As the fall semester rolls around, music and theatre majors will start to audition for some of the biggest events of the semester. The audition will include more than just filling out forms, writing essays and getting those letter of recommendations. Here are five things that you can do to prepare for a successful audition!

1. Communicate:  Get to know the faculty members of the department. It will help when your audition comes around and they see a familiar face.

2. Expand: Try out for multiple parts. Who knows, maybe you are meant to be Glinda instead of Elphaba.

3. Dress appropriately: Don’t wear six-inch heels to play Emily in Our Town.

4. Trust yourself: If you don’t think your audition was the best, why would other people think so?

5. And most importantly of all: Relax: As I am sure we have all learned the hard way, sometimes the best advice can be to take a deep breath and count to ten.

We give plenty of advice on what to do during an audition, but sometimes it is important to look at the things that you should not do. Here are five ways you can avoid some embarrassing mistakes

1. Prepare: This isn’t your high school play. A lot of time and effort goes into your audition from the Iowa State Theatre Department, don’t waste theirs.

2. Research: It is important to understand who you are auditioning for and what program you are applying to.

3. Respect: Just because all those other Juliet’s are there to find their Romeo, still demonstrate respect and support.

4. Be ready for the unexpected: So the interviewer stops you in the middle of your piece or cuts you off, what do you do? Do not let these requests distract or upset you.

5. Ask questions: So you didn’t get the part? Make sure to ask questions or follow up so you are guaranteed a callback on the next audition!  

Break a leg!