May 13, 2013

My Thoughts On Auditioning: My Experience

Here are some thing that I realized while auditioning.  While all my advice will stay the same, I've made some person realizations and convictions.  I auditioned at a Weekly Audition at a time where it was mostly just the regular crowd, not full of tourists and K-Pop fans.

  • If you say you're merely "okay" with singing, you really need to take some more lessons before auditioning.  These kids are really good.  (I'll post a clip of me singing for comparison.  I did fairly well compared to all of them.)
  • If you are older than 17 for girls and 19 for boys, you better be pretty, bilingual (Korean and __), talented, and charismatic (I've got about 2.1 of those things down...) for them to seriously consider you.  Most of the kids auditioning are middle schoolers or early high schoolers.  Not to say you can't audition if you're not all that, but you're chances of getting picked seriously drop after that.
    • I'm 20 and I auditioned, but I am not high on their list of future trainees. :/  Doesn't mean I can't try but I definitely should (and have) a back up plan for the future (like school and another career choice).
  • Charisma is everything.  While the people I auditioned with were good, a lot of them were not memorable in the fact there was no stage presence.
    • Also, the judge is extremely bored and extremely tired.  You have to be memorable enough or good enough to get her attention.
  • While you should be serious, don't take it too seriously.  The nerves will just get to you.  Have fun!
  • Be prepared to wait!  We were in a hot stuffy room in everysing's basement for 2 hours before the audition even started (yes, two hours after the start time...).  I'm pretty sure this is part of the SM dungeon and that if we were there any longer we would have run into Zhang Liyin and EXO...


Since I have a lot to write, I'll update this with a full briefing on my experiences.
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5 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 12, 2013 at 6:51 AM

    I have one question, can people who are asian but not Korean, Chinese or Japanese audition?

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    Replies
    1. angelsfallfastJuly 14, 2013 at 5:28 PM

      Yes! I actually auditioned in a group with two kids from the Philippines. SM accepts all auditions regardless of age, race, or gender. :)

      Delete
  2. AfeeleahRoslanJuly 17, 2013 at 3:58 AM

    Hi, I'm 19 this year,Does my chance to become a trainee is really small? Does height really matter? I'm actually quite good in dance and sing. Not saying that I'm really good. Quite~ haha! So iS it my chance really small?

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    Replies
    1. angelsfallfastJuly 18, 2013 at 4:38 PM

      For boys, their window is usually from ages 15- 20/21. For girls, it's about 14-16. After these windows, the need for natural beauty and lots of pre-training talent and a special ability goes up dramatically. While your chance isn't gone (Victoria was about 20 when she started!) it is getting smaller. (Keep in mind, Korea counts age by the Lunar Calendar, so depending on your birthday, you're already 20 or 21 in Korea.)

      But if this is your dream, don't give up! I was a day away from being 20 when I did my live audition. :D Just present a quality talent. With age, be more confident in the talent you present SM. :)

      Height doesn't matter, but if you're much under 5'4" for girls or 5'8" for guys (the shortest members of SM), you will have to make up for it in talent. :)

      Delete
    2. AfeeleahRoslanJuly 19, 2013 at 12:49 AM

      Sorry for asking too much questions, hehe.. My birthday is in August, haihh.. Its so hard to become a trainee. So, Went you in there,Did they asked you to do both, like singing after that dance? Or either one? Did you went for live audition early of this year? You know when they did the live audition again?

      Delete

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