Linora Low » auditions

Always be Prepared!

Linora Low — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:22:22 +0000

Right so after the whole Singapore trip was basically to try for . Let’s have my breakdown on what happened that day. That morning it took me a while to get out from bed, but I finally did and got there one hour early. The whole point of going for any audition early is to get yourself ready, wamr up the body, calm yourself, do some breathing exercises and so on so forth. But the minute I got there, I managed to only catch my breath for a moment, I signed up and next thing I know. Right after I handed my registration form to them they said ok *smile* you can go in now. … Hah????? “But isn’t my appointment at 12pm?” I asked. “Yeah it is but you can go in early.” The lady said. Like whoa whoa whoa. I’m not ready, I’m not warmed up yet. I just got out of the cab, spent 15 minutes searching for the place and I JUST woke UP! hARLO!!… That didn’t stop them though from opening the door into the audition room, which was were I met the person auditioning me. Really nice guy and of all things the song I picked – I had issues with it because I hadn’t tried it out on the piano prior to that. Thank goodness though I brought the minus one. Think I should’ve just stuck with “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from Jesus Christ Superstar, rather than picking a new song. I picked Anastasia’s “Journey To The Past”. On a nice note, he said that I had a nice voice, just that I had some pitching problems. At that time in the morning (ok it was 11am but i just woke up), I’m not surprise. He was nice enough to let me go through to the next stage which was to see me dance. The audition was for A Snow White pantomime done in hip hop style. I’m guessing that’s why they wanted the pop song. So on to the dance phase, which was just next door and Thank The LORD there was water for the auditionees. The dance choreographer didn’t teach us the steps till they had at least 6 people. I was people number 3 so we waited for another 3 more people. When there were 6 of us, he started showing the steps and oh my gosh it was fast!!!! Actually according to my sports aerobics group, I should be able to handle but I’ve been out of practice. We danced to Britney’s A Piece of Me and I will give it that she’s always had good dance numbers. It was 4 sets of 8 counts and each darn count had a step. Ai… and it wasn’t 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 counting. Noo.. it was 1,2,3,4 and 5 and 6, 7,8….Joy, but great practice! After learning the 32 steps in a span of 10 -12 minutes, he then called the same guy who auditioned me for the singing into the room. The choreographer mentioned that we didn’t have to get the steps, step for step, they were just looking to see how one moved to the music and attitude. Right! We so needed to get the steps right! ^_P We were placed in two rows. Three on each. I was placed at the back first, see that red humongous dot.

We all got two chances to dance,

because doens’t matter where you were standing you’ll have to do it twice. I managed to get everything – so I thought – for the first two rounds, which was the ones I thought they were observing. All of a sudden, the choreographer said “Can we have the three girls again please, I wasn’t concentrating on them just now but more on the guys. So could you please come out and dance one more time.” Needless to say that caught me off guard and I lost my focus at that point. Sigh. So for the third round, I really did screw up the steps and my counting, even if i did continue, like nothing had happened. The other two girls from what i saw at the corner of my eye, had the right counting (i think) and steps, yet they didn’t make it either for the second callback. So lesson here: BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING! Twice in a row I was caught off guard. I will say that I should have been prepared even before I got into the cab. Overall though it was a great experience, for me to see what was the difference between our KL auditions and with an international audition. Granted it’s not Australia or another more well established performing arts country. But it was a step and man was it FUN! That was a first time just jumping from the gun and going straight to a different country to try and audition. But it was such an ouchie on my pocket..sniff. Plus I got to meet some really nice people and catch up with an old friend along the way. A trip very worth while. Watch out for next year, i’ll improve!!!

Singapore Mad Dash Part 1

Linora Low — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:40:17 +0000

Splitting this in too a three part story. I’ll start off first with me getting to Singapore on Friday afternoon. I had bought a bus ticket from Aeroline online for RM164 for a return ticket from KL (Chorus Hotel) -> Singapore (Harbourfront Plaza). Mom and Nessa had sent me to Chorus Hotel which was the drop and pick up point for those heading down to Singapore. I have never been so happy to hear a traveling point that is close to home. ^_^ Getting there took about half an hour and thankfully no jam. I was hanging about at the Chorus hotel lounge to get my free coffee which came with the Aeroline ticket and grabbed meself a hotdog bun too, since I had zilch to eat that day. And was more worried about getting my documents right, my piano score right and getting my voice/head used to the lyrics for the audition the next day.Sitting around in the bus I decided to go ahead and pop open the laptop and get some maps shoved into my phone. Just in case anything happened. Or rather just to make sure I do NOT get lost. Yeap I was quite happy once again to see that the GPS on my phone worked. I’m using Google Maps here which i think is faster and a lot friendlier than the Nokia Maps installed on the phone. But hey I’m not complaining. Then the day started to get dark and here we are in the bus at around 8 plus. I had covered up the other side of the window since it was really distracting when I was watching my show on the laptop. The litted stairway to the drivers area and the top part of the bus, where I should actually be sitting but decided to be a smart alec and go on down to the lounge area. Yes I look terribly sleepy and drained. Oh and see the dude over there, he’s from Canada and who would’ve guessed that not only were we on the same bus to Singapore. We were also on the same bus to KL. Quite a nice dude and he mentioned that he was stopped three times already at Singapore immigration. Beats me on why. He was saying that everytime he placed his thumbprint on the scanner to be checked.. his face didn’t pop up but some other lady did. Hmmm.. ahh but interesting story no less. Hehe.. There is a very good reason why, the minute i stepped out of the bus in Singapore Harbourfront Plaza that I was not afraid of getting lost. Even though that could’ve been a possibility. Me and darling Erin who was kind enough to put up with me in her Uncle’s house. I feel terrible for now even saying hi to her uncle. It was like ok pop in the house and i’m gone the next day. Gotta make sure I at least say hello the next time round and thank him for hospitality.

Wei Chuen and Me.

These were among the people that I managed to take a pic with and they are fun! But boy can they party lol. From far left : Wei Chuen, Adam, Fernn and Me. More to come Look out for Singapore Mad Dash Part 2

Wild Rice

Linora Low — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:54:02 +0000

This weekend is going to be fun fun fun! Not too long ago, I saw an audition posted up for Wild Rice and the having calls for a Snow White Pantomime. The audition is in Singapore and my other acting peers some will call me mad, some will say go for it and try just for the experience. So yes I decided to got and try for it and see how badly i’m going to be pulverized by the tough and demanding audition.

I’ve never been in a Pantomime before so this shall be interesting. A bit strange though that they are making the auditionees sing a pop song. So yes.. I’m heading for that audition in a while. Bus leaves at 3.30pm and a bit nervous, and excited as well. This will be my first audition out of KL. whoa.. and I hope i have something to show for it lol. Wish me all the best guys. Countdown timer ticking and of course this can be considered my long long awaited trip by Monash buddie Erin

Back From The Audition

Linora Low — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:21:33 +0000

The jitterbug feeling died off when I got there. Thank You Lord! I must say it was a mad Monday, but I think it was all worthwhile, even more so to see long ago friends, catching up with them and even better to see their faces there was a great comfort. I can’t tell you how, really really encouraging it is to see people whom you can either click with or other people who share the same passion as you. It’s completely like another life altogether and it’s such a wonderful joy. To be able to this works, with your friends. Ahhh! ^_^ Being there at KLPAC for the Ismail audition.. I don’t know what it was but it really felt like an audition from a movie like “Fame” or something. It really did! Perhaps it was the crowd (which was a lot of people, think about 50 over). Perhaps it’s the ambiance that KLPAC has, which just breathes the performing arts/theatre or whatever it is. Perhaps it’s because where I was standing were really with people who wanted this as much as I did…well at least some of them anyway.

But I’m glad that the audition went well overall. I’m glad to at least have gotten a callback from the first one, I’m glad to have seen some ol friends and new ones there. Best of all-for me anyways- I finally got to give a go at contemporary dancing for the audition. Which was what we had to do, maybe if I’m inspired enough I’ll make a video on just the steps the fantastic dancer/choreographer Aris Kadir from the show Passion, who happened to be our dance director just now and the previous audition sessions. I thoroughly enjoyed it and even if I don’t make it, I’m glad I was able to dance that short choreography. Oh the joy I have when I am able to dance… pure ecstasy ^_^ See me smile. It wasn’t so scary this time round and maybe that was because we were doing it as a group and not all eyes were on you. Whatever the outcome, It was a fun experience and it makes your eyes open up more to realise… that it’s though and you have to really show what you got to give. It’s only one chance and that’s it. All the best to everyone else at the auditions. Hope that we get to work with one another soon. ^_^

Jitter Bug

Linora Low — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:29:50 +0000

It is exactly 1 hour to the Ismail callback audition. … And I have no idea why but I’m feeling terribly anxious, jittery and nervous. Since this morning I’ve been having this feeling. I have it because I know that I’m going to be performing and showing what I’ve got to my teacher and his panel of audition judges. Problem is I don’t know what exactly to expect at the second callback audition which shall determine whether I’m in or out for the show. And I really hope to be in it! Like the other audition for “The Boy Friend” I don’t care what role it is, I just hope to get a role. Any role!! It feels as though, my stomach has been wringing and wringing itself all over for the whole day. On top of that, there is the feel of the butterfly effect happening too. It’s like flutter flutter banter flutter. Ooohhh my!! A number of us are going for the callback. Min Li, Isma, Nick, Dayan, Shirin and Hana..we all managed a callback, which I’m so proud that we did!! I hope we all do our complete best for it. However, I’m already praying for some sanity and acceptance, that whatever the outcome, I’m going to accept the rejection. But for now I’m super nervous. Wish me all the best guys. Leaving now.

Theatre Auditions

Linora Low — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:21:54 +0000

The other night I had gone to KLPAC for the Ismail Audition that has been circulating around on kakiseni and of course on the KLPAC grounds. It was quite a scare heading in to audition for my drama teacher Joe Hasham. Why? Probably because this where he is no longer posing as teacher anymore but rather as that person who auditions you. Very different from the teacher in class where if you make a mistake it’s not so bad, just do it again and again till you get it right. Auditions for a performer is the real world. It’s just like a job interview. You go in not knowing what to expect, you have to be quick on your feet, you have to think real fast… of course you answer accordingly with your body. Where they will ask you to show you what you got. Usually at theater/musical auditions this is what they will ask you to do:

It’s most likely the will ask you to DANCE first. Either they will give you a choreography which ranges from very simple to ridiculously complicated. Or you have to come up with your own routine already prepared from home and your own music. The latter of course sounds nicer, but you never know when sometimes you may forget your own choreography.
Next up in line is they will ask you to SING. Have a song already prepared that you are comfortable with. Either have a minus one version, a piano sheet or have your voice really ready with accapella. But I noticed that some musicals prefer that you have some background music, and you may put them off if you go in with accapella. After singing your song, or prior to it. They may make you follow along with certain notes on the piano just to see your range or your ability to follow notes through.
From there, they may hand you a SCRIPT and give you a role to try out for. Some may allow you to read from the script, others will insist that you memorise the script, which I hate! I’m already in enough stress as it is, stop making remember lines! But you have to be professional about it and pull through.

Those are the main things they would ask you to do. Another thing to be prepared for is, if you screw up on the first go at an audition, there is the likelihood, they will actually say stop..thank you very much and you free to leave now. Ouch! That means, sorry my dear you didn’t impress enough on the first go, so rather than wasting our time and yours we don’t to see what else you have to show. It’s harsh… :sniff: Thankfully I made it through for the Ismail auditions call back along with Min Li whom I met that same day. So we auditioned in the same group. Phewww. All the best to the both of us for next Monday.

It’s a Cruel Joke

Linora Low — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:23:59 +0000

With American Idol fever playing on Star Channel, it is bound to cause a number of tongues to start wagging. I would think it’s the most talk about show ever around the entire world…well it is anyway here in Malaysia, which is downright ridiculous considering that our very own Malaysian Idol got scratched off from the Tv programs. I’ve had a couple of conversations with friends, and we got into the talk of how some people who make it into the final judging round, actually can’t sing at all. What happens when you go for an audition like American Idol or any Reality TV show, is that they are looking for the juicy stories. The crazy or fantastic ones that will garner in more viewers. Thousands of people will audition out for a spot on American Idol, with them going through 3 rounds before they get the green light to go into Hollywood. There will be two tiers of judges before we the TV viewers actually see the final round of auditions going into either wow Simon Cowell or make him beg for them to stop. Really how do you think a person that sings like this could’ve gone through 2 rounds of judging? It’s a cruel joke honestly. I mean for those who people who have the insane confidence to go up and try out, I give them respect, but on the other hand. I find it terribly cruel as the people around them say that they have the ability to sing when in truth they can’t. Sure everyone can sing, but not everyone can sing well. And these people who go into the two rounds are given the perception by the first and second tier judges, that they actually can sing. Then when they go into the actual panel of judges, they are crushed to bits, because they are now hearing the truth. I am all for people trying to gain confidence but really don’t feed thoughts into people’s heads making them think they are good at something when they aren’t. It will only cause these people to get hurt and confused. They are living in denial and because of that, they start to wonder why aren’t they good enough. Obviously they weren’t in the first place. So mean.