panto babe audition question

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

ok so we are a year in advance but DD is hoping to audition next year and knows she needs to sing a song but isn't very confident with singing - she can sing ok but she isn't that confident about doing it on her own so we thought perhaps we ought to start working on this. Most of the audition is dancing obviously which is fine but they obviously have to be able to sing too and I think she probably just needs to be more confident in her presentation and selling of her performance too. naturally in the next year she will mature and get more experienced etc so some of this will hopefully come naturally, she does drama lessons and 3 types of dancing.

Any tips? what sort of songs do they like them to sing? what do we work on presentation wise - smiling? head up and confident? looking like she is enjoying it? I am not planning on coaching her in it I don't mean it like that but just little pointers because she asked me and I am not familiar with the performing world.

[taxi4ballet]

Hi, how old is your dd?

When my dd has done panto auditions it has only been the older teenagers 16-18 wanting 'bit' parts who have had to sing on their own, they don't ask the younger ensemble auditionees. They generally just have to dance in groups.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

she will be 8 so only one of the young ones. They definitely have to sing on their own in the audition although obviously will just sing as part of the chorus on stage. I suppose it is probably another way to get the numbers down even more.

Obviously I haven't asked too many questions yet as it sounds ridiculous so far in advance but they ask them to do a series of steps to see how quickly they can pick it up, they have to sing on their own and I presume they have to do more dancing too. not sure on that one.

[tipsycat]

My DD successfully auditioned for a pantomime babe role a couple of weeks ago. She's 12. They started out by putting all the children into size order. They then split them into 3 groups. Each group were taught some choreography, and around half of the children were rejected (nicely). Then after a lunch break, the recalled children were taught more choreography, and the group was reduced by half again. Then the remaining children were split into 2 teams, and a group of reserves. There was no singing involved, just dancing. In another pantomime audition, a couple of years ago, they just asked everyone to sing "Happy Birthday".

[taxi4ballet]

Unusual that they should ask the younger ones to sing on their own, although I suppose it may simply be the way that this particular panto production company does things.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I've not heard of any panto auditions that have involved singing either I'm afraid.

However dd has done other auditions. I'd advise a children's musical theatre song but try & avoid the very overdone Where is Love & Castle on a Cloud.

I Know It's Today from Shrek
When I Grow Up from Matilda

Something like that.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

thanks - apparently there is normally a lot of do-re-mi so will avoid that too.

[taxi4ballet]

At the auditions dd has been to, there's usually been about 200 people turn up, they wouldn't have time to hear everybody sing solo...!

Does your dd enjoy singing? Perhaps she could join her school choir if there is one, or have lessons outside school.From what I can remember, they do seem to like 'look-at-me' confidence, and big smiles, so perhaps your dd might benefit from one of the weekend theatre schools.

Sometimes the local theatre runs one, so maybe you could look into that.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

thanks - their dance school supplies the babes so it is only people from there auditioning - about 30 a year I think audition hence why they can spend more time on it I suppose.

I think you are right that she would benefit from sort of musical theatre type sessions. never thought I would find myself in this world of trying to help her achieve her dreams THIS young. I didn't even realise they provided the panto babes whereas a lot of people go there because of that. I am so not experienced in all of this.

[DeWee]

The way the panto auditions my girls have done has been everyone has done the dance given. Then a few (talking about less than 1/4) are asked to stay behind and do a little role play sometimes and sing a chorus of a song they're told in advance. It's usually a pop type song.
So they only have to sing if they get through the first round. It's open audition and pretty tough. I think they had 160 girls for 8 spaces this year (and about 8 boys for 4!).

Have you looked at local amateur pantos? All three of mine have been involved in a local one which is no audition since they were 5yo.

[saintlyjimjams]

She should sing a song she likes - and on that shows a bit of range - otherwise they may well ask her to sing happy birthday as well.

A lot of auditions start with happy birthday anyway.

[HSMMaCM]

Dd had to sing on her own - old macdonald was the choice they have her :)

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

thank you. I did wonder about amateur ones - might look into that for next year as then if she didn't get picked for the dancing one she could still do something.