If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked about what’s actually going on in an audition room, I would not be living in a tiny studio apartment in Hollywood, I can assure you that.

Auditions can seem intimidating and anxiety provoking, but since they’re a big part of a dancer’s life, it’s important to find a way to enjoy them – or at least not be afraid of them.

Today I’m gonna share 27 tips and tricks that has made my audition-life easier. Hopefully it’ll be helpful to you!

THE DAY(S) BEFORE

An audition process can be stressful enough in itself, so let’s eliminate as much external stress as we can by controlling what we can control. Ever heard of the quote: “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready”? That’s what we’re aiming for here.

1. Print your headshot and resumé in advance

Always update your resumé when you book new jobs so it’s ready to go and always make sure to print headshots and resumés any day BEFORE your audition. Personally, I prefer to always print out 10 at a time when I go to Noho Copy & Print so I have a few on deck in my audition drawer. 

If you don’t have a headshot and resumé, now is a phenomenal time to look into it. Google is your friend. 

2. Decide and pack the day before

A big part of staying cool, calm and collected in a high pressure and high performance situation is to not wait until last minute to do everything. It’s 2024 and we’re NOT figuring out what to wear 30 minutes before we have to be somewhere.

Read the audition e-mail fully, instead of skimming through it. What’s the job, what’s the vibe, who’s the choreographer and who’s the artist? That will give you a clue about your outfit. 80% of the time there will be instructions about dress code in the e-mail. Pay attention and prep the day before, so it’s one less thing to worry about the day of.

Make sure you can dance in your outfit. I get it, maybe your tightest jeans look super cool, but if they restrict you, don’t wear them. Maybe your top is so cute, but try to move in it at home to make sure that everything stays in place. 

3. Bring options

One thing that’s better than being prepared for something, is to be prepared for everything. I always bring heels, kneepads and sneakers for instance. I always bring different outfit options too if i’m in doubt about the *vibe*. Something baggy and something body conscious. I’ve shown up to an audition many times and realized: “Ohh, I interpreted the dress code differently” and changed in the bathroom.

Do what you need to do to feel confident. 

4. Research

Look up the choreographer and videos of their style. Look up the production, the job, the artist, the director – anything that can prepare you to figure out what to expect.

5. Take the choreographer’s class throughout the week (if you can)

Depending on when you get the audition e-mail (sometimes it’s the night before), you’ll sometimes have the opportunity to take class from the person that’s auditioning you throughout the week. That can be a great way to get a feel for what the style is like and to be seen in a smaller class environment before you’re cramped into a room with hundreds of dancers at the audition.

Side not: Besides for the training, that’s why it’s important to take classes in general – so you can be seen consistently by the people you want to work with. At auditions there are typically hundreds of dancers, so your chances of booking the job if you’ve never met the choreographer before is significantly smaller than if you’ve trained with them every week for a year. 

THE DAY OF

6. Have a morning

What’s better: waking up 20 minutes before the audition and stingray-shuffle around, high on adrenaline while chugging coffee and brushing your teeth simuntaneously? Or like… not do that?

I personally like to have 2.5-3 hours before I need to be somewhere, so I can get my coffee, go for a walk, take my time with my hair and makeup etc. so I feel confident, calm and put together. I eat breakfast, decompress and wake up slowly, instead of sprinting around like a chicken without a head 10 minutes before.

If I show up calm and collected, I perform better.

7. Be early

Never be late for auditions. You never know traffic, parking or how many people that will show up. It’s always better to be early than worrying and stressing. If you’re late, maybe you’ll miss learning a part of the choreography too and that can cost you the job. 

Also, being on time in general is such an underated skill that we don’t talk enough about. While your talent might get you in the room, your character and work ethic will keep you in the room. 

8. Sign in strategically

Not always, but often, you get a number when you sign in. If you’re first in line and the first person to sign in, you get number 1. So if you’re late, you’re maybe number 400 and you have to wait longer, because they’re auditioning number 1,2,3,4 and 5 first and so on.

However, if you know you like to practice a little extra on the side before it’s your turn, it might be good to not be first in line. Only you know yourself best – for me personally, i like being in one of the first 10 groups so I don’t get cold and wait around for too long. 

On another note – if you’re standing right behind a dancer in line that’s absolutely phenomenal, I would probably let a few people in front of me to not audition next to that person. It’s nothing personal, but the people around you are your direct competition, so if there’s anything you can do to not dance right next to them, I would take that opportunity.

9. Stretch and warm up

Audition is not class. Sometimes they give you time to warm up but most likely they just get right into the choreography, so it’s important that you start warming up right when you get there. You can even stretch a little bit in the line when you’re waiting. I like to stretch at home in the morning before I leave too, to get the body going.

10. Eat what makes you feel your best

I’m not a nutritiounist and I’m not gonna get into too many details here, but I can tell you that I dance better when I haven’t chugged a venti vanilla sweet cream cold brew 10 minutes prior. You know what works for you, so do that.

11. But seriously, eat.

If you’re not hungry in the morning, then bring breakfast. I get it, sometimes you get so nervous that you don’t wanna eat anything. But you don’t know if you’re gonna be there for 1 hour or 8 hours. You’re an athlete – so act like it 🙂 With love.

Always bring snacks, water, a chocolate bar, protein bar or whatever you think you need to perform at your best.

12. Plan for a long day

Unless it’s SUPER important, I would cancel my plans that I have later that day, to be able to be fully present at the audition. Sometimes, if an audition starts at 11 but I know I have a hair appointment at 3pm, it throws me off because I keep checking the time. I’ve had to leave an audition after 6 hours and not get booked because I’ve had a different rehearsal to get to.All in all that audition ended up feeling like a waste of time, you know what I mean?

Bring warm clothes too, you’ll most likely have times where you’re sweating and dancing full out, followed by waiting around. We don’t want you to get injured or sick.

Always bring snacks. I cannot say it enough.

13. Are your friends going?

It can be so nice to check on your friends and talk about the audition before, talk about what you’re wearing, or what they think the project is gonna be, how many dancers they need etc. etc.

Balance it out though. When we get in the room we keep a distance and focus on what we’re there to do. 

14. Know yourself

Easy to say, hard to do. I know. If you know that you get super in your head and start spiraling because of adrenaline and nerves, try different methods to figure out how to deal with it. Do you need to talk to people while you’re there and focus on a conversation to get you out of your head? 

Do you need to talk to your family before?

Do you have a bad b*tch playlist or a happy playlist that helps you?

Do you need meditation and deep breaths?

15. The power of headphones

I like to listen to my favorite bad b*tch playlists on the way there, I like to get into my own little warm up bubble and focus while listening to different music. And sometimes after you learn the choreography, you have downtime where you can practice while other dancers are auditioning. It can be very helpful to have headphones, find the song and practice the dance on your own before it’s your turn.

IN THE AUDITION ROOM

16. Pay attention to corrections and notes

I know you worry about the steps, but if they specifically say: “Don’t point your toes here but flex them” whereafter you point your toes – that can be really bad. Because they do care about if you can listen and take corrections. So listen to the details.

If they say: “We’re gonna show you the choreography with music, don’t dance just watch”, you GOTTA stand still. 

It seems like little details, but all of this gives them clues about what it’s like to work with you. Being able to take directions is so important. 

17. Treat it as class if you’re freaking out

If i find myself too stressed out, i tell myself: hey, this is just a class! It can be difficult to be fully present and remember the steps if you’re too focused on booking the job and what’s going on around you. But honestly, it’s not very different than a class. You learn a choreography and then you dance the choreography and you do that aaaaall the time, right? 

18. How you learn matters

Of course it’s not horrible to make mistakes as you’re learning, we all know you’re human. However, I wouldn’t mark the choreography too much or think “I’ll just perform it full out later”. Because the casting table is most likely watching you as you’re learning. So your first impression matters.

Therefore, I would perform it and dance full out as much as possible. Don’t just chill and think that they’re not looking at you until later.

19. Smile – be approachable

Theres a fine line between being approachable and seeming too goofy and unserious. I’ve definitely seen both in an audition room. But smile, look like you actually want to be there and bring good energy into the room. Remember, when you’re touring you spend 0.9% of the time on stage, but the rest of the time you’re traveling and spending time with the camp.

They care about your personality. So if you have a resting b*tch face – be aware of it.

20. Don’t hide

It’s so funny how we chose a career that requires for us to be seen – but then we hide in a corner when we have the chance to be seen. I perfectly understand the fear of failing, but hey, you have to believe in yourself and dare to be seen. You can’t wait for other people to believe in you before you believe in yourself. In life and especially in this industry.

21. The casting table is rooting for you!!

Even though it can seem intimidating to be evaluated and judged by a table of directors and choreographers, you gotta remind yourself that you’re on the same team. They want you to do amazing. They’re rooting for you! Yay, friends!

22. Have fun

What’s the point of all of this if we’re miserable, scared and sad? You chose to dance or act or sing becausae you LOVE it (I hope). And it’s supposed to be FUN. So allow yourself to have fun and be excited that you’re in the room rather than terrified.

23. If you forget the choreograpy, don’t stop, keep dancing

It’s no surprise that you’re human. The casting table knows this too. And it’s human to make mistakes. But don’t just walk off and panic if you forget the choreography. See if you can pick it up again or freestyle.

If they see you leave the floor at the audition, how would they know you wouldn’t do the same on stage? 

24. No one will ever judge you as hard as you judge yourself

I’ve been there – stressed, worried and sad because I think I’m the worst dancer in the room and all the other dancers are gonna think i’m lame. Actually, fun fact – people are so focused on themselves that they don’t worry about what you’re doing for a second. Do you go about your day thinking: “wow, that girl in dance class last monday really made a big mistake?”

No. No one does.

AFTER THE AUDITION 

Yay, you did it!! The hardest thing in life is to show up, and you did that! Be proud of yourself. 

25. Reward yourself after

Coffee, a bath, sauna or a nice meal with a friend. No matter if it went well or not, if i booked the job or not – I will ALWAYS treat myself and attempt to be proud of myself for showing up and doing the best I could that day. It’s super important to take care of yourself and be kind to your mind, heart and body.

26. The 24 hour rule

I’ve heard different versions of this one – some people take 48 hours, but I personally think that’s a little too long to suffer. Essentially, this is about how long you allow yourself to be sad after an audition that you didn’t book. If you get cut – that’s normal. It’s honestly more normal than getting booked. Yes, we have to make a big deal out of things that are important to us, but not forever, my love.

It’s a part of your job to be rejected. It’s in the job description. No one in the world of entertainment has gone through it and succeeded without rejection.

27. It’s not personal (whether you booked it or not)

If they didn’t pick you: You’re not a bad dancer, they just wanted something else than what your business offered this time. If you’re selling oranges and they wanted apples, there’s nothing you can do about that. And that doesn’t make your oranges any less juicy and amazing.

I know it can feel like a punch in the stomach – especially if you’ve had 10 auditions in a row where you’ve been rejected, but I promise you, that the job that’s for you will never ever pass you.

These are all just what comes to mind, but if you have other tips you want to share, message me! Or let me know which tip/trick was the most helpful to you!

IG @mathilde.veje
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or vejemathilde@gmail.com

xoxo