Handling Nerves at Auditions

Why my uni music course included a large amount of mock auditions. I don't think it was as common in other instruments, but us percussionists did a mock orchestral audition as part of every semester exam, and did many more mock auditions. This was on top of annual auditions for the Australian and WA Youth orchestras, and anything else. by the time I'd left uni i had more than 25 'auditions' under my belt. This makes auditioning a much simpler affair now on the rare occassions that I do it. I now mostly audition for theatre/opera if at all, and even the percussion audition experience helps... so it's prob the obvious things- know the material- really well know the show/production you're auditioning for understand the audition process (location, no. on the panel etc.) and be prepared mentally for it. keep auditioning. Most importantly, remember that getting the job or not is not a reflection on who you are, rather that you weren't what they were looking for THIS TIME. Get detached from the result and it will become easier to relax. remember, if you're auditioning, theoretically you are looking to get onto a stage and perform for an audience. you need to deal with nerves! nev It's the simple things stupid...