Hold an Audition
Holding auditions is relatively simple but without preparation can often go wrong. It is often unimportant what type of audition you are holding, but sometimes there are subtle differences, and different equipment is required. This is universal for most types of auditions
Contents
Steps
- Find a place large enough to hold the audition. If you are only expecting 20 or 30 people for an audition, even your garage may do. If you need a larger space, try renting out hotels or venues function rooms. These often are quite cheap to rent during the day, which is the most likely time to hold your auditions.
- Get the equipment you require.
- If you're auditioning people to become members of a band, you may need to supply amps, leads, microphones etc. If you need a drummer for a band, you will most certainly need to have a drum kit available. Not many drummers will cart their expensive kits to an audition. Other instruments won't be necessary as most people will only play their own instruments
- If you're auditioning an actor or singer for a musical, you may need microphones also, and a stereo or PA to play music through. But more importantly you may need someone to play out parts with them. This should not be too difficult to organise if you are in charge of hiring people!
- Decide whether you are going to hold 'open' or 'set' auditions.
- Open Auditions are where you have a start time for auditions and anyone can turn up. This is done on a first come first serve basis.
- Set Auditions are where you do not list the time or location of your auditions on your advertisements. You just put a contact number up, and when people ring you, you give them more information and a specific time and date for their audition. Though this sounds more complicated, this is often easier and seems better organised. Also, you know how many people are going to show up before they arrive.
- Posters should follow this guide:
- AUDITIONS
- What type(s) of performer is required
- Age and sex requirements
- Time and Date (optional)
- Length of audition
- Contact number, website and email
- Make your advertisements. If you're not artistic/confident enough to make your own get them professionally done. Posters put up in venues, music shops, colleges and schools, drama clubs etc. are often the most effective. But there's no harm in placing advertisements in local papers. Another way to guarantee auditions is to ring Talent Agencies and Agents which can be found in your Yellow Pages. Only good performers are picked up by these businesses. Make sure to be safe about where you decide to put up your advertisements.
- Set an exact time limit on a person's performance and make sure they know this before they come.
- If they are auditioning for a part in a film or play, provide them with a script as soon as they decide that they would like to audition.
- Create forms for when people arrive. Also ask them to bring passport style, photos so when you're debating which to accept afterwards you will remember every person. This form should have:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Address
- Email Address
- Age
- Try to accept every person that rings for an audition, even if they can't make in on your assigned day. Often the most talented are the busiest! So try to accommodate them in a separate/private audition.
- Get together a panel of interviewers, and a few people to organise queues etc, if holding a large audition. The panel should always consist of at least two people, at least one man and one woman, unless you are running an all male or all female band. This looks more professional and one on one auditions can be disconcerting.
- Get the organisers to make a few refreshments for the people auditioning, this shows you care!
- Make sure the place where the people are auditioning is separate from the people waiting to interview, this helps calm nerves and will make it more fair
- Always give constructive criticism if you have any but don't be mean. Don't give away your decision either and tell every person auditioning that you'll get back to them.
- Once the auditions are over, make your decisions and inform the person you've accepted first, then ring/email each person saying that you're sorry but that you'll keep their form in case another opening becomes available.
Tips
- Dismiss people who are clearly wasting your time, but don't be rude to people who, 'aren't what you're looking for.' You should let them finish.
- Always be nice!
- Try to get singers to perform with a microphone to see if they are used to using the equipment etc.
Warnings
- You may need public liability insurance to use a function room or venue, but this is not always the case. Make sure you find out before hand!
