How to not be nervous during an audition? (Tips)
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In this guide, we will discuss “How to not be nervous during an audition” and we will share some tips on how to cope with the nerves before and during an audition.
How to not be nervous during an audition?
‘How to not be nervous during an audition?’ is a question that may have crossed your mind a few times, and it is completely normal. You may want to consider a few tips on how to clear your thoughts and focus on your audition:
- Being prepared by practising. It is not enough just to practice and learn your audition piece to the point you can even do it in your sleep but also add a little extra by feeling the music and adding some passion into it. This will make a difference.
- Don’t panic if you make a mistake, it happens even to the most prepared and experienced people in the world. Consider having a plan if this happens.
- Exert some energy and don’t be scared to show some of your personality. You want to stand out so show them what you got by being confident about it.
- Take your time and don’t rush into it. Usually, they will allow you to keep your own pace so take a few deep breaths before you start.
- Smile at your audience and have fun!
Techniques on how to relax before an audition
Relaxing music
Relaxing music can help us when we are feeling on edge. It may be a good idea to create a playlist with music that can help you feel calm and relaxed. However, many people believe that having a playlist with classical music is the only way to feel relaxed (even if they don’t like it. But it doesn’t have to be, it needs to be the type of music that makes you feel more comfortable.
Moreover, try to avoid social media such as Facebook or Instagram and try to stay focused by allowing the music to quiet your mind.
Deep breathing
Deep breathing can be extremely helpful for some people, others may argue it makes them feel worse but in fact, since we breathe without thinking too much about it so we don’t consciously do the exercise. Try closing your eyes for a few seconds, take a deep breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Every time you inhale, think about how your body relaxes and how the stress and anxiety leaves your body.
Remember how when we are nervous or anxious, our breathing becomes superficial and shallow, which means we stop getting enough oxygen. Energy and resources go to our muscles in response to having to flight or fight the scene.
Practice
Memorizing the piece you will present in your audition can be very helpful so you could practice until you feel you can do it in your sleep. However, this won’t necessarily mean that you are never going to make a mistake since you have prepared your piece. But, no matter how many times you have rehearsed or practised, if you don’t manage your nerves then it is likely you will freeze or your mind could go ‘blank’ for a few seconds.
Moreover, practising in front of a friend or relatives might help you with the feeling of being nervous and will allow you to come up with coping strategies.
Visualize your success
Close your eyes and visualize you are already in your audition, in front of the judges. Think about what you will do, what you will say but be flexible, things might not go as you have visualized them to. Imagine you go in, you are prepared, confident about your skills, you have a wonderful time during the audition and then you realize it is over.
Imagine you walk away with a big smile and feeling great about it, satisfied with doing a great job.
It is OK to make mistakes
Most of the time we are too hard on ourselves when we make a mistake and even more so if we tend to be ‘perfect’. We know no one is perfect but we try to be all the time. Making mistakes is extremely normal so if you forget a piece of the song or a line, it is OK. what you could do is put yourself in that situation and think about ways to solve it. If you forget a line, you simply improvise or if you forget the lyrics then you could just try to keep up and keep going like nothing happened.
The judging panel will understand if you made a mistake, they have seen many people audition in front of them making mistakes because they are a bit nervous. What will make the difference even if you do make a mistake is what you have to offer, what you can bring to the table?
Show your confidence
Practice your body language in front of a mirror while you recreate your audition. It is very common to have a body language that tells people we are nervous, and even if we do, our body needs to tell a different story. Walk into your audition feeling confident, feeling as if you are the most capable and important person in the room. Hold your head high and don’t forget to make eye contact, bring your shoulders back and act like you have nailed your audition already.
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Don’t fight your nerves
Our natural response when we are nervous is to try to fight or hide what we are feeling. We know it can come as unpleasant but the more we try to push them away, the more we think about it and the more nervous we get. Instead, embrace the idea of being nervous and how normal it is. Close your eyes and take some deep breaths as we have mentioned earlier and feel how your body starts to ‘deactivate’, you will end up having a different sensation, feeling calm and relaxed.
Certainly, this is not the first and only time you have felt nervous and maybe you have felt how counterproductive it has been to fight your nerves in the past. Focus on the present and remember breathing is crucial.
Why is this blog about How to not be nervous during an audition important?
Being nervous during an audition is completely normal as we have discussed throughout this blog post. However, sometimes nerves can make us feel uncomfortable and lacking the confidence we need to perform at our best. However, as we have seen, there are a lot of useful techniques when managing our performance anxiety.
If you have practised until you feel you can sing, dance or act the piece/scene in your sleep then you may consider yourself ready, but remember that it may not be enough. We need to throw some other things into the mix like watching out for your body language and your confidence.
However, consider that being nervous from time to time is normal but if it starts affecting our lives significantly then we might need to find help.
Please feel free to leave any comments or thoughts about the content of this article!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about How to not be nervous during an audition
How do I calm my nerves before an audition?
To calm your nerves before an audition, here are some recommendations:
Set up an audition playlist where you have a few songs that make you feel calm and relaxed.
Practice deep breathing. Take long, deep breaths a couple of times until you feel your body is relaxing.
Be prepared for your audition, practice as much as you need to.
Visualize your audition and visualize your success.
Walk into your audition with confidence.
If the judges get to criticize your audition, don’t take it too personally. Simply listen to what they have to say.
How do I calm my nerves before a music performance?
To calm your nerves before a music performance, consider the following tips:
Be prepared by practising your audition piece as much as you need to but without obsessing yourself about it.
Have fun in your audition, it doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience.
Limit the intake of caffeinated beverages and sugar the day of your performance since it can increase your anxiety
Focus on something in the room while you are auditioning but you could also focus your attention on someone if that helps you feel calmer.
Do some positive self-talk instead of thinking about what could go wrong.
Be confident in your skills and how prepared you are to nail this audition.
How do you calm yourself down if you are nervous?
To calm yourself down if you are nervous, don’t forget to:
Take some deep breaths.
Accept you are anxious or nervous but without thinking it is a negative state.
Challenge your thoughts and contrast them with reality.
Release your anxiety or anger by walking for a few minutes or doing some physical activity but without exceeding yourself.
Visualize yourself calm and your success.
Listen to some relaxing music.
Change your focus from negative thoughts to positive ones.
How do I feel confident in an audition?
If you want to feel confident for an audition to need to start to believe it. No matter the outcome it is not a reason to be discouraged or think the world is over. It is not easy but it is also not impossible, just shift your mindset and show how passionate you are. Also, even if you don’t feel too confident, still act like you are and make sure you wear clothes that make you feel comfortable.
What to drink to calm nerves?
There are many beverages considered helpful to calm your nerves but some might make you feel sleepy. The best natural drinks that can help you calm your nerves are:
Valerian root tea
An anti-anxiety smoothie
Oat Straw drink
Fresh fruit and vegetable juice. Start drinking these juices to fight anxiety.
Water
Tart cherry juice
Green tea
References
Newton, M. (2020, Jul.) 6 Steps to Getting Over Audition Nerves. Retrieved from backstage.com.
Wallace, C. (2013, Jul.) 4 Solutions To Easing Audition Nerves. Retrieved from backstage.com.
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