A few decades ago there were actually jobs that went begging in the Musical theatre. Performers had their pick of Broadway and off-B'way musicals, National company productions, dinner theater, summer stock, night club revues, industrial shows and variety shows. Actors could get needed experience in performing and rise higher and higher in the ranks until they were well established as veteran Broadway performers.

Due to economic attrition, the move to the suburbs by the middle class who, for the most part, made up the theatrical audience and the onslaught of television as a competitor for that audience's attention opportunities for performers have decreased to the point that actors no longer have the opportunity to gain the needed experience of performing. How does this affect auditioning?

Actors have always had to audition, unless they are hired by someone who knows and trusts, their work. Since an audition is a live performance given before potential employers how does the actor create the impression that he is capable and worthy of being hired? I've created a few rules of thumb to follow to help you. I like to call them the "Ten Commandments of Auditioning."

Here they are.

1...Dress UP for the occasion. An audition is a job interview. You want to look as successful as possible. Since success breeds success you want to look prosperous and not down at the heels. Wear your Sunday best!

2...Select audition material that shows off who you are. Don't select material from shows that are current, unless specifically requested to do so. If the shows are current everyone else will be singing the same material. Try to choose older goodies that you can bring something to. Avoid signature songs; songs identified with famous performers who created them. Keep away from character songs that are identified with a well known character from a musical such as The Soliloquy (Billy Bigelow from Carousel), Hello Young Lovers (Anna from the King And I), Shy (Winifred from Once Upon A Mattress) etc. The people you are auditioning for will see you as being limited to playing that character you show them. Instead select material that allows your unique personality to come through.

3...Be Prepared. Don't sing material that you have learned a few days ago for this particular audition. It takes at least three weeks of living with a piece of material before you can make it your own. Iron the kinks out by using it for auditions that you don't care about for jobs you wouldn't possibly take. Singing something new, that isn't totally prepared for important people who can give you a job is one of the surest causes of stage fright. Also, make sure that they have your picture and resume. Give it to them BEFORE you walk over to the pianist so they have something to look over while you are going over your music with the accompanist.

4...Practice ahead of time. Rehearse how you are going to enter the room, what you are going to say to them, and where you are going to stand. Rehearse what you are going to tell the pianist. He, or She will not know where or when to begin, or what tempo you want your song in unless you tell them.

5...Make sure your music is in order. Since you are at the mercy of the accompanist it is wise to make sure your music is attached in such fashion that it is easy for the pianist to turn pages. Make sure any repeats or stops are clearly marked, and that transpositions and chord changes are clearly written out. If you are using separate music sheets paste them on rigid cardboard so they won't fall off the music rack of the piano.

6...Don't look at anyone while you sing. Avoid making eye contact with your Auditors; they are not your acting partner. They are voyeurs watching you give a performance to an imaginary acting partner. If you look at them you deprive them of that role and they will have no choice but to look away, and not at you. Instead, select a spot a foot over their heads (the head of the central person you are auditioning for) and place your imaginary acting partner there.

7...Keep your performance from becoming static. By all means use your hands and don't keep them down at your sides. Mannequins become boring to look at after a few measures. Don't be afraid to move downstage, or to either side between sections of the song. These devices can help you to retain control over the attention of your auditors.

8...Don't leave before being dismissed. I have seen more actors lose jobs because they immediately walked out of the room after finishing singing their song. Perhaps they felt they weren't getting a response, or perhaps they believed they hadn't given a good performance. There is a moment of silence, almost a pregnant pause, after a performance during which the auditors are trying to decide whether they want to have the performer read or sing another song. If you make your exit at this moment you make it difficult for them to go after you and call you back. There just isn't time. Stand there and face them and wait for them to dismiss you.

9...Keep a diary It is important that you remember who you sang for, for what show, what you sang and what you wore. If you get a call back they are going to remember you by what you wore and what you sang so don't change anything you did unless specifically requested to. Keep the same hair style, wear the same clothes (laundered of course) and sing the same material. If the right chemistry was working for you at your initial audition to lead to a call back why on earth change it.

10...Radiate confidence. I'm a great believer in "Acting as If..." If you were earning $5,000.00 a week in a soap how would you walk? How would you dress? How would you feel? How would you look? Obviously the answer to all those questions is, Self confident. Though it might be difficult to go through a whole day of acting this role almost anyone can pull it off for the few minutes of an audition. I also believe that we are treated, for the most part, they way we feel we deserve to be treated. Believe you deserve the best. Be courteous, but expect courtesy in return. You will, at least most of the time, get back way more than you give out.