Re: response to audition result.

My daughter went for an audition for Hot Micado. She told me that she did not think she would get in because she felt very uncomfortable for the audition. I believe she works very hard to be able to perform in a show, but obviously on the audition she was not good enough. I find it extremely inconsiderate that whoever was in charge of the audition never got back to her to tell her she was unsuccessfull. It is difficult for a young person to get a part in a show , she would be very happy with the smallest part.Could anyone advise on the best way of going about getting experience in both musical theatre and also audition technique???Presently my daughter is doing an excess theatre art course at the acadamy and also doing an english degree at Curtin majoring in theatre arts.Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted.Regards Jackie

Hi JackieIn an ideal world directors work hard to make auditionees feel better about themselves when leaving an audition than when they arrive. They also call everyone who auditioned personally, regardless of whether or not they have been cast, to thank them for auditioning and offer some praise and encouragement.It's an ideal. It is achievable. To my shame, i know it just doesn't always happen.***In my experience, people are rarely cast on the basis of "being good enough" for a role.I've almost always been in the happy but difficult situation of having many people audition that are more than good enough for a role. My casting decisions invariably revolve around a person's suitability for a role, rather than their capacity to perform it.There's an important lesson in this for despairing actors. If someone is cast ahead of you, it doesn't necessarily mean they are "better" than you. Just that they fit the director's vision for the role.***Rather than approaching every audition as a pass or fail examination, consider it an opportunity to learn something. How did your focus, breathing, voice, nerves hold up? What could you have done that might have made you feel more prepared? Listen carefully to feedback in the audition. Take the opportunity to find out more about the production and the company. "Network" unobtrusively with the other auditionees.Above all, don't be afraid to ring and ask for feedback!Cheers,Grant

EMAILNOTICES>no> I find it extremely inconsiderate that whoever was in charge of the> audition never got back to her to tell her she was unsuccessfull.While I agree with you, one should also consider that often there arejust too many names too remember and it is all to easy to simply forgetone or two names from your list. Don't let her take it personally.> It is difficult for a young person to get a part in a show , she would> be very happy with the smallest part.That very much depends. For women, yes it is. There are simply moreladies in theatre than there are guys. A driector reaaly gets his choicebut is usually lumped with whatever male talent turns up.> Could anyone advise on the best way of going about getting experience> in both musical theatre and also audition technique???Basically, keep auditioning for as many shows as she can find. Don'trestrict yourself to one audition every so often, Start of by auditioningfor two possibly three shows. She's going up against a lot of competition,and I mean quantity, not quality. There will be many others trying tryingas well so it's best to increse your odds. Don't restrict yourself to onetheatre. Find others and audtion there as well. Everyone is doingmusicals presently so they shouldn't be too hard to find.> Presently my daughter is doing an excess theatre art course at> the acadamy and also doing an english degree at Curtin majoring in> theatre arts.If she is studying at Curtin, then she may want to focus more on the course.I found taking shows outside Curtin hindered my study, but I still enjoyeddoing it mind you.I also have a couple of friends doing theatre at Curtin as well. E-mailme directly and I could give names.As Grant said, don't take not getting in personally. When you havea large number of applicants, actual talent becomes less important.Everyone is talented, so let's have a look at - "do they fit with thevision of the thing, is this who I see the character as?" And that doesn'tmean it'll come down to the "best looking," more likely the mostappropriate look. Things like, can you dance, how well, what doesthe voice sound like, etc.I could go on, but you get the point.