How to Prepare a Good Audition Song
Name some of the most famous musicals in history: "Rent," "42nd Street," "The Producers"...so many legendary plays to choose from. The point is, every person who helped make these musicals a sensation had one thing in common, they had to sing an audition song. They are no different than you; everyone has to start somewhere. Your start is picking the right song.
- Assess the role that you are auditioning for. Is she a slinky seductress like Carmen from "Carmen Jones"? Is she bouncy and playful like Pollyanna? Is she a femme fatale like Cleopatra? See inside the character and pull out characteristic traits that can help get you into the role. According to the television biopic based on Dorothy Dandridge's life called "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," Dorothy was first slated to play the meek, sheepish good girl character named Cindy Lou. Her intent was to play the man magnate Carmen Jones. She was offered the part of Cindy Lou because of how she was dressed when she came to audition for legendary director and future lover, Otto Preminger. Her mother advised her to return to Preminger's office pretending that she had accepted the part of Cindy Lou, but go in sexy and vampish like Carmen Jones. Dandridge got both the part of Carmen Jones and the married Preminger. See the role; sing the role.
- Come up with songs that would fit the type of character you wish to play. If you were trying to audition for the role as Pollyanna, you wouldn't choose "Justify My Love" by Madonna. Narrow your choices down to about five of the most applicable songs and practice singing them in front of a mirror and in front of family and friends. Whittle the songs down to the top three and then choose the number one choice, practicing for at least a week before the audition.
- Connect with the song and the role. See if you can picture yourself being that person, singing that particular song as if it were the character's theme song.
- Be comfortable. If you can't sing opera, don't sing opera. During a karaoke stint in a local restaurant, a young lady tried to sing a song by Chaka Khan and didn't do very well. That same young lady sang a song by Tina Turner at a bar and was a hit. Pick the song that fits your voice range.