Well What Now? Navigating College Auditions During a Pandemic
Well, guys, this is strange, right?
The world changed so quickly and took with it a lot of important moments, celebrations and normalcy for us all. We are adjusting to online learning, making the most of quarantine and wondering how this is going to affect the next year.
So, on the count of three, let’s take a collective inhale and exhale together. 1… 2… 3. Okay, now let’s get real, together.
Things are going to be different. We know this. But how deeply will this impact college auditions? Should you be preparing now? Will Unifieds happen? You’ve waited for this for a long time and I know you are probably feeling anxious. Let’s start by saying that the information I am going to be providing during this post is purely speculation at this point. As of now, I am going to continue to hold the faith that new systems will be in place by the time college auditions roll around for this next season so that you can have the normal, stressful, crazy whirlwind college audition season you’ve always imagined
If – again, speculation! – things change drastically for this process in the Fall/Winter, this is what you should be prepared for:
1. More Prescreens
If it turns out to be a necessity to have fewer people at a live audition/dance call, etc. the schools are going to need a way to control the live audition numbers. I could see more schools jumping on the prescreen bandwagon than ever before. Frankly, beyond the benefit of knowing right away if you have a shot at a school, this is good for everyone to avoid any unnecessary travel this year.
2. Recorded Auditions
There are a good number of schools that already allow students to send in audition videos in place of a live audition if a family is unable to get to campus. I could see this becoming an option for many more programs.
3. “Live” Digital Recorded Auditions
I could see a reality in which a student goes online, performs their audition rep, and gets interviewed all while being recorded live. Camera turns off – and poof! All done with your audition. Then the panel can review the auditions afterward.
4. Actual Live Digital Auditions
Similar to the above, but with a faculty member tuned in live virtually. Same format as a standard live audition, but online. Don’t shoot the messenger! 🙂 I know what you are thinking or maybe yelling at your computer screen: “how will they get to know me if I can’t be in the audition room with them?” Or, “I’m definitely better live than I am while being recorded, how can I be prepared for these scenarios?” Good questions. And I think it requires you to switch your mindset a bit. If this is the reality for college auditions, now, more than ever, you need to:
Create a functional, gorgeous Digital Audition Set-Up at home. Create a set-up filled with great lighting, an appropriate back-drop, and a solid tripod to eliminate shaky hands. Feel confident in this set-up so you can do your best work.
Start getting comfortable with Interview Prep now. While you may think you’ll get asked fewer questions in the above scenarios, I just simply don’t think that will be the case. At Unifieds and busy on-campus auditions – a good majority of the time, they don’t have enough time to ask any questions to those auditioning. You are in and out of the audition room sometimes in less than 5 minutes. In the digital scenarios, I could see you given much more time/space to chat. If this freaks you out, start to build interview Prep into your training schedule.
In summary, don’t delay your training and preparation! I know this can feel immobilizing and difficult to be motivated to prepare. However: while the processes could change surrounding the auditions, we do not anticipate the timeline for college auditions changing. Which means: prescreens deadlines will still very much be a thing, the necessity to get your applications in early will be crucial and there will still be early auditions happening as soon as October.
If it’s any consolation, much like everything else with this virus, everyone will be on the same page. No one has the upper hand in any of these potential audition scenarios. It will be a learning curve that everyone undergoes together.
So, guys? Instead of dreading this Fall, let’s get ahead of it. Stay motivated, stay focused, and keep your ear to the ground to stay in the loop with any changes. Procedures might shift, but you can only control what you can control: your 5 minute (amazing, powerful, prepared) audition. Along with our coaching, we have a full suite of ways you can train with us this summer.
PS: I will be addressing and updating everyone on this topic in every webinar I do this season, please join me! Starting this Monday, May 11th for our first (and FREE!) webinar of the year!