Is it ok if you blank in an audition?

Question

I was at an audition at the weekend and got really upset because I screwed up both the dance routine and song. I knew everything but as soon as I got into the audition room I totally blanked. I missed some steps in the dance and even though I started strongly in the singing I missed the middle line. I just carried on but broke down after the song. There were other people who I know performed worse than me at the audition but I'm sure I'll miss out because I blanked. How to I overcome this and do you think I still have a chance?

Also, the song I sung was taught there on that day in roughly an hour. If it had been a song I knew I'm sure that it would have been a lot easier! I knew the song and I knew the dance before I went into the audition room, just when I got there I momentarily blanked. This is out of character for me and the director probably knows that as they have worked with me before. Thanks for your answers, it has put my conscience to peace.

Answer 1

Mistakes like yours and of the others, I am sure, are caused by not understanding some basic things about acting/performing. First that you have to be so well prepared that nothing can cause you to mess up. Second, that what causes you to mess up is losing concentration, and that happens when you "drop out of character" by thinking ahead or behind of where you are in the routine. You have to stay in the moment. You cannot worry about the past or the future, for if you do , you are no longer the character, but the performer. Every performance, singing, dancing, acting is a character reacting to stimuli. The reaction may be a song or a dance or the next line of the script, but that is what performing is. Third, Acting, singing and dancing are part of playing and playing is something we do for fun. YOu have to approach every opportunity to perform as an opportunity to be able to cut loose and have a good time. Therefore, you approach every opportunity, audition, rehearsal, or performance as a chance to enjoy yourself, and if you do that the enjoyment will shine through and the auitors will see a very effecting performer. Practice this, It works, I guanetee.

Answer 2

Well, to answer your main question... no. If you blank out then it shows them that you can't handle pressure so if you can't perform in front of 3 people how will you do in front of 300. I'm not saying that you wouldn't or couldn't, but that's what they are seeing at the audition. However, you didn't completely blank out. You missed a line (which is still not good. You should know your audition material backwards and forwards). What you sing at an audition is a 16-32 bar excerpt from a song in your repertoire that you know well and have song so many times you could do it in your sleep. Basically you should have several songs that you know well enough to give them a choice of what they'd like to hear if you wanted to.

Also, you said others did worse, but that's not the point. Whether or not you get in will depend on how many talented people they saw, how you handled yourself when you flubbed, and how many roles there are in the show among other things (conflicts, your type, if you fit a role, etc.)

It sounds like if you actually do sing well, then you could get ensemble but that's just my opinion. If the director knows you and knows that to flub an audition is out of character for you then you may get something else. None os us were there and can say for sure. Your best bet is not to fret over what is past and to prepare as best as you can for the future whether or not you get in this show. Get some songs in your repetoire and get into some dance classes. If you can afford private voice lessons, find a good teacher and be consistent. Warm up properly and sing every day. Have the songs in your repertoire ready to go whenever you're asked to sing and since you're prepared you'll be that much less likely to mess up because you're so prepared.

good luck!

Answer 3

Hi
Bad luck with that particular audition. It would, frankly, be a miracle if you made the cut, and if you knew someone on the production team. And no, not okay if you blank at the audition. People will wonder how it will go with you in performance and wonder if pressure like boyfriend stuff, or school stuff or iffy talent will make you falter and not give your best.

So, what to do? Quite frankly you did not know "everything" as soon as you got into the audition room as you blew it all. You were under rehearsed in all aspects. You know you were. So now for future reference. You need to have it all under control from start to finish. Your opinion of "other people you know" who possibly performed worse than you did is your (possibly your mom's or auntie's or boyfriend's?) subjective opinion and actually carries no weight as it comes from the Land of I Wish It Were So, So I Could Feel Better About the Crap Audition. The people you had to please were sitting behind a big table and being terribly polite and profession and encouraging I'm sure, and you didn't get there. Rehearse.

Answer 4

IF they saw your potenital, you will be fine. Also sometimes they'll watch you when u practice, just to see that you will try hard. It depends how everyone else did, but i think u should be okay.