“I Have Prenodes” and Seven Other Ways to Manage Audition Expectations

Jul 7, 2016
2 min read

Ooops! You didn’t memorize your monologue?

Is it “too early” in the morning to cry on command?

Feeling too nervous to hit that high C?

Hackstage has got you covered! Here are six ways to let the teacher/ the casting director/ your whole Master Class know that your work is probably gonna be so-so.

Wear sandals, pull at your toenails while others are working. (Picking at your bug bites works as well)
Loudly inform the accompanist that you printed the music in the wrong key. Try belting it. Ask to go again in an hour. Do the same thing. (If you don’t crack everyone will think you got better, if you do crack no one will be surprised.)
Do NOT listen to critique the person before you got. Make the same mistakes as them.
Tell everyone that you brought the wrong shoes for the dance call, do NOT act sorry about it. Bonus points if the shoes you brought are tap shoes.
Take LONG time prepping your monologue. Turn around and scream. Get on the floor and do tremors if you need to. If you’re not getting as emotional as you hoped, ask to start over, and then start laughing. Decide your piece is a comedy.
If the Master Class Q&A comes before the work session, be sure to use that valuable time to ask the CD to choose which of your monologues you should present that day. When you get up, do the other one.
Bringing props or dressing in full costume is a great way to say "I have no idea what I am doing and have never been to an audition before"
Finally, share that you have tragically been struck with Prenodes, before you sing “Don’t Rain On My Parade” in your head voice.