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How to dress for an audition
By Meg | September 23, 2008
Being a musician and singer, I’ve been to my fair share of auditions. Yet, I’m still amazed by what some people wear to them. Sure, some auditions are more casual than others. However, at a recent college audition one of the gals auditioning wore a tube top. Braless. In a cold room.
Some people out there may be thinking, “What’s the big deal? She wasn’t being auditioned for her fashion, was she?” And that’s where people get into trouble. When you audition, you may think that the only thing that matters is your talent. In reality, though, you can expect that the judges are going to look at the entire package. They also want to know if you’re professional, if you’re going to represent the group well, if you’re going to embarrass them, if you’re going to be reliable, if you’re going to take this seriously, etc. And whether they think about it consciously or not, they’re going to be looking for signs wherever they can, including what you’re wearing.
For example, if two women show up for an audition and they both sing well, but one is dressed like she’s going to the beach and the other is dressed in a nice, business casual outfit, guess who will probably get the part!
Of course, some auditions are more formal than others, and it is good to keep in mind what exactly you’re auditioning for. If you’re auditioning to play a character that wears beach attire in a play, then dressing the part a little may be alright. Likewise, you might wear something different if you’re auditioning for a punk band than if you’re auditioning for a symphony band. However, when in doubt, keep these tips in mind:
- Dress up. Show that you care about the role by dressing nicely. Even for casual auditions, consider wearing business or smart casual attire.
- Dress conservatively. Rely on your talent to get you the role, not your sex appeal. Don’t wear clothes that are too tight or too revealing.
- Tone it down. Small personal touches are alright, but if you want to be heard, don’t wear anything too distracting. Would you rather be remembered as that singer with the gorgeous voice or that girl whose nipples were showing?
- Pay attention to details. Even great clothes worn sloppily don’t look professional. Take time to make sure that hems aren’t frayed, that clothes aren’t stained, and that the clothes are full of wrinkles.
Now, to all the other performers out there, do you have any favorite audition outfits? Or, have you seen some awful audition outfits?
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September 30th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Great post!
I’d have to agree with you, if you’re working, however that is defined for you, then a professional pulled-together appearance shows that you take pride in yourself and your job performance.
It amazes me how many people don’t get it!
September 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Welcome, Always In Style!
It really does amaze me, too! There’s a lot of competition out there, whether we’re talking about a part in a school play or a paying job. And yet, day after day I see people who don’t seem to even try. I can’t help but wonder, do they just not care or do they really not get it?