<p>This may be me freaking out just a little bit about my first audition next month, but how does one present a slate at college auditions?</p>
<p>I was taught to present my slate one of two ways:
“Name, age.” (for large open calls or auditions with time limits)
“Hi, my name is ___ and I am __ years old. I will be performing ___ from ___.”</p>
<p>I’m assuming the second option would be best (except, perhaps, in the case of schools such as BoCo, where you have 4 minutes). However, when presenting two, three, sometimes four pieces, how do you phrase that? “I will be singing ___ from ___ and ___ from ___ and performing ___ monologue from ___.”? Or do you introduce the first piece, perform it, introduce the second piece, etc.?</p>
<p>All you need to do is introduce yourself by name and then list all the pieces you will be doing by name and show or play. How this unfolds will vary from school to school since some schools have you do songs and monologues in the same room at the same time in front of the same auditors; other schools have songs done in one room and monologues in another. When you enter the room where you are doing your songs, you can greet the auditors but make sure to approach the accompanist, introduce yourself and go over your music and cuts. Once that’s done, then you introduce your “slate”. If you are not sure what the protocol should be, there is usually a short info/question session before the auditions start; don’t hesitate to ask. Remember, everyone’s in the same boat you are!</p>
<p>Each school has a slightly different preference. Many schools will have a monitor who is currently a student who ushers you into the room and introduces you. Often the auditors will talk to you and then ask, “What will you be doing for us today?” </p>
<p>A note: for professional auditions, you usually don’t state the name of the show you’re singing from - the idea is that it’s proper etiquette to assume the people behind the table already KNOW what show it’s from. If they don’t know, they’ll ask you. But for college it’s good to state the show unless directed not to. You should also know the composer, for sure - although don’t state it unless asked. But if you have a great song that is less familiar, auditors will often ask “Who wrote that?” They LOVE to hear “lesser known” songs by big-name classic composers: Arlen, Kern, Gerswhin, Porter, etc.</p>
<p>“for professional auditions, you usually don’t state the name of the show you’re singing from”</p>
<p>…You know what I realized? I learned to slate at the North Shore Music Theatre- before they hold auditions for their youth shows, they tell us, “Present your slate: your name, age, where you go to school, and what song you’re singing.” Everyone just assumed that means say the name of the show as well! But it makes sense not to, I guess. (Although I would hate to get in front of a panel, tell them I’m singing “Maybe” and have them automatically hate me because they think I’m singing from Annie instead of Oh, Kay! Though I guess once I started the song that problem would go away…)</p>
<p>Another (completely unrelated) question, since y’all are being so nice: how should I give my music to the accompanist? Loose sheets? In a binder? Currently all my audition songs are in those clear plastic sheets in a binder; I’m assuming that’s a perfectly acceptable way to do it, but as you can probably tell, I’m being nitpicky and obsessing over the little things. (:</p>
<p>This is a VERY good question; as a pianist, I HATE loose sheets --they invariably end up falling off the piano. I much prefer them to be in a binder. Plastic sheet covers are practical, but sometimes cause a glare that makes it difficult to read the music. (You can buy the “no-glare” kind in some office supply stores.) Some people like to have music taped together accordian-style, but I find that difficult to manage. My personal preference is double-sided copies in a 3-ring binder, with no plastic.</p>
<p>I am not an accompanist… but I second all that onstage said above! I know some people who (for school auditions or summerstock combined auditions) copy their music on card stock and tape it together, or tape or staple music to file folders.</p>
<p>As onstage suggested, a 3 ring binder works great. A 1 inch binder seems to be a good size to hold the music you need but not be cumbersome on the piano. My daughter set hers up with dividers between the songs. She also used reinforcers on the holes to keep the pages from tearing out over multiple uses.</p>
<p>It’s always good to follow proper protocol, of course, but I would suggest you not sweat this too much. If you’re very good, no one will care how you slated. If you’re not good, a great slate is not going to help you.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’d pay more attention to the energy, posture, and attitude with which you walk up to the slate than the actual slate, itself. Remember, it’s all a performance.</p>
But for college it’s good to state the show unless directed not to. You should also know the composer, for sure - although don’t state it unless asked. But if you have a great song that is less familiar, auditors will often ask “Who wrote that?” They LOVE to hear “lesser known” songs by big-name classic composers: Arlen, Kern, Gerswhin, Porter, etc.</p>