Sunday, September 14, 2014

What are You Wearing in the Room? A Fall 2014 Update!

I wrote several years ago about what to wear for auditions.

These posts still get read regularly,  so I thought I would do an update for 2014!

What's changed?

Not much actually!

Audition attire should be rather timeless,  over all.

Even though Opera auditions are different than Music Theatre auditions,  it's still a job interview.  You are competing for a job,  not against someone.

So if you are walking in competing for your a job,  before you even open your mouth,  we see you.  How are presenting yourself?

Though Opera auditions tend to be more formal than MT ones,  that doesn't mean formal dress.  Even in the evening.  Leave the ball gowns, the taffeta and the tux in the closet.  If the clothing makes more noise than you do as you move,  leave it in the closet where it can hang quietly!

That goes for jewelry too.  I LOVE earrings and noisy ones - during the day.  I would never wear jewelry that makes noise every time I shift my head slightly, or release my jaw, or lift my hand while singing!  Again, a time and place for it,  and it isn't in the audition!

Why?

It's distracting.  And it screams "amateur".  Present yourself as professionally as possible and those at the table will be more open to say "lovely, I wonder what he/she sounds like?"  and be open to hearing you when you actually start singing.

Make sure your clothes fit you.

If you are traveling for auditions,  your audition clothes should be fabrics that don't crease or wrinkle ridiculously.

Find colors that enhance you,  not make you look ill or washed out.  If you don't know what they are, get help.  Don't ask someone who is trying to sell you something,  ask someone who is going to give you an honest answer and has nothing at stake in doing so.

Wear shoes you can walk into the room in,  and audition, and walk back out.  I am SERIOUS!

Make sure your shoes are clean and polished.  Guys,  hear me on this.

Ladies - you know how I feel about heels.  Find your comfort zone in heel height and wear them, and practice in them.

In Music Theatre, often the audition is more informal and thus the clothing can be depending on the call.  Know what you are going in for,  know what you are choosing to reveal about yourself in your outfit,  and know what looks good on you in order to do so!

Do NOT costume.  EVER.  That comes later.  When you've booked the job and are with the costume mistress.  Period.

Get your hair out of your face.

 Get your hair out of your face.

Get your hair out of your face.

Moisturize!  Lips, hands, exposed skin.  Guys this is important for you too!

Makeup? Yes please.  Not Rocky Horror Picture Show - although MAC has released a line this fall with some fabulous colors - but again, get a tutorial from someone who can show you how to apply, what to apply and when.  Find ways to pop your eyes and lips.

Get your hair out of your face.

In general,  think business casual to business dress.  In MT you can do more casual sometimes, depending on the call.   If you are going in for a Sondheim show,  or something more traditional,  you can dress more "business dress"  than you would if you were going in for Rock of Ages.

However, the audition is still about YOU not about the show or the character.  We want to see YOU.  How do you present yourself in a business situation as you compete for a job?  How important is it to you to be there?  Just pull yourself together!

Create a look that reveals who you are are!

In Opera, business dress is more appropriate given the genre.  Same ideas apply here.  We want to see you.  We do not want a character.  We want to see a singer who is pulled together,  knows how to walk into the room and deliver!

Oh, and get your hair out of your face.

Pull yourself together,  discover what enhances you,  what makes you feel good,  what makes you look polished,  and do that.


Sunday, September 7, 2014

AUTHENTIC VOICE WORKSHOP ***MUSIC THEATRE Edition***

COMING THIS FALL TO NYC!

Here's the info!


I am thrilled to announce that I am developing a voice workshop/master class called "AUTHENTIC VOICE: MUSIC THEATRE EDITION"

This master class will work with singers who are wanting more AUTHENTICITY in the audition room!

I draw on my unique background of theatre and voice to develop an opportunity to really work with the singer's unique gifts and how to access them easily.


What we DO:

Discover what makes the singer UNIQUE and why
Discover what the singer brings into the room - consciously and unconsciously
Discover what the singer can choose to reveal and how
Discover how the singer can authentically create an audition that makes "them" pay attention and want more!
Discover the difference between what you have to reveal and what you think they want to see!
Discover the physical behavior of the actor in the singing voice and the singing psyche!


Interested?  Know someone who might be?

Please send along the information.

The class will remain small to ensure participation and time with everyone!

AUTHENTIC VOICE MUSIC THEATRE EDITION MASTER CLASS

WHEN: TUESDAY OCTOBER 14
TIME: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
WHERE: SUSAN EICHHORN VOICE STUDIO
               300 W 43rd St #608-2  (43rd & 8th - Times Square Arts Center)
                New York New York

ONE TIME FEE:  $75.00 

Pianist will be provided.  Each singer will prepare 2 16/32 bar cuts they currently are using, or going to be using in auditions.

To register: email me at susaneichhornstudio@gmail.com
Subject Line:  Authentic Voice Music Theatre Edition - REGISTER
please attach your resume and head shot with your registration email.

If you would like further information,  do not hesitate to email me!

Happy Fall Season!
best,
Susan

Friday, September 5, 2014

AUTHENTIC VOICE WORKSHOP/Master Class ***OPERA EDITION**** In NYC THIS FALL!

I am thrilled to announce that I am developing a voice workshop/master class called
 "AUTHENTIC VOICE: OPERA EDITION"

This master class will work with singers who are wanting more freedom to explore DRAMATIC EMBODIMENT AND INTENTION in the audition room.

I draw on my unique background of theatre to develop an opportunity to really work with the singer's unique gifts and how to access them easily.

What we do NOT do:

We do NOT discuss technique
We do NOT discuss fach
we do NOT discuss language or musicality or composer's musical style

What we DO do:

Discover what makes the singer UNIQUE, both dramatically and physically
Discover what the singer brings into the room
Discover what the singer can choose to reveal
Discover how the singer can authentically create a dramatic intention that reads in the room and from the stage
Discover the difference between pretend, affectation, and real acting for the singing actor!
Discover the physical behavior of the actor in the singing voice and the singing psyche!


Interested?  Know someone who might be?

Please send along the information.

The class will remain small to ensure participation and time with everyone!

AUTHENTIC VOICE OPERA EDITION MASTER CLASS

WHEN: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30th
TIME: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
WHERE: SUSAN EICHHORN VOICE STUDIO
               300 W 43rd St #608-2  (43rd & 8th - Times Square Arts Center)
                New York New York

ONE TIME FEE:  $75.00 

Pianist will be provided.  Each singer will prepare one aria they currently are using, or going to be using in auditions.

To register: email me at susaneichhornstudio@gmail.com
Subject Line:  Authentic Voice Opera Edition - REGISTER
please attach your resume and head shot with your registration email.

If you would like further information,  do not hesitate to email me!

Happy Fall Season!
best,
Susan

Monday, September 1, 2014

Are you READY?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To me,  September is more the "new year" than January. 

This is the beginning of the season.   This is the start of the "new".

So today, Labor/Labour Day - we claim one last day of "summer"  (although I am claiming warm days/cool evenings through the end of October, thank you so much Mother Nature for listening!),  and then ONTO THE NEXT!

Are you ready?

What is the next?

The levels we must function at are many,  and thus, it can get confusing.

Craft and its many levels and functions is an ongoing journey.  Honing, discovering, disciplining, nurturing, shaping - this is what we do day to day.  Are we ready to take that to the next level, on all levels? 

What needs focus right now? For YOU?

How is your mindset in general?   Are you dreading things?  Why?  Are you excited?  Are you prepared?  What are your goals?  Do you have the overview?  Are the specifics poised to fill in?

I read somewhere over the summer someone used the term "healthy denial".  I spit coffee on my computer screen.  Nope.  There is nothing healthy about denial.  All it leads to is delusion and working very hard to evade the reality that will catch up eventually, and ultimately take you away from any authenticity that might be there to pursue.

Denial puts the onus on something outside ourselves.  It gives us an "out" by never taking responsibility, or being ready for our lives. STOP THAT.

Are you ready to take that on that responsibility,  take charge of what you need and go get what you say you want?

It's a new year everybody! 

It's your craft, should you choose to go get it.

It's your career,  should you choose to explore it and develop it.

It's your job,  should you go out to compete for it.

It's your potential,  should you choose to realize it.

Are you ready to be realized and not denied?

There's a new mantra I am claiming today.  If it works for you,  use it with my blessings!

I AM BEING REALIZED AND WILL NOT BE DENIED.

Are you ready for that?  Be READY for what you wish for!


Happy New Year!