 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinet713
Date: 2002-05-14 15:14
There was a post a few days ago about the person with the controlling teacher who has told this person how to do their hair and what to wear-what do you think is appropriate/not appropriate for auditions/recitals? What makes the best impression at an audition? (I can figure out the obvious-clean clothes, neat hair, etc.) This sounds silly to me but I once heard that navy blue is a "power color" and should be worn to interviews is the same true for auditions?
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-05-14 15:34
If you're auditioning at any level, I think that whoever is listening is much more likely to be interested in how you sound, rather than how you look.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-05-14 15:39
You should look great and sound even better.
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Author: clarinet713
Date: 2002-05-14 18:16
I would definitely agree that you must sound better than you look, though appearance I would think would have somewhat of an influence...
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-05-15 02:10
From what I've noticed, you look more professional in some sort of uniform. I've had to do auditions for band the same day I had a ceremony for ROTC; I auditioned in my full army dress uniform and got much better scores than usual.
Coincidence?
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-05-15 02:19
For auditions, stay fairly conservative- nothing too trendy or weird. One of the requirements for my youth orchestra for girls is a long skirt at auditions! It may not matter for some orchestras but anything too dramatic would probably not be a good idea. My orchestra's manager gave the female violinists on the outside a long lecture about slit skirts after the last concert. For a rectial, you should be able to express yourself a little more.
Is neat hair a requirement? My hair never stays in place for longer than a minute.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-05-15 04:44
The local Atlantic City casino industry has taken to including the following line in job fair ads; "Dress to impress." I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't in such situations.
Besides the obvious influence on those judging, I have long suspected that dressing for a "role" gives one a positive psychological boost toward performance.
An aside for performance dress; certain types of "sparkley" jewlery can create odd reflections with stage lighting. And if performing in a group, leave the fragrances off (men and women!) as some people have alergies that these can trigger, especially while breathing deep to play a wind instrument or to sing.
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Author: graham
Date: 2002-05-15 10:43
Wearing something in keeping with the event or surroundings is more important than wearing power clothes. Imagine what a fool you would feel if your wore a three piece suit to an audition in front of a panel dressed in jeans and T shirts. They would think you were a weirdo and would not fit in with the others. The converse is equally damaging. So find out what the middle of road average dress code would be for that event or panel, and that way your dress blends into the background. This allows your playing to be strikingly different and impressive, and that way you win the audition.
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Author: gemmaelizabeth
Date: 2002-05-15 12:45
Well, I always think you can never go wrong in black for things like auditions. An smart suit possibly!
Black trousers and a black top. Easy. That way, if it is formal you will look smart and if its informal, you will look fine.
As for hair, if its long....TIE IT BACK!!! I have been told a million times by teachers to tie my hair back when playing.... There is nothing worse than not being able to see someones face for a mass of hair, or worse still if when you breath in you take some hair with you!!! reeds DO NOT like hair.
Also, heels can be a bad idea if standing as it changes the way you stand and can affect your breathing ( also gives me sore feet!!!)
I also prefer to play in a sleevless top, as i get really hot when I am playing no matter how cold the room is!!
Obviously, the way you play is much more important, but I would never assume that this is all the panel care about. unless you are an amazing player ( and I am not saying that you aren't!!!) they could use it as a way to compare you with someone who was as good as you...and as we all know... if you look like you haven't made the effort it will look like you don't care, therefore leading to someone else getting the place you were auditioning for!!
In recitals though, I think you can afford to wear something a little more interesting than black. You are dressing to impress, and its always nice to see a performer make the effort. Again it depends where you are performing....a concert hall, a dress is probably more important... a church hall, a smart suit....
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-05-16 02:28
If I was a woman, I'd be careful wearing any kind of floor-length formal dress on auditions...she might unceremoniously trip and injury themself or damage their horn. On the extreme, but it does happen, our band's vocalist was once performing in a full-length evening gown. As she side-stepped across stage facing the audience she got the end of her skirt snagged on her right high heel. Already building momentum she lifted up her foot while reaching back with her hand to untangle herself. Bad idea, it made her hop faster & faster on her left foot slamming into a spare mic/stand. The real embarrassing part about it was she was right at the chorus in the tune singing, "I feel pretty, oh so pretty".
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Author: lala
Date: 2002-05-17 04:05
I have conducted a few recruitment interviews. One's view is completely different from the other side of the table.
Black trousers and white shirt will do equally well for both sexes. Navy blue is no good (flat and dead), so is any pastel (washed-out) or earthy (too heavy) colour. Add a tie and black jacket if you are not sure how formal it will be. You can always take them off and still look good even among T-shirts and jeans. Wear a pair of plain, fine shoes, keep all the pockets empty except a handkerchief, check loose thread and buttons. Don't wear more than one plain ring, don't wear bracelet, large ear-rings, studs, etc. When you walk you should not be making noises - no hard heels, no jingling keys or coins.
I always find long nails or hair a very bad idea. Interviews will think you are spending much less - or much more - time on them than you should. If you have thick untidy hair, have a haircut 2 weeks before so it looks neat yet natural. If you really want to go to the extreme, stop eating beef and deep-fried stuff for a few weeks to make sure that you won't have breakout or bad breath. Take a shower if you can. You should look refreshed, energetic and smart.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-05-17 15:28
>I think that whoever is listening is much more likely to be interested in how you sound, rather than how you look.
Sorry, it seems to me they will not think like that. As far as auditions for novice musicians go, they will see what he/she will be able to make efforts to improve his musical ability daily through his/her long proffessional years, in another word, commitment. The first thing they watch will be the basic technical abilities. The second thing will be sound and expression ability. The third thing will be whether he/she can get along with other orchestral members. Auditions at CSO or other major orchestras will be much more different. At this level the first priority might be the sound. Even suitability of the second chair to get along with the first chair player.
If he/she is a genius like Heifetz, the person does not need to join orchestras or take auditions.
If he/she does not attend a funeral in jeans and t-shirt, I wonder why they do so for auditions.
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