"Don't Spend any Time Trying to be Something you Aren't" Like skinnier, or taller....

One of the most empowering things I learned this past week was to embrace your type. Now for you non-actors who are for some reason reading this (don't worry, I'll trying to find things that will interest you... eventually) type means what stock character you are physically or personally like- the main four are (I'll break it down Disney style for you):

Hero/Ingenue (like any Disney Princess and her Prince),

Precious

Bad Boy/Femme Fatale (any bad guy or woman from Scar to Maleficent),

Scary! (and unfortunately mostly ugly...)

Underdog (our dear friend Quaimodo)

Usually uglier than the villains, but more loveable! 

(And played for a time by the talented Jeff Whiting!)

and the quirky best friends (like Baloo or Flounder) 

In the case if Disney... Always an animal? Interesting....

and everyone is at least one of these people. Many actors spend time trying to become the Prince of Princess because they are loved by everyone, get the cool costumes, and get to end the show with a kiss... but more times than not- you are not this character. Sad, I know, but the first step is dealing with it. For example, I found that I am the quirky best friend (usually for girls that includes acne, braces, and pigtails-if you are thinking Penny from Hairspray you are heading in the right direction)

 and the Femme Fatale, which although that sounds intriguing, for women that normally means an old witch or in the case of Disney, Ursula, a fun part but you always lose and when kids see you after, they usually cry.

But what you need to know in the case of types like these, is get to know your type, and LOVE IT. Jeff told us "Do not spend one minute trying to make yourself something you aren't!" (See the foreshadowing of the title? Gotcha!) There is nothing you can do about your type- you are who you are. Get over it. Moving on!

Here are what I felt were the most important tips for vocal auditions:

• Be EARLY (seems simple, yet so many actors I know are ALWAYS LATE!!)
• When a director says "Talk for a minute" they are asking you to do that to read your energy- so engage those around you in NORMAL conversation, but don't let your "crazy flag" show (the hypothetical flag that directors look for to see if they even want to work with you).

That's me... at 10:30 at night... don't judge...

• Figure out your best trait, and remind yourself what it is right before you walk in the door.
• When you walk in the room you need to CHANGE IT. The directors want to sense it from the moment you walk in, not from the moment you open your mouth to sing.
• 10 block rule: be kind to everything within 10 blocks of the audition- don't make the mistake of trashing the show to the director on the subway... again basic, but you would be surprised!
• Finger on the page of the song you are going to sing: No one wants to watch you fumble with your book before your audition.
• Walk in and go straight to the piano. In any vocal audition, the pianist is your best friend (and 9 times out of 10, the pianist is also the music director deciding whether or not they want to work with you).
• Go to the side of the piano that keeps you open to the table, unless you think your butt will help you land the part... but chances are- it won't help you- KNOW YOUR TYPE. (Once a sex pot, always a sex pot- is that really something you want? If so, awesome!)
• Only 10-15 seconds at the piano, then walk to the center of the room and wait patiently.
• 9 times out of 10, the person in the middle of the table is the most important, act accordingly!
• NEVER APPROACH THE TABLE unless THEY ask you to. Just stay the hell away. Put that hand down, and shake hands with them with your eyes at a comfortable distance.
• BIG ONE: NYC doesn't really like you to slate anymore. I know what you're thinking... WHAT?!! Every professor I have ever had docs me 9 and 3/4's of a point for every audition I do without a slate!

Yes, I chose that number for a reason.

I understand what is demanded of you at a collegiate level, I'm just passing the note on from professional directors currently working on Broadway. Look at it this way: They have your headshot with your name on it- they don't need you to tell them your name. And they have been working on Broadway from some time, so chances are, they know the song you're singing. If they don't- AWESOME! That provides time for a dialogue between the two of you after your audition! Embrace it!

• Even though you shouldn't slate, you should be ready for them to say something to you before you start. How embarrassing it would be for the director to say "Where did you get those shoes?" And for you to belt out "TOMORROOOOOOWWWWW!" (Plus, why are you singing that song anyway- we'll save song selection for another day).

Just say "no".

• If they say nothing, but are looking at you: Start to sing. Just do it. Don't wonder "Why won't they talk to me" (Shut that sad middle school self up and realize it is not personal, they just have 10,000 more people to see, and they have had to go to the bathroom through the last 10 screamers, (sorry "bealters") singing "Defying Gravity."
• End the song by "sticking the landing". Picture the figurative audience sitting behind the director's table going crazy for the amazing performance you just did.
• Know that no matter how you're audition just went, YOU ARE ENOUGH. Now, I'm not saying you are right- but you are ENOUGH. 
• Just remember, just because you didn't get the callback doesn't mean you did a bad job, more times than not, it just means you weren't right for the part. (Trust me, I know how it is to feel like you're a duck among swans).

Oh, I wonder why that is the analogy that I chose....

One day, the fact that you are the odd one out will be the reason you land the part you are meant to play.

Well next post will be Words of Wisdom from Susan Stroman. You don't want to miss this people! I will also post the dance that we learned for her shows.!!

Remember: YOU ARE ENOUGH!!!!