The art of auditioning isn't as subjective as you think. Please DON'T be that actor... it'll take a long time to overcome some of these.
1. Singing a cut that's FAR too long.
You sound so lovely singing with your guitar... awh that's awesome you're pretty skilled at guitar... alright now you're just showing off a little... O.K. we get it *checks the schedule* crap we have 6 more to go before the hour ends and we're going to lose this room. What am I having for dinner tonight? Maybe I'll stop by Chipotle and then I can call Mom and...
STOP. You shouldn't be singing long enough for the creative team to start thinking this way. You will completely lose everyone on the other side of the table if you "overstay your welcome."
Instead, give 'em a run for their money with a short and sweet number that will want them calling you back ASAP for more.
2. Not knowing a song in your book.
Hey what else is in your book? Expect to hear that often, especially if you are auditioning for a brand new show that's still in the works. The team will want to hear a song you really love or perhaps are extra comfortable with.
However, if the writer of the musical gets up and looks through your book and choses a song that you don't know... then you might as well start running your nails across a chalk board. Rough.
3. Not knowing the material you are auditioning for.
O.K. It's one thing when you are auditioning for a show in it's baby stages... But if you come in and audition for Eliza in My Fair Lady and you don't know "I Could've Danced All Night," reevaluate your life choices.
In all seriousness, you will have wasted everyones precious time by faking it through a well known song you should have been prepared for, and risk infuriating the team.
4. Riffing a classic song.
NOOOOOOO! *throws up a little in mouth*
5. Not living in the final moment of your song.
You've given an ABSOLUTELY beautiful rendition of your song, you get to the final phrase, you hold on to that last note for dear life and then you slump your body back to it's normal state and you look for the approval of the creative team before the pianist even finishes. Not only is it a major buzzkill, but you have subsequently taken everything good away from your audition by ending like this.
6. READING off the paper when running the sides.
Whether you got your material a week or a day in advance, try as hard as you can to really know what you are saying. No one expects you to be memorized, but if you are actually reading right off the page..... once again you will have wasted everyones time. Think of how many people the casting director could have called in to audition for the same role. 9 times out of 10, preparation beats raw talent.
7. Coming in and looking NOTHING like your headshot.
This one's really unfortunate, and the reason behind that is because the creative team may have been expecting something COMPLETELY different. They could have called you in specifically because of your look, but if you don't match the picture they have before them, then you have already lost some major points.
8. Lying on your resume.
You just nailed your audition and you are about to leave on a high note (no pun intended) and then they pull out a banjo and ask you to play. Well, it does say you play banjo on your resume. You haven't touched a banjo since you were in 3rd grade when your dad took you to lessons for one day. Why dare to put yourself if that situation? Yikes.
