When the audition criteria says “wear something comfortable,” you might wonder what that means. Today we are breaking down not only why what you wear matters, but also how to use clothes to perform your best.
Why does it matter?
How you dress sends a message to the audience or panel. It creates a statement about you and how serious you are. Wearing sweats to an audition says “I’m not all that serious about this audition.” Even if you are serious about it.
Clothes can be a helpful tool to communicate how much a performance or audition means to you. If you do an audition in serious, professional attire, that will send a message.
How to dress effectively for auditions/performances
In my wardrobe, I have certain clothes for performances and auditions. These clothes are only for that purpose. I used to think not much of that fact until I tried to wear them for a different occasion.
I was going to watch an opera and I didn’t have anything to wear to it. I decided to wear my concert clothes, but immediately as I put them on, my brain went into performance mode. I realised that I couldn’t wear these clothes to the opera because my brain had reserved them for performing. I couldn’t relax and watch the opera because my mind was in a different headspace.
From this experience, I learned that clothes can be used to help us focus. My performance clothes help my brain get into a performing mode; just like how an athlete’s outfit might get them into the headspace of the sport. Musicians are quite the same.
So I suggest dressing formally and professionally. And, if you want to use the focus hack that I do, reserve clothes for just performing.
I wish you all the best in your performances,
Eleanor
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