Is it usually customary to have to sing your audition song in front of the other auditioners as well. This was only in high school, but is that something to expect outside of that? If so, how do I calm my nerves and focus on the directors only.

I have a hard enough singing in an audition as it is. Especially when i know there are better trained (and just plain better) singers outside the door, and them actually being in the room makes it worse.

Not really, no. I think it's just a high school thing that depends on the director. Auditions are often closed (meaning you're solo).

I've had to do an audition in front of everybody else before, and my biggest piece of advice is to "have fun!"

Now, I know that sounds ridiculous, but what I've learned over the years is that the auditions I do the best on, are the ones where I have the most fun and don't act as if everything in the world depends upon the outcome. It doesn't mean that I didn't want the parts, I definitely did. But what it means is beforehand I make sure I take deep breaths, and remind myself that the AUDITION is also a chance to act -- and I love to act, whether it is in a show, or just a small scene. I'm passionate about it, right? SO, when I remind myself that this is just another chance to act, have fun, and do what I love, I end up being more relaxed, and frankly, EXCITED about it! When the director sees you having fun, they usually enjoy your performance more.

Also, remember, every person in that room has something to offer -- including you. Even if other people in the room are amazing, and even if they could be a great Elphaba, or Rizzo, or whatever, there is NO WAY they they can be the same Elphaba or Rizzo as you could be. It's physically impossible. So if the director sees something in your they like, it's because you are the ONLY ONE who can offer that -- now go breath, offer it, and have fun!

Ive had both experiences with community theater-type auditions, open and closed. For open auditions, as stated above, I've tried to think of it as a chance to perform... like all the people in the room have come to see me and I've got to give them a good show.

I've asked my voice teacher, who did theatre professionally for many years, about that, and he said that both situations happen. Generally, I would say that open auditions are more common in a school environment (my old school did that too), but both happen professionally. It really depends on the director's preference, really. I've seen both in community theatre too...

I've tried it quite a few times now, and it might be a way of showing the panel that you can handle the pressure of an audience- I mean if you can't handle a small group of people what about 500/1000?

It gives me personally a boost of energy that I have someone to perform for other than a strict panel, and being a bit competitive I like to think that I rule their worlds with my performance and make them all very impressed haha At least when it comes to singing- monolouges are a bit harder I think, but still I actually like it alot

The hard part is to ignore if you feel someone is better than you, sometimes it only your nerves talking, but in general it's a good exercise in being confident in your own talent no matter who else shows up and even if you're not the strongest singer you might have something else to bring to the table that the pitch-perfect singer would kill to have I myself being a very trained singer would love to have that "less is more/not too showy" way of performing that many not all-musicaltheatre-trained performers have:) but I guess the grass is allways greener

Id guess that some directors like to see how the auditioners perform with an audience presence. As long as no one is trying to disturb you Id guess its the same game for every one. So see it as a only another performence...

Ill guess that the feeling off that its some one better, better trained or with more experience is always gonna happen so thats a thing youll have to learn how to live with in auditions. And its always the director (Or whomever is in charge off the casting) that choice, not the other auditioners.