{"id":7323,"date":"2019-10-07T19:28:21","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T19:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=7323"},"modified":"2019-10-07T19:28:21","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T19:28:21","slug":"what-to-expect-at-an-setc-prescreen-audition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/what-to-expect-at-an-setc-prescreen-audition\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Expect at an SETC Prescreen Audition"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat to Expect at an SETC Prescreen Audition\u201d<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by: Ella Embry<\/strong><\/p>\n

September 29th 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/font>

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Ready for professional auditions? The Southeastern Theatre Conference is a great way to audition for multiple professional theatres at the same time while also networking, taking classes, and meeting with college recruiters! But before you get there, you\u2019ll need to go through prescreen auditions. Here\u2019s what to expect as well as a few tips to help you shine!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to get a foot in the door of professional theatre work, attending theatre job conferences is an excellent way to do it! The Southeastern Theatre Conference<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has eleven host states and an open call for anyone in the nation to attend. Hosting over 5,000 theatre practitioners for three days for auditions, workshops, keynote speeches, festivals, and college recruiting. Whether you are looking for a college program, a job for after graduation, or a way to network with professionals, you\u2019re sure to find something at SETC.<\/span><\/p>\n

But! Before you can go to audition \u2013 you have to be prescreened. Prescreening is an audition process that takes place at one of the host states before the convention for those who have not yet had a paying, professional, theatre job. The prescreen judges\u2019 main job is to determine whether or not you\u2019re at appropriate levels of skill, professionalism, and self-marketing to benefit from auditioning at SETC. So here\u2019s what to expect at a prescreen audition!<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Expect at a Prescreen Audition:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Early is on time. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve already heard this, but it is true! You\u2019ll have to worry about parking, figuring out where to go, and making sure you have time to warm up an<\/p>\n

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Dress to impress, stand out, and get hired. Make sure to wear something that makes sense for your monologue but isn\u2019t a costume for the character. Wear something that makes you feel confident and ready to perform, and that also makes other people prepared to hire you.<\/p>\n

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Use this as a networking opportunity and compare notes. You are stuck in a room filled with talented people who love acting just as much as you do \u2013 take advantage of it! Be brave and make some new friends or talk about techniques and shows to help network. The theatre world is small, and you never know when or where you might see someone again.<\/p>\n

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A big table where you register and get your group number. Often staffed with volunteers, the very first thing you\u2019ll do (after finding a place to park and following the signs) is going to the registration table and sign in. You\u2019ll be assigned a particular group and a specific audition number after talking with them. Next, you\u2019ll slap on that sticker and hurry up and wait.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Introductory\/procedural speech by the staff and judges. After you\u2019ve signed in, unless you\u2019re late, they\u2019ll call everyone auditioning into the house of the audition space and give a short speech about how the process will go, who the judges are, and house rules. They\u2019ll also hand out the paperwork you\u2019ll need to receive your audition feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lots of waiting with interesting people. Unless you\u2019re in the very first group and the very first group number you\u2019ll have some waiting to do. If you traveled with friends, you would get to hang out. If not, then you will have the chance to introduce yourself to other young professionals like yourself! While this can be a great time to hang out and meet new people, be sure to stay professional and ready to perform.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shuffling to a holding space, a.k.a. A great space to get in the zone. While the group before your own is auditioning, you\u2019ll move into the holding area with the rest of your audition group. There you\u2019ll have time to focus and rehearse. Your audition number will decide when you go in your group, and you may not get a lot of rehearsal time in the holding room, so use your time wisely.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lining up in groups and hearing others audition. Small groups will be moved from the holding space to the backstage area to wait for just a bit longer before auditioning. There will be seats backstage for the group. Unless you\u2019re the very first in line, you\u2019ll hear some others audition before you. Don\u2019t let it freak you out or interrupt your focus! The only competition is with the judges for the opportunity to go to SETC, not with each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Your big moment to shine. Finally \u2013 your turn to audition! You\u2019ll have exactly 60 seconds from the first thing out of your mouth to audition So while saying hello on your way to the mark center stage is courteous you\u2019ll lose time by doing so here. You will lose points for going over the time limit, and that could be the difference between whether or not you get to SETC that year. Make sure that when you rehearse that you rehearse down to the second to make the best use of your time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Begin ushered out and heading home. After you\u2019ve finished auditioning you\u2019ll head backstage and wait until the rest of your small group has finished auditioning. Then you\u2019ll all file back out to the main space, and you\u2019re done! You may need to confirm some paperwork, specifically where your results can be sent to, but after that, you\u2019re free to go home and celebrate getting through the prescreen!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Go home and wait for that letter with a \u201cyay\u201d or \u201cnay\u201d and some notes. It takes a few weeks, but you\u2019ll receive a physical letter in the mail containing your audition results on a point scale as well as some written notes from each of the judges. Scoring is broken down in four sections: acting skills, voice, physicality, and presentation. The judges will also mark if they recommend if you keep your chosen monologue for SETC or not, but that recommendation isn\u2019t part of the scoring. While incredibly useful, take the judges\u2019 comments with a grain of salt. Acting is a highly subjective art form and everyone, even professionals, have particular tastes about what is valid or not so don\u2019t let it get you down if one of the judges hated absolutely everything about your audition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n