<p>We went with the basics (and encourage members of your household to do the same)- get a flu shot (even if you or your student is not considered “high risk”, its worth talking to the MD about, considering that auditions are a determining factor of the student’s life!), carry-and use- hand sanitizer (hand washing isn’t always possible and even if one can, grabbing ahold of a germ-laden faucet or doorknob afterwards defeats the purpose), stay out of crowds as much as possible, use Hall’s Immunity Drops and AirBorne at the first sign of feeling “off” or even daily when stressed or before auditions. REST, even when at the audition- if you are staying over in the area, you can catch some rest during the day, and remeber, while its great to see everything on campus, its even more important to present yourself in the best possible light, so getting to bed early may be more important than exploring the campus hot-spots.
Especially for singers, all of the above, plus keep the humidity levels right, limit extraneous talking and, in particular, limit talking on cell phones since they require one to alter the pitch of the voice and can place great stress on vocal cords. Audition time is not ideal for learning and presenting new rep-go with pieces you perform and know well since muscle memory can get you out of tight spots and provide a needed “security blanket” during this very busy audition season.
Carrying a DVD or CD to auditions, “just in case”, is always a good idea and don’t be afraid to speak to the Admissions Department if sudden illness occurs. They want to help and many will try to reschedule an audition since the adjudicators/faculty members don’t want to catch a bug either! I can’t believe that it will soon be time to wish this year’s group of “auditionees” Good Luck!</p>