The Banned Songs List
And other audition advice to ease your nerves.
Imagine a college recruiter is watching a big soccer game you’re a starting player for against your school’s rival team. Picture you’re giving a huge presentation in English class. Your palms are sweaty. Your knees are shaking. You are filled with dread about the outcome. What these situations have in common is that you are on display. Feeling a whole classroom or stadium’s eyes on you is uncomfortable. Knowing that your actions could make or break your grade is scary. And fearing to mess up or embarrassing yourself is the worst part.
Before feeling on display, maybe somebody will tell you, “don’t be scared”. Being scared can sometimes be the worst thing you can do. Fear prompts overthinking, overthinking prompts mistakes, and mistakes can make or break the experience. But how can one not be scared when it feels like their entire life rides on the outcome?
That’s the way most people feel about auditions. Or, at least, I wouldn’t expect someone to say, “golly, I love auditions! They’re so much fun and not stressful at all”. Depending on how professional the audition is, it’s likely you could find yourself in a room with a few strangers, a video camera, and the threatening scratch of their pencils on a clipboard of notes — notes determining if you get the part or not.
Thankfully, Overlake auditions aren’t like this. You’ll probably know the people in the room, and those faculty members want you to simply show them what you’ve got. Prior to the audition, the theater department is there to help familiarize you with your music.
However, even though the school musical is supposed to be a fun experience, it’s impossible to take away from the dread you feel stepping into your audition. But never fear, because I have some tips to help you feel a bit more confident. Even though this article is likely going to be released after you’ve already auditioned.
- The “Do Not Sing” List
It’s unofficial, but it exists. In fact, this “unofficial” list has become so popular that some professional casting directors actually send out a real “do not sing” list before the audition. Yes, there are a few songs that should never be sung in auditions (unless your voice sounds really good with it, or it fits perfectly with the character you’re going out for).
Here are some of them:
- “On My Own” from Les Mis. Amazing song, but bad for auditions.
- “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Mis again. Too common, you have to stand out!
- “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. Or anything from Wicked.
- Anything Hamilton. I’m sorry.
- “Tomorrow” from Annie.
- “Memory” from Cats. Why is Cats even still a musical, you ask? I don’t know.
- “Gimme Gimme” from Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Honestly, a good rule is to avoid songs that are currently on Broadway. Also, try to pick a song that parallels the character you want — if you sing a sad song, you’re not showing off the emotional range you have for happier characters, like most of the characters in Seussical. Knowing the character and show you’re auditioning for and picking a song accordingly can be hard, but the thought you put into it before the audition is sure to make an impact. And if you really have no idea what to sing, ask! The faculty is there to help before the audition. They want to help you pick a song that fits your voice, so they can cast you in what role is right for you.
2. Confidence and Connection
Walking into an audition, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself and sink into a shell of shyness. Just remember that everyone gets nervous before an audition, and the more confident you are, the better your audition is going to go. It’s easy for me to say, but if you simply walk in with a smile on your face and a bit of pep to your step, you come across far better to the casting crew.
Also, connect with your material. Become one with the character you embody in your song — know the lyrics well enough to focus on your expressions and movements. It makes it easier for the casting crew to see your acting abilities. Nobody wants to see an unmoving, expressionless actor belting out a song in front of them with a blank stare on their face. It’s a waste of talent. Move around, focus on your facial expressions, and the scene will become much more natural and believable.
3. The 15-Second Rule
My last bit of advice is an important, self-explanatory one. Make the first 15 seconds count. It’s like the hook of an essay. Auditions are short, so it’s critical to make your time count. If you meet a person, you make assumptions based on the first bit of time — their handshake, their introduction, their tone of voice. Give a good first impression and hook in the casting crew by giving everything you’ve got in the first 15 seconds (but leave a little bit for the rest of the audition because, meh, I suppose that’s important too).
Hooray! Now your mind has hopefully been eased of some of the nerves you felt. Even if you already had your audition, use these tips in your next one. And remember, being in a play is one of the most fun things you can do. No matter what you’re cast as, even if you’re a tree, every single actor and crew member carries the show. So embrace your role and have fun!
