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Attire for audition day

BeezMomBeezMom Registered User Posts: 217 Junior Member
edited December 2009 in Music Major
Looking for suggestions here. My daughter had planned to wear a fairly formal black dress that she's worn for recitals, competitions, etc. However.....

This friday's audition involves a full day at the school, audition, interview, tour, etc. A little black dress doesn't seem appropriate for that type of day (especially given that it's late fall in Princeton).

Would a skirt/sweater combo be appropriate? Looks like we're heading to the mall after church, but wanted to ask the crowd in case someone was online early.

thanks much!
Post edited by BeezMom on
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Replies to: Attire for audition day

  • violadadvioladad Registered User Posts: 6,645 Senior Member
    A "what to wear" search turned up info in these:
    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/240407-audition-tips-info.html?highlight=wear
    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/808930-advice-first-ever-college-audition.html?highlight=wear
    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/761902-online-source-black-concert-dress-skirt.html?highlight=wear
    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/658518-what-wear-vocal-audition.html?highlight=wear
    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/299767-audition-dress-code.html?highlight=wear

    One option is to wear comfortable yet appropriate attire like the skirt/sweater combo, find a bathroom, and change prior to or after the audition. The attire should be interview appropriate, although the dress would be fine for that. A lot depends on how your day is structured. You'll need comfortable shoes, so don't forget if you do the two outfit route.

    Good luck.
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  • Singersmom07Singersmom07 Registered User Posts: 4,060 Senior Member
    DD always traveled with a change of clothes. The black dress for the audition because that is what she felt best in, but the change of clothes for before or after if there were other activities. It is easy to change in the restrooms. You will find everyone doing it.

    I carried the bag - just call me the bag lady for all auditions. I had the extra copies of everything with the backup CD resume and head-shot in case something was needed, the clothes and shoes and extra stockings, hair and makeup fixes if audition was later in the day, the water, the high energy snack. I carried the outerwear when she went in. Most times those things weren't needed, but insurance.
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  • jazzshreddermomjazzshreddermom Registered User Posts: 1,360 Senior Member
    Just curious. I've scanned the audition dress threads, and the suggested attire seems a bit formal for a jazz guitarist. Or am I completely out of it? Do they show up in slacks and black, etc?
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  • wascoswascos Registered User Posts: 26 New Member
    Whatever you do, just don't underdress. I came to my first audition dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt and felt extremely out of place as everyone else was dressed nicely.
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  • violadadvioladad Registered User Posts: 6,645 Senior Member
    jazz/shreddermom, black shirt, black pants, black shoes is acceptable attire.
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  • binxbinx Registered User Posts: 4,318 Senior Member
    BeezMom - I can't remember what your D's area is - voice? Instrument? Voice students seem to get dressier than instrumentalists, and classical instrumentalists seem to be dressier than jazz folks. Most of the instrumentalists I have seen at auditions were wearing dress pants and nice top (girls) or collared shirt, often with tie and jacket (boys).
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  • sopranomom92sopranomom92 Registered User Posts: 1,339 Senior Member
    When my D did her first audition last month (voice), it was a day-long event, filled with school tours, sessions with the music conservatory faculty/students, performance attendance. So, she brought the outfit and changed into dress and heels before the audition. Her dress is made of one of those knits that won't wrinkle no matter how you stuff it in your bag. So, she was really comfortable during the day, but dressed appropriately for the audition.
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  • SpiritManagerSpiritManager Registered User Posts: 2,817 Senior Member
    My son was oblivious to the idea of dressing up. It was winter - which is foreign enough to a California boy - so he dressed for comfort in a long sleeve t-shirt and hiking boots for the snow! This was at Michigan for a composition audition - which included an audition on his primary instrument. The other instrumentalists were in suits, or tuxedos! And the other composers looked so strange to my son, dressed in jackets and ties. The professors on the composition panels kept wanting to talk about the graphic on his t-shirt (which belonged to his older brother and of which he had absolutely no connection) - probably they meant to put him at ease about being so underdressed - but since he was oblivious to the whole thing he just thought they were interested in the dinosaur skeleton! It never bothered him in the least that he was dressed completely differently than the other applicants - although just like the actual students milling around. (I, of course, was a bit mortified.) Earlier in the fall when he had an informal interview/meeting with the head of the composition department at USC he was in ragged cut-offs, flip-flops, and a tie-dye t-shirt. Again, he fit right in with the student body...

    His clothing seemed to have no effect whatsoever on the outcome - at least not in a negative way. But I would certainly have encouraged at least a button shirt for the audition, and maybe nicer shoes...
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  • BeezMomBeezMom Registered User Posts: 217 Junior Member
    Binx - D is auditioning as a Music Ed major - voice primary. She's decided to go with a look that she feels would be appropriate for a teaching interview - Straight knee length skirt in black w/grey detail, grey and black open front cardigan, black dress boots(medium heel) and a teal blue cowl neck. Hair down with a headband. She can remove the cardigan for the audition. Friday is supposed to be sunny and 39 degrees, so I think the layers will be a bonus!
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  • musicamusicamusicamusica Registered User Posts: 6,468 Senior Member
    "appropriate for a teaching interview" ---perfect! "Job interview" attire was what I would recommend for a school audition.
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  • BeezMomBeezMom Registered User Posts: 217 Junior Member
    Quick update: The most common attire for the day was the jersey (fabric, not the state) version of the little black dress. 50/50 split between heels (high) and flats. Well, 49/49, because my Daughter wore mid heel boots. I have to admit to some palpitations on that one, but I kept saying to myself "they are dress boots, they're okay. Breathe." One young gentleman was in full performance tux attire - I'm guessing piano perf major. My takeaway - wear what makes you feel comfortable, professional and competent.
    Best of luck to everyone auditioning this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  • Mezzo'sMamaMezzo'sMama Forum Champion Music Major Posts: 3,551 Forum Champion
    Oooh, not liking that idea of formal wear. It never looks proper before the sun goes down (!) and is not the thing to do for school auditions, no matter what how "important" the reputation of a college. Then again, I never understand why guys wear tuxes for daytime weddings either...
    The flats vs. heels debate occurs every year, and is really a matter of personal preference- my D dislikes singing in flats and will only do so if required for a costume!
    I'm sure your D was terrific today! Was it crowded?
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  • BeezMomBeezMom Registered User Posts: 217 Junior Member
    Crowded in the AM - thinned out a bit as performance majors finished, Mus Ed majors stayed for interviews. As we were leaving, the grad auditions were taking place. Those were treated with the respect that is normally reserved for a religious service. We had to go to Admissions to get the HS excuse note, and were re-routed through the side door and definitely hushed. The entire voice faculty listens to those auditions. I have to say - it was nice to know the level of care they were taking to evaluate students that had already invested their lives to the study of music!
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  • stradmomstradmom Registered User Posts: 4,859 Senior Member
    Helpful Hint of the Day:

    Make sure the door to the audition room is COMPLETELY closed before you squeal joyfully, "Yes! No sight reading!!"
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  • Sop14's MomSop14's Mom Registered User Posts: 792 Member
    Too funny, Stradmom!

    Most of the girls auditioning for voice whom I saw yesterday were in skirts, carrying their high heels; I only saw two black dresses. My D was unusual in very dressy pants, but we both felt she was appropriately dressed (especially given the snow in the forecast). The school's voice majors were gossiping disbelievingly about the violinists auditioning in jeans and hoodies, though.
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