It’s no surprise that auditions have gone virtual. Crowded hallways and long lines wrapped around a building, last-minute hair and makeup adjustments, and checking your dance bag for that other shoe have been replaced with online submissions.Gurl
On the A4D Audition Calendar, you’ll discover nearly every audition begins with an online video submission. Each has a different set of rules; you have to learn the choreography that’s posted in a drop box or on YouTube, film yourself, and then submit your video before the stated deadline.
What? Now you have to be a video expert? Film where you live? Submit in a matter of hours, or if you’re lucky, in a few days? What’s a dancer to do?
We reached out to agents like Jim Keith partner and president, The Movement Talent Agency (MTA), who told us the three most important things you must do if you want to book in today’s environment, ‘Learn how to self tape. Learn how to self tape, and finally, learn how to self tape… and turn it in very quickly.’
We also spoke with Brandon Sierra, Agent/Director of LA Talent, McDonald Selznick Associates (MSA) who gives key advice. ‘You have to be on top of your materials more than any other time before. With a lack of in person opportunities, hiring authorities are really relying heavily on the fact that your materials are up to speed and fully represent you and your abilities as a talent.’
To help you navigate this new information, Answers4dancers is introducing a new series to untangle the 2022 style of auditioning in a post-COVID world. There’s lots to know, but as dancers, it’s important to adapt to the current rules.
Our first installment covers basic rules of self-taping. We want to provide the tools you need to be comfortable on camera, develop skills for filming and editing, and build the confidence you need to submit a great audition video... Let’s do this!