I’m pretty sure I have never met a single human being who hasn’t been nervous going to an audition. Why wouldn’t they be nervous? The extra kick of adrenaline can really put a little pop and sizzle into your audition, but too much will cause you to get out of control and fall flat on your face. So how can you manage your nerves and give those judges a stellar audition?

I’ve been auditioning for quite a long time now, since I was about seven. Until about a year ago, every single time before I walked into that audition room I would go completely numb. I would start to shake uncontrollably and rivers of sweat would run down my palms, and when my name was called I don’t even know how I forced myself into that room to play for the judges. As you can probably tell, my physical condition was fit for only a mediocre audition. Now, though, I’ve managed to temper at least some of my nerves, and I’ve come up with a few tips to tame those wild nerves and use them to deliver the best audition.

Practice, Practice, PRACTICE! The worst crime you can possibly commit if you’re planning to audition is to not be fully prepared. You want to be the fully prepared so you can be at your fullest potential! (Did I mention you should practice?)

Simulate the Audition Environment. “When I practice alone in my room I sound like Rubinstein, but in auditions I sound like some fourth grader just starting out on an instrument!” Yeah, me too. Simulating the audition environment can really help you practice calming your nerves. Ask your teacher, a friend, or family member to act as a judge to get the full experience! This may seem scary at first, but doing mock auditions like these will help get you accustomed to what the real audition will be like.

Set a Routine. I’ve heard lots of people say they eat a banana or drink tea before they walk into the audition room. It’s just the placebo effect, but if this works for you then by all means go for it! The key to setting a routine on audition day is to make yourself feel as comfortable and calm as you can.

Confidence! Confidence is the essential element to auditioning! If you shuffle in with your shoulders hunched, you hands behind your back, and stare stony-faced at the judges, what impression do you think you’re making? Certainly not a good one! The judges will listen to your playing through the filter of your impression. Chances are, even if you deliver an incredible audition with absolutely no mistakes, the judges will still score you poorer than you deserved, On the contrary, if you stride in with a determined smile and your posture is straight, you’ve already got the judges thinking, Wow, I like this kid’s confidence! And even if you flub some of your notes or miss some runs, you’ll still sell your audition way better than you would have in the first scenario.

These tips don’t only apply for music auditions. They also apply to auditions for plays, performances, interviews, speeches, and much more!

If you’re reading this and you’ve got an upcoming audition, good luck to you! I’ve actually got one today in about an hour 😀

Katie