Seth Godin wrote a blog a few weeks ago about the conventional wisdom of making your case vs. how it actually works. This was from a business/marketing perspective, but when I read this, I thought, “Wow, this could apply to auditioning!” My notes are in brackets.
Conventional wisdom:
Find a large group of people [audition for as many people as possible]
Explain why you’re better. [show off your technique]
Prove that you are the right answer. [sing better than anyone else]
Done. [get cast]
How it actually works:
Earn attention from precisely the right people. [audition for groups for which you’re the ideal candidate]
Gain trust. [be reliable – show up on time, be prepared]
Tell a story. [tell the truth – get into more than just the notes]
Create tension. [find a point of view that no one else has found before]
Relieve the tension by gaining commitment. [again, tell the truth]
Deliver work that’s remarkable. [go the extra mile in your interpretation]
They spread the word. [word of mouth – even if you don’t get the role this time, they might tell someone about you]
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What would happen if you approach auditions this way, instead of just focusing on getting the part? Try it!