Audition 101

In the early fall, drum corps veterans and hopefuls alike prepare themselves for the audition season. Auditions are a very intense and trying experience, and unfortunately there are not many ways to fully prepare yourself for the live experience, especially if you have never auditioned before, or never successfully auditioned before. As very experienced staff members of top 12 DCI corps, we would like to share our insight as to what the staff is actively looking for throughout the audition experience. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and there are certainly variables between corps and differing staff members - however, we hope this list of tips can help give you the best possible shot at making the cut this year. 

-Reach out beforehand with any questions or concerns - especially regarding attendance! 

Too often, students are nervous about asking questions or reaching out for fear of how they may come across. Staff members are here to help you, especially admin staff! These days its easier than ever to reach the staff of any given drum corps - if you know you’re going to be late or have to miss part of the audition process (for a college bowl game, concert, etc), make sure your section staff for the audition know that in advance! 

-Be on time. 

One of the worst ways to start your experience with any organization (in DCI and beyond!) is to be late. 

-Learn the audition materials. 

This should be a given, but the drum corps in question expects you to learn the material before you arrive. This means knowing it to the best of your ability, inside and out, not just being able to read through it. Memorize the material and get it under your hands so you can focus on what comments you are given, and not simply trying to struggle through the music. SO many times we see students with otherwise solid training and technique that sabotage their own auditions because they simply don’t know the music. They can’t put their best foot forward because the only thing the staff sees of them is someone struggling to read it off the page, or even worse, not playing at all. The packet is only the beginning - that is the lowest expectation, to be prepared with what was given out beforehand. You will play many things that are not included with the goal of testing your abilities and putting the pressure on to see who can handle it. 

-Bring quality equipment.

Often overlooked is the value of good equipment when available. Many drum corps provide some level of equipment for students to use during the audition, especially for those travelling long distances or that have instruments too large to bring on a bus or plane (i.e. tuba, marimba, quads) - this is a great resource! However, with whatever you can be in charge of make certain that it is in good repair: Polish your horn, tape your sticks, bring a good mouthpiece. Whatever the case may be, set yourself up for success as much as possible. Too many times a student plays an excerpt on a sub-standard piece of equipment, or using a bad (or broken!) percussion implement - when this happens, the staff cannot accurately evaluate your playing ability and the student has effectively sabotaged their own audition.

-Be aware of your appearance/hygiene. 

How you present yourself matters. Right or wrong, and regardless of if you like it or not, staff members will judge you to some degree based on how you look. This does not generally include tattoos, piercings, hair dye - things like that, but it does mean that you should make sure that you are wearing good clothes (without stains or holes), and good shoes (athletic wear, not Vans or flip flops), and for guys - trim your beard and shave. Facial hair is fine, but please make sure it is cleaned up before you show up. A dirty face almost always correlates to dirty playing! The same can be said for the visual portion of an audition. Trying to do box drill while wearing blue jeans and work boots is not a good look. 

-Be aware of your presence.

Are you standing with good posture? Head up, looking forward? This goes along with the above, that you always want to sell yourself. How someone conducts themselves in the high pressure of an audition is a great indication of the way they will conduct themselves during the highest pressure moments of the season, when the stakes are all the way up. Look at the person speaking to you, and always be aware of who is in charge of the rehearsal and your individual sub-section. Pay attention when any section is getting information, not just your sub-section. That information may apply to you or help you as well, and staff is always aware of students who are and are not paying attention to the bigger picture. 

-Be respectful always.

Please and thank you go a long way. Do NOT speak disrespectfully of any other auditioee or any other group. You are there to audition for that particular group - keep your feelings toward other corps’ private. Remember that your behavior reflects what type of teaching you have had, and what type of student you will be on the field. If you are goofing around or acting like you own the place you will be fast on your way to a relaxing summer at home.

-Be visible.

Staff members are always looking for individual that are actively trying to apply the feedback they have received. You can do this by asking specific questions, and practicing the skills they are adjusting on water breaks. It also means that you should be seeking out the opportunity to play. Staff members want students who are not afraid of the spotlight. That doesn’t mean you have to “show off,” but when given the opportunity to play in front of the group, you should take it. For drummers especially, if there is an open drum with no one standing behind it, go take that spot. Often students want to be nice and allow the other auditioning individuals a chance to take the drum. While being nice is a good quality to have, remember that regardless of the clinic nature of auditions today it is still a competition. The other students there want to be in the group just as badly as you do, and you are directly competing against them for a spot. 

This brings us to arguably the worst thing you can do during an audition. Do not, under any circumstances, ask a question like this: “What should I work on?” While usually with good intentions, this is a lame attempt at a question to ask a staff member. This question makes it seem like you are bored or uninterested in the incredible amount of information flying all around you during the audition. A better option would be to ask something specific, like “What should I work on to improve _____ skill?” Or, “What do you recommend I work on to eliminate _____ technique issue?” Those show that you are invested in what has been said to you and want to actively address an issue that has been brought to your attention, rather than just a general question. Whenever faced with “What should I work on?” The staff member’s response is almost inevitably, “Everything that we have been doing so far.”

-Do not “blow off” anything.

From comments in subs to dance block routines, remember this phrase: “The way you do anything is the way you do everything.” If you are blowing off comments in any portion of rehearsal it is a good indication that the same will happen during the summer. Don’t do it. 

-Do not argue with the staff. 

You might not agree with everything a staff member says to you. In fact, some of it might go completely against the way you have been taught in your home program. Remember that no individual has the “right” answer. Even if you disagree, give it a try (barring anything extreme or that would somehow put you in danger). You might find that it clarifies an issue that you didn’t even know that you had, or helps illuminate something unrelated that you didn’t understand. If you still completely disagree with something, the proper way to address it is privately and respectively. Ask the staff member in question to speak privately during a water break, and try to get more information. They are not perfect, and might have just given you information that was unclear.

-When in doubt, do what the veteran members do.

One of the best strategies you can have when audition is simply trying to blend in with the veteran members. That doesn’t make trying to get in on their inside jokes or having a “familiar” tone with the staff, but it does mean to pay attention - are they set? When are they bringing their instruments up or putting their sticks out? Are they relaxed? How are they standing when playing? Veteran members already understand how the organization works, and while they are also auditioning for their position, its no secret they have an advantage. Staff members count on veterans to give them the inside scoop on who they like to be around when they are not rehearsing, and who they feel like plays well with them in the line. Doing what the veterans do and following their pace is a good place to start if you are unsure of how to act. 

There are many drum corps with differing philosophies in everything from rehearsal process to instrument technique, and on and on. However, the process of selecting the individuals in each is relatively the same. Remember that the drum corps does not owe you anything, and the staff is tasked with selecting the right members, not necessarily the ones with the most chops or loudest playing. Ask any staff member and they will almost all say the same thing - they would rather have a teachable student with less talent than a really talented student with a bad attitude. It is a long summer, and the psychological affects of your attitude have to be taken into account when making the selection. 

Ultimately, the best way to learn at an audition is to go to one. Remember that auditioning is a skill in itself. Too many students avoid auditions for any number of reasons. If you audition, you might not make the group. If you don’t audition, you definitely won’t make the group. The hardest thing to realize during the process is that the staff is rooting for you - they want you to perform at your highest possible ability, and for their decisions to be as difficult as possible - that means they are selecting from the highest and most competitive talent pool possible. They want you to succeed, and are trying to give ample opportunity for you to do just that. 

Cut

Staff members take no pleasure in telling a student they are cut. There is simply no good way to tell someone something that they do not want to hear. If you do find yourself receiving the bad news remember that it is not the end of the world. It is unfortunate, and a reality almost every single person that has auditioned for a corps has had to face at one point or another. But you tried, and now you know the staff, some of the vets, a ton of information, and the way the group operates. This only gives you more of an advantage to come back next year even stronger than before. Feeling disappointed is normal, especially if you prepared and gave your best. Staff members go out of their way to give everyone a fair shot, and when cutting students also try to give not only a ton of information as to why they are let go and how to improve, but also giving steps and recommendations on what to do next to help give them a shot at marching that coming summer. A negative or angry reaction is a terrible idea, and exposes a lot about a student’s true attitude. Remember that the corps does not owe you anything, and no matter how much you may want to join, it is the staff’s responsibility to contract the members that are the right fit for the corps. 

There are a ton of options to audition for another group to still march any given summer. You can submit videos, and many corps’ have satellite audition dates and locations throughout the country that give later dates to audition. It is easier than ever before to find an opportunity to audition - take advantage! 

For those auditioning this season, best of luck! The goal of every staff member is to make sure the students ultimately walk away with a positive experience of drum corps and their respective organizations. Don’t be afraid to ask follow up questions after the fact - many staff members give out their contact information for follow ups, and they are rarely taken advantage of. That personal relationship can go a very long way.