SETC Audition Tips (or... "What Bugs SETC Professional Companies During Auditions!")

When planning your SETC Audition, please keep in mind some feedback that we received from the companies who were surveyed regarding monologues, songs and other issues that "bug" them pertaining to SETC auditions. Here are the results from that survey:

Monologues That Are Done Too Much:
"Anal Probe" | "Jockstrap" | "Tuna Fish Sandwich" | "Jesus Picture"

Stay away from monologues that overly use profanity, separate themselves in a negative way (these are usually the monologues that concentrate on race or sexual orientation), or that require an overuse of the prop/ aka chair on stage.

Stand-up type of material that only goes for laughs and hits only one note.

Monologues that only go from one description to another or one laugh to another with no through-line.

Avoid overly dramatic material -- we don't want to go there with you in 90 seconds or less.

About Songs:
Do’s - What the companies would like to hear more of:
Cole Porter | Burton Lane | Cy Coleman | Rogers and Hart
Jerome Kern | Harlod Arlen | Other standards

Don’ts
Don’t do Sondheim in the general auditions (unless you’re over 40 and have been through what the lyrics imply, or can control the phrasing).

For the same reason, don’t do "Being Alive" or "Johanna"

Try to avoid "Vanilla Ice Cream." It’s just done as a delivery vehicle for the money note at the end and no one acts through the lyric as they should.

Don’t do "Naughty Baby"

Don’t do "Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man..."

Don’t do "victim" songs - "Mr. Cellophane" is the classic example of this. Songs about how lousy a person you are make you weak on stage.

For vocal selections: know your range and know your limitations. It also helps to know your type. (It is hard to believe that a male actor over the age of 40 would be playing Hercules, therefore "go the distance" might not be the best selection!)

Over heard songs of 2009 in general (fall and spring): Mr. Snow, Lost in the Wilderness, Purpose, Spark of Creation, Vanilla Ice Cream, Proud of Your Son (Hercules), Go the Distance, Nicest kids in town, Anything from Millie.

You have 90 seconds we would love to hear 2 styles of singing, not just old Broadway. Love the format of song/monologue/song.

Practice your material with an accompanist. Time it every single time and calculate your average. Adjust timing if your average is significantly over or under.

Extra Tips:
Ladies, try to keep your skirts at knee length or below. Also, try to keep your hair off of your face during your audition - wear it tied or neatly pulled back.

Time yourself! Make sure that your audition does not run over the allotted time.

Cut your song down. It only takes 16-24 measures to know if you can sing.

Make a photocopy of your application before you submit it. If it’s too dark - change it!

Try to be aware of your speech. Specifically, do not drop your "r’s" or final consonants. Do not attempt accents - use your real voice.

Proofread your applications and information. It speaks loudly to see you were in "A CHOROS LINE" or played the role of "Huddle" in FIDDLER.

Try not to be gimmicky, if you are confident and solid in your piece, it'll show!

Do material that is within your comfort zone -- don't feel that you have to show every inch of your ability in 90 seconds. Do material that is consistently flawless and easy for you. If we want to hear every single note you sing, we'll call you back.

Avoid fads -- that applies to dress as well as material. Just because a particular composer is hot right now doesn't mean the songs are good. Stick to tried and true material that has earned its place in the repertoire.

Don't sing if you're not a singer.
Don't dance if you're not a dancer.
No standing on issues or using language to shock us.

Don't list any special skills that you are not ready to demonstrate.

OVERDONE - Anything by Jane Martin, "A Boy's Life", "This Is Our Youth", "Spelling Bee" or "Avenue Q", "Privilege to Pee – Urinetown", "Aldonso", "Always True to You", "Go the Distance"