I've gathered advice over the last few years from many different sources on how to best represent yourself when you're not present. Basically, I'm referring to one's press packet or submitted audition materials: resume, bio, headshot, reviews, recommendation letters, recording, repertoire list, even a website. When you're not there to audition in person, you don't have available your bubbling, friendly personality or well-dressed self to convey who you are. You only have a bunch of papers which sum up your experience and a recording of yourself. The way you present yourself with these materials, especially when you're not there to audition live, can create an adjudicators first and sometimes only impression of you. Who they understand you to be from what you give them will get you in the door, or not. So you want that impression to be one of organization, clarity of focus, intellect, some level of sophistication and accurate self-knowledge. You want to seem that you know what you're good at, you know how to best represent yourself, and you want to seem well prepared and organized. One of the main concerns it seems organizers/presenters have after hearing a beautiful voice is if they will be easy to work with. "Easy to work with" means a pleasant personality, learns music in a timely manner, can take criticism, can take direction musically and on stage and then remembers it. One way you can represent yourself as easy to work with is by sending well thought-out press kit or audition packet.
Where to start? David Gordon (Carmel Bach Festival) has a lot of really wonderful experience to draw from (just 15 years of reviewing thousands of audition materials). The advice section of his website gives potential auditioners some specific advice to his program, but excellent advice to follow with pretty much any audition packet.
To add to Mr. Gordon's advice, I would suggest creating a heading which goes at the top of all of your printed materials. Here is a screenshot of a made up heading that can be created in a Microsoft Word document.
This screenshot of a heading, which is comprised of a name, address, phone number, voice type, email address and website, would go at the top of your resume, bio, repertoire list, and reviews list (note that it does not include height or weight). You can do this by going into Word, then insert table, and select 2 by 2. Stretch it out to fit the page, then enter in your details and change the font and size accordingly. Make sure the same heading appears on all your printed documents. You can do this by copying and pasting.
Also, be sure to include your name, voice type, email and phone number on your recording and headshot, unless they specify to leave that info off. But please don't get a Sharpie Marker and just write your info directly on the CD or on the back of your headshot. Buy some address labels and print your name and info and attach one on the back of all of your headshots. Also, invest in customizable CD/DVD labels. Neato is a good, user friendly brand which allows you to design a label using a very easy program, and print on your very own printer. This also allows you to include more legible information like track numbers, titles and composers (and even crediting the instrumentalists accompanying you!!), in addition to your contact information.
The point of putting your name and info on every thing is because if any part of your packet gets separated, they can still contact you, or put your materials back together. And if they like you enough to contact you, you want to be contactable, don't you??!?
It goes without saying, but make sure to have a professional proof your resume for accuracy and spelling errors. Also, check that you are presenting yourself on paper as accurately as possible. Make sure your fach matches to what roles, operas and opera excerpts you have performed or studied. If you're a young, high soprano, including roles like Mozart's Susanna may not be appropriate. But, if you're a "baritenor" and your voice hasn't yet settled into an easy classification, represent that versatility but do so carefully. Don't go to extremes of the two fachs you may be straddling. Instead, represent that middle ground where someone can see how you're playing it safe, yet still not sure. In other words, don't confuse 'em! Proof all of this with a few professionals; masterclasses and private lessons and coachings are good times to do this.
Another tip I can offer is to use nice "cotton paper" or "fine business paper" just like normal people use when they apply for office jobs for your printed materials. It shows you care and shows a level of sophistication. It's like wearing your best Hugo Boss suit and a Paul Smith tie if you were there in real life. Also, pay attention to little details and print everything with the watermark facing correctly (as in, not upside down).
Something else to consider is paper clipping, rather than stapling your materials together. You don't know how they arrange everyone's packets when they come in, and your submission will look better if it hasn't been torn apart because you chose to staple everything together in a way that they don't want.
Be sure to consider putting your materials in the same order as listed by the company. If they say they would like a resume, bio, headshot, recommendation letter and anything else, then paper clip your materials in that exact same order. If you include the heading on all your materials, then they'll know who you are and what voice type no matter what is on top. With that said, if an audition fee is required, make sure the check or money order is on top.
Let's say your packet is all printed, everything is labeled and you're ready to send everything. Here are some questions to ask yourself: Did I check the CD recording to make sure it plays on at least 2 different CD players? Am I sending my packet close to the deadline? If so, should I spend a little more and track it, or send it FedEx to make sure it gets there on time? Is the envelope padded enough so that the CD won't become damaged en route? Have I included everything that is required?
Tis the season to start submitting audition packets. I hope some of the above information proves helpful and you are sucessful in the first impression by proxy!
