are not just to have on hand, just incase.
Theyʼre essential so you can change your
audition plan last minute if you find out
something about the show that letʼs you know
you need to take your audition in another
direction. What are they?
Something That Moves: You want to have an
upbeat song. It can be an all out rocker or just a
very happy kind of tune that makes you want to
snap your fingers. The key to this song is
energy. If you find that the last three auditions
before yours led with power ballads and didnʼt
get asked back it might be a good idea to pull
out something to change the mood of the room.
A song that makes you wanna move tends to
make people want to move along with you. And
moving makes people happy. Maybe even
happy enough to send you through just for the
favor.
Something
That Moves
YOU: A song
that you are
emotionally
connected to is
a must have.
This might be
a very soft jazzy tune or a power ballad.
The key to this song is moody. It should affect
you personally; make you almost cry, take you
back to a time in your life. It should tell a story
that makes the judges a passenger on your
emotional ride. If the auditions before yours are
all screamers or crazy it might just be time to
lead with a mood change.
Something Different: This song might be
comic relief, a surprising style (conga, reggae,
etc.) or just a song that you do something really
different to. (No nose flute, please.) The key to
this song is unique. Some auditions allow
acoustic instruments. Your ʻsomething differentʼ
song might be something with banjo or ukulele.
Just donʼt let the instrument alone be your
something different. Style it differently and make
it very unique.
This song will seal the deal when youʼve
been asked to sing a song or two and they
ask the golden question, “Do you have
anything different?” Youʼll be like “Oh yes I
do!” Even if you never get to use your
ʻsomething differentʼ in your audition, this will be
a great song to pull out the next time you get
one shot to take the stage where other singers
are singing the usual stuff. Itʼll make you a star.
Ok, no promises, but done well, it will make you
popular pretty fast.
So weʼve narrowed our potential audition song
list way down. Itʼs like the final round of
competition for your songs. Think youʼre done?
Not yet! Itʼs time to make the best songs even
better.
21
Making it Yours
If you listen to your songs you should be able to
How to Arrange a Song Just for
You
discover the ʻmapʼ pretty easily. Write the parts
of the map on your lyrics sheet at the
beginning of each section; V1, CH, V2, BR, etc.
You are sooooo way ahead of the competition
already if youʼve done everything in this book so
far. Your songs are perfect for the audition.
Some songs totally buck the system. If you
Your songs are perfect for who you are as a
singer. All thatʼs left is to arrange them to
maximize the ʻYou Factorʼ.
Parts is Parts
Each song you sing has a ʻmapʼ. If youʼre in any
kind of band this probably sounds familiar. Why
do you need to map your songs? Because itʼs
going to make arranging them much simpler.
have one of those just mark the sections in a
way that makes the most sense to you.
Now put a star next to the sections where
youʼre doing something great. If youʼve sung
the song previously you know where the magic
is happening for you. If not, sing it through a few
times and experiment with a few things. Make
notes of where in the song itʼs easiest to
highlight your power, texture, trill, etc.
SAMPLE SONG MAP
Intro !
The first few measures of a song before the singing starts
Verse 1 Usually, but not always the first sung part of the song
Chorus The main part of the song, usually where the title comes from
Verse 2 Most songs have at least 2 verses. Youʼll know itʼs a verse if the melody is the same as
before but the words have changed
Chorus x 2
At some point in the song the main part will repeat so people remember it
Bridge This is a different part of the song that introduces something new. Usually itʼs sung, but
sometimes itʼs an instrument solo. Some songs donʼt have bridges
Chorus x 2
Tag
There may be a key change somewhere in or before the last couple of these
This refers to a repeat of the last line or few words. Many, but not all songs use a tag
22
Making It Yours
Because of the time limit of an audition song
youʼll want your final audition piece to
are? If youʼre edgy, let it show the angst on a
cool thing you do on a note. If youʼre really
contain only two of the elements of the song
map: a verse and chorus, a bridge into a chorus,
a chorus into a bridge with a tag at the end, etc.
plugged into the emotion of song donʼt be afraid
to look sad. Donʼt act. Feel the song. Take the
biggest parts of who you are and look through
the song to see where you can add those things
in.
Donʼt let this throw you. All you need to do it pick
the two best sections of the song for your voice
and put them together in a way that makes sense
to your ear. This will be your new song map.
Now itʼs time to dress it up.
Add Dynamics
Dynamics are shifts in the volume or sound of a
note. Donʼt fall into the trap of just copying the
dynamics of the original version of a song. Look
at the lyrics and what youʼre doing with the
melody and decide where it would be cool to get
really soft. Where would it fit to get really big?
Add Surprise
Most people donʼt know how to do anything other
than try to sound like a singer that did a song.
Copycats only get so far. If you want to show
that you are really an artist and not just a singer,
do something to prove it: Sit back on the beat just
a little (this works better on a song you can snap
to so they realize youʼre sitting back on the beat).
Rush a line then slow down. Heck, come to a
dead stop and pause before finishing a line.
When things donʼt go as ʻplannedʼ in a song, the
judge is forced to pay closer attention. And thatʼs
always a good thing.
In some songs there really arenʼt much better
choices than the original song used. But you can
still customize the dynamics. Just start softer
than they did and make the dynamic shift bigger
when you build it up. Or back off of a line they
didnʼt . Backing off is just as impressive when
Take for example the song Somewhere Over
the Rainbow. Sing this line:
done correctly as belting a note.
Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow, why then oh why canʼt
I.”
Add Charm/Personality
We already wrote out the parts of your
personality that need to be highlighted. So add
them into the song. If youʼre fun, where does a
cute smile and maybe a little wink work in the
song? Where can you build the energy to show
your intensity? How can your face show who you
“Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
Thereʼs a land that I dreamed of once in a lullaby
I couldnʼt hear that but Iʼm sure it was lovely.
Now letʼs take it somewhere new.
23
Making it Yours
Letʼs assume that anything in black bold is
pressed into (sung more strongly). Anything
come out of the room calling them every name in
the book. I get that. We want to believe they
BOLD AND CAPS is power singing/belting.
Anything in pink is sung very lightly and gently
and […….] is white space, or a long dramatic
pause. Now try it again:
know what theyʼre talking about. We believe
theyʼll love us. But when we donʼt get the
response we hoped for itʼs easy to see how
absolutely crazy they must be.
“Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
Thereʼs a land that I dreamed of once… in a
lullaby
SomeWHERE over the
rainbow…..blue….birds…. fly
By now you know that judges are just doing a
job. You have a set of expectations to fill for
your boss or company and so do they.
Birds fly OVER THE RAINBOW,
why…..then………………oh why………….canʼt
I”
and local talent shows are given a list of what to
look for. For the most part they do a great job of
using the experience they have to impartially
judge you based on that list. But itʼs also true
that not all judges are qualified to judge your
What do you think? Does it add more
dimension? Does it make the listener wonder
what youʼre going to do next? Add surprise is
like a smart roller coaster. It takes the listener
on an exciting ride where no one knows where
theyʼre going next but theyʼre just happy to be
Even volunteer judges in community productions
talent alone.
along for the ride.
Do The Judges Really
Know What They’re
Talking About?
Who Do They Think They Are
I love watching the big TV talent show audition
episodes where a singer will talk how much they
respect the judges before their audition and
24
Do the Judges Really Know
What Does a Local/Regional Judge
Know?
All shows, contests, etc. use judges from a
variety backgrounds. They may have no musical
background or experience at all or they may be
very accomplished. The more local an audition
is the higher the chance that you will have
judges who have very narrow musical
backgrounds.
They were in a band or did some local theater.
There is absolutely no problem with that. Just
be aware that they are doing the best they can
just sing well but to engage the producers. Be
friendly and disarming whether they respond to it
or not. You might just get their attention off the
list long enough to like you a little more.
At each additional level there is another set of
show producers. As you climb the chain the list
of what they need for the show and the number
to be let through narrows and the judges
(usually) become more experienced. Keep in
mind that most of their experience might be
producing shows, not singing or working with
talent. Itʼs is a TV show after all.
to view what you do against their ʻaudition
checklistʼ. They are not qualified to tell you
whether or not youʼll ever succeed in music.
Their opinion is very important to the show
theyʼre judging, but should never be taken as a
judgment on you as a musician as a whole.
What About TV Show Judges?
When it comes to auditioning for a network TV
talent show the judging criteria is even more
muddy.
The first ʻproducersʼ you will audition for will
more than likely be a pair of college age kids
with little to no producing or talent experience.
They are given a list of what the show is looking
for at a basic level and how many people they
need to make the cut for that level.
When they listen to you they are comparing you
to the checklist. Thatʼs why itʼs essential to not
When you get to the level where they start
taping for the show you will be moved on to the
ʻrealʼ judges. Finally! An honest assessment
of your talent, right? Maybe. Again, these
judges are here for one purpose; to see if you fit
their checklist for what the show wants to put in
front of their target audience. That is their job.
25
Do the Judges Know
At this level the opinions are generally much
more experienced and because of that, more of
A Note About ʻStarʼ Judges
what they say really does apply to you as an
overall musician. By far the greatest example
of this is Simon Cowell. Simon is not a
musician, but he is someone who makes a living
singling out talent that can make him money.
Star judges are chosen because youʼll watch
them. But many times their experience is not
in developing talent but in trying to be a
talent. Those are two different things.
Thatʼs a person who has an incredibly high
value opinion for an artist. Simon is definitely
a ʻqualified opinionʼ. More on that in a minute.
More artists are starting to develop talent. Ceilo
Green is one who was mentoring other
musicians long before The Voice ever made him
another level of star. Still the majority of singing
ʻstarsʼ have no more skill for developing your
own talent than your brothers seventeen year
old band manager. Never value the opinion of
someone just because youʼve heard their
name. Remember when you didnʼt know who
Simon Cowell was?
The key in getting usable information is in finding
a qualified opinion. And you may not have to go
on TV to get one.
What is Qualified Opinion and Where
Can I Get One?
Even though judges comments at this level
are generally very qualified, you have to
remember that everything said has to be
viewed through the filter of ʻshow talkʼ. Keep
that perspective and youʼll be able to find the
really good nuggets of information in the middle
of comments that really only apply to that round
of that show.
Opinions are a dime a dozen. You have enough
to make you a millionaire all on your own. So
why take one personʼs opinion of your talent
over another? Good question. Weʼve been
conditioned to believe that if someone is named
as a judge or producer, they hold the keys to
whether or not your talent is worth anything.
26
Do the Judges Know
#
Nothing could be further from the truth. The
most important thing you should weigh
#
when getting an opinion from anyone at
any level is if they are qualified to give
you a helpful opinion.
This doesnʼt mean asking if you respect them
But watch out for people who will take
advantage of your quest for knowledge. A&R
record label people are experts at finding
talent that can fit a niche and make them
money. But just because someone has some
association with a record label doesnʼt make
their opinion valuable.
or if other people like them. You want usable
information that applies to you
personally. To get that you have to
ask a few questions about the
person whose opinion youʼre
seeking:
1.Their background: Have they done,
or trained people to do what you do?
Are they a singer or an artist coach?
2.Their experience: Have they done the
kinds of things you want to do? They
donʼt have to be a huge star. If
someone has already been down
any road you want to follow, they
know something that might help you.
Shania Twain Mentors American Idol Contestants
3.Their mentorships: Have they developed
other talent? If they do or have they will be
much better suited to passing on their own
story but and helping you to understand what
the landscape is like.
Every artistʼs story is different. Therefore the
advice you get from a qualified artist or
mentor has a better chance of being valuable
to you.
Courtesy of http://mp3top.org/
In the ten years my husband worked for a
large record label people were always
pitching their demos to him and his
associates. While my husband would explain
why they needed to contact A&R the others
gladly gave opinions which were no more
qualified then your local car salesman and
just about as connected to a chance of
success for the artists. An opinion is just
that, unless you can qualify it as more.
27
1.Their connections: Are they connected to
people, activities or opportunities for singers?
The reason you want to consider this is that
having access to these things gives them a
more current, well rounded understanding of
the expectations of what it takes for an artist
Preparing for TV
Singing Show
Auditions
Special Notes
to succeed at each.
Fight the temptation to ʻworkʼ people for
their connections. The information a
qualified person can give out over time can
be much more valuable than a one time
referral.
Foster a respectful relationship with them.
Not only is it the right thing to do but it will
also stop you from sacrificing a season of
incredible inside information that couldʼve
been yours.
When you look back at this list you might realize
you already know some people who could
give you a very qualified opinion of your
singing and maybe your potential or path to a
career in music. Just keep in mind what your
objective is (ie. Finding out if you really
Every year there seem to be more opportunities
for singers to be discovered on TV Talent
Shows. Itʼs a great thing. After all, sweet little
Carrie Underwood (who you KNOW had to
have been brutally teased her entire childhood
for that name alone) may never have left her
country home in Checotah Oklahoma if it werenʼt
for American Idol.
But for every starry eyed youth who finds
stardom on a show after never having sung
outside of their bathroom there are literally
thousands more left in the pile of collateral
damage vowing never to sing again.
should pursue music) and theirs (Do you fit
what their specific label is looking for right
now).
Put qualified opinions in perspective and youʼll
find that there are many people willing and
qualified to help you succeed. Narrow your
attention down to them and youʼll maximize your
efforts.
28
Even though it seems that so many major
singing stars came up through the ranks of
TV talent shows, the numbers are still
incredibly small when you look at the road
most singers take to finding a music career.
The truth is that a ʻno voteʼ at a TV talent show
audition could be the end of your musical
If you love to sing, find a way. The only
one who determines who you become
is YOU.
dreams. But that is not in the hands of any
judge. Itʼs only in yours.
If youʼre working through this resource in
preparation for a TV talent show I want you
to remember the story of Amber Riley.
At the age of seventeen Amber was so excited to wait
through the line to audition for American Idol.
She had worked hard to design the perfect audition and
believed she had the potential to make it to the top ten.
So it came as a cruel shock when she was promptly
dismissed at her first level audition.
But Amber knew the show didnʼt determine what she did
or didnʼt accomplish as a singer.
Youʼve probably heard Amber sing. She plays the role of
Mercedes on the TV show Glee.
Audition for everything you can. It will develop
you and make you stronger. Every chance is
just that: a chance. And when one chance
fades, another appears.
29
w h a t
i f ?
If you enjoy singing, if there has been anyone
(outside of your mama) that has been touched
by your music, donʼt let anyone steal that from
you. Whether you go on to become a pop
superstar or just sing in the community choir
“Donʼt get so wrapped up in the
audition process that you forget
WHY you sing in the first place.”
once a year doesnʼt matter. We all want people
to think weʼre good, but in the end, doing what
may not experience the joy of singing again;
something I really took for granted. Spending
those long months listening to other people sing
when I couldnʼt literally changed my perspective
forever.
In that time, never once did I think about how
good, or bad, a singer they were. Not once did I
critique their styling or think about what I
wouldʼve done differently. All I saw is the joy
they had from singing that I couldnʼt have
anymore.
Fortunately my training as an instructor enabled
me to get my full voice back despite some
newfound physical limitations. But I see singing
differently now and I hope you will too.
you love matters much more. Sound too
simplistic?
Some of you know that I worked as a paid singer
& talent for most of my life before a medical
mishap almost ended my life. They said Iʼd
never sing at a professional level again and
maybe not at all. And for the better part of a
year I couldnʼt even put two notes together.
Iʼve always loved to sing. Iʼve also always
known I wasnʼt the best singer in the world. It
took me more work than ʻbetter singersʼ to
develop my voice to a place where I really liked
it most of the time and could get paid to do it. I
had been making my living with my voice my
entire teen and adult life so the idea of not being
able to have a reliable voice was crushing.
If singing brings you joy, find the avenue that
best suites your voice and the time you have
and let nothing or anyone stop you. In the end
itʼs not about how people judge what you do.
Itʼs about the fact that you can do it at all. So
enjoy the journey and donʼt let anyone take that
from you.
Even worse, I discovered, was the reality that I
30
The Prize Everyone is
Offered But Few
Accept
WILL YOU OPEN YOURS?
Youʼve won! If youʼve ever auditioned, I can
promise you this is true. The only question is,
“Will you accept your prize?”
The process of
auditioning is big
prize winning box
filled with the
keys to unlocking
who you are as a
singer, a talent,
an artist or a
competitor.
It can help you
discover what kind of music or productions you
really like better or have more success with.
Inside the box are encounters with other
musicians, friendships, opportunities and
contacts that will take you new places.
A few get a bonus gift; another chance to
audition: a callback or another level and maybe
even getting the part or making the show. But
everyone is offered a prize.
Most people dump this box at the curb while
cussing out the judges underneath their breath
or to the camera. Many feel cheated or
defeated. They should. They threw away the
gift.
Michael Jordan is quoted as saying, “I've
missed more than 9000 shots in my career.
I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've
been trusted to take the game winning shot
and missed. I've failed over and over and
over again in my life. And that is why I
succeed.”
Failure teaches us much more than success.
So take the gift and use it to prepare for your
next chance and the one after that.
To help you gage your success and lessons
along the way use the forms on the following
pages. The follow-up form is especially helpful
to identify where youʼve been and where you
choose to go next.
Being a singer is an incredibly wonderful
thing. And if you find any joy in singing then
you are a singer! The saddest singers are those
who have the stage but no joy left for anyone,
not even themselves.
Music can rock, it can heal, it can make you
want to cry or make you want to dance. And you
are a part of that. You need no oneʼs
permission. So sing!
31
SongCheat
Secrets
by Kim
Snyder
Sheet
by Kim
Snyder
You now know everything you need to know to
Auditioning teaches you so much about
customize a perfect audition. Now you just
yourself. It forces you to learn new songs,
have to put it into practice! To make that super
prepare, work hard and it rewards you by
easy Iʼve included a Custom Audition Plan
helping you to discover types of music, styling,
and Template on the next few pages. The
and opportunities you really want to pursue.
first two pages will walk you through how to fill
out the forms to make best use of them.
Along the road youʼll meet other singers; some
who are really difficult to be stuck next to in line
Print out the last two pages for every
for that long, but others you will share this
audition you plan and start an audition file.
common journey with; those that will teach you
When you look back at previous auditions youʼll
something new and those you will encourage
be able to take your experience and funnel it
on the road to becoming the singer you were
more easily to an even better NEXT audition!
meant to be. Enjoy the journey.
Have a GREAT audition!
THANK YOU!
I have the privilege of answering so many audition questions on my blog
and routing on singers the world over. Iʼve worked hard to narrow down
the most important information you need so you can have your very best
audition ever. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it.
But you KNOW I want to hear about your audition! Post it on our
Facebook Fan Page so everyone can benefit. For more vocal tips,
follow me on Twitter @thevoiceclub and I do the best I can to respond to
all my emails at kim@thevoiceclub.com.
BEST OF LUCK FOR A KILLER AUDITION!
- Kim Snyder
The Voice Club Coach
32
YOUR CUSTOM AUDITION PLAN TEMPLATE
Use this template as a guide to fill out a custom audition plan each time you audition. Keep them all, tweek your plan and see your progress.
SHOW/PLAY:
This is the name of the TV show or Musical Play youʼre auditioning for
AUDITION DATE:
Date of your scheduled audition - leave blank until you have one
AUDITION TIME:
Time of your scheduled audition - leave blank until you have one
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER:
If youʼre auditioning for a musical, these are generally the people youʼre auditioning for. If itʼs a TV
show you can leave this blank.
AUDITION CONTACT:
This is the person setting up your audition. It may be a casting agency, show producer or assistant.
Either way write down name, phone, email, everything you have here incase you need to get back with them.
WHAT MAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY PERFECT FOR ME?
You know theyʼre gonna ask you this. So plan ahead. DONʼT be generic. Think about why this is for YOU; Have you overcome
obstacles? What are they? How would you inspire others? Who specifically would be inspired by your story?
SONG 1: Somewhere Over the Rainbow#
#
#
TYPE:# power ballad version
#
#
TYPE:# upbeat
#
#
TYPE:# ballad
#
#
TIME: 1:12
Arrangement: vs1, br, ch
SONG 2: #
#
#
#
#
#
TIME: 1:12
#
#
#
TIME: 1:12
Arrangement: br, ch- key change, tag
SONG 3:#
#
#
Arrangement: vs1, ch, tag
AUDITION WARDROBE: list everything youʼll need to have prepared here so you donʼt forget anything
CALLBACK WARDROBE: sometimes youʼre requested to come back in the same wardrobe as your initial audition, but making a
plan never hurts so you donʼt have to scramble last minute.
1
YOUR CUSTOM AUDITION PLAN TEMPLATE
Use this template as a guide to fill out a custom audition plan each time you audition. Keep them all, tweek your plan and see your progress.
SHOW/PLAY:
This is the name of the TV show or Musical Play youʼre auditioning for.
POST AUDITION RECAP: AFTER your audition, use this section to write you YOU felt it went (regardless of the input you
received) If youʼre upset, wait a few days so you can recap more objectively. Itʼll help your next audition.
HOW DID MY SONGS GO? 5 is the best youʼve ever sung the song. 1 is the worst. You may not sing more than one song. If
you donʼt, just leave the rest blank.
SONG 1:
1
2
3
4
5
NOTES: Rocked the high note - not as nervous as I thought Iʼd be.
SONG 2:
1
2
3
4
5
NOTES: Missed a note on the 2nd line but I donʼt think they noticed.
SONG 2:
1
2
3
4
5
NOTES: Less nervous on this one. Forgot the trill but it felt good.
WHAT DID I DO WELL? Be honest. What have you improved on? What went better than expected? What did you enjoy about
the process?
WHAT CAN I DO BETTER NEXT TIME? Come back to this section a few weeks later. Re-read everything and make some
notes for next time. Do you need to take more time to get familiar with the show so you know what theyʼre looking for? Do you need to
perform more so youʼre nerves arenʼt a big issue? Did you think of a better song choice after hearing someone else?
JUDGES COMMENTS: Write down everything they said as soon as possible so you donʼt forget anything.
Did they ask for a specific song? Why? Make your best guess if youʼre not sure. What follow-up questions did they have?
If you one of the comment was wrong write why. Make it specific.
Once you fill out several audition plans and recaps if you see a common thread in the comments (ʻpitchy dawgʼ) you might want to
reconsider that they might be right. You might also find nice repeat comments. These will give you a clue as to what youʼre doing
thatʼs catching their attention immediately. This is what youʼre doing right. Those are the things you want to do more of (and do them
as soon as possible) in an audition.
WHAT DID I LEARN?
This is THE most important part of your audition. DO NOT SKIP IT! This not a patronizing attempt at making your experience
worthwhile, this is your personal assessment of how you can grow as a singer and as a performer. This is NOT how you can fit into
someone elseʼs box. When you look back on this section after several auditions you might see you have a desire to follow a certain
career path you didnʼt think of, that youʼve narrowed down who you are as an artist, or maybe that auditioning is so hard on you that
you might want to take a break and focus on something else. Either way, it WILL help you discover the things you really WANT so you
can decide what road to take to get them.
2
YOUR CUSTOM AUDITION PLAN
Print This Page to Use for Each Audition You Sign Up For
SHOW/PLAY: #
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
PRE AUDITION PLAN
AUDITION DATE:
AUDITION TIME:
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER:
AUDITION CONTACT:
WHAT MAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY PERFECT FOR ME?
SONG SELECTION
SONG 1:#
#
#
#
TYPE:##
#
#
#
TIME:
#
#
#
TYPE:##
#
#
#
TIME:
#
#
#
TYPE:##
#
#
#
TIME:
Arrangement:
SONG 2:#
Arrangement:
SONG 3:#
Arrangement:
AUDITION WARDROBE:
CALLBACK WARDROBE:
1
YOUR CUSTOM AUDITION PLAN
Print This Page to Use for Each Audition You Plan to Attend
SHOW/PLAY: "
"
"
"
"
"
"
POST AUDITION RECAP
Audition Date:
HOW DID MY SONGS GO?
SONG 1:
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Notes:
SONG 2:
Notes:
SONG 3:
Notes:
WHAT DID I DO WELL?
WHAT CAN I DO BETTER NEXT TIME?
JUDGES COMMENTS:
WHAT DID I LEARN?
2

Killer Singing Audition Cheat Sheet

Transcription

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