Before Easter, theaters begin to slow down in business as the holiday approaches. However, after Easter theaters get serious about finalizing casting for next season. For those who are also serious about getting a career going here the best strategy is simple: be here and be ready for auditions. If you’re a seasoned performer, keep an eye out for shows which you’ve performed and can convincingly audition for. These days many theaters hold these auditions on short notice so you have to be here to hear about them and be ready to drop everything to audition. April through June is now the best time for this. Really keep in touch with your agents during this time!
Especially because you have to please stage directors, moving well and showing a dynamic stage presence is often as important as singing well. In particular ‘specialty’ roles and voice types are sought after, but you have to understand German preferences. We’re not talking about potential, we’re talking about what you could sing tonight! If you’re a bass and can always get that low C as well as the high F, you do have a better shot than the lovely lyric coloratura. The same is true of tenors who performed and can prosper singing Verdi and Puccini, or a really good alto who has a booming low voice. However, sopranos…be ready, your voice type covers a lot of repertoire! Keep your German language skills sharp and your repertoire (roles you can sing today) ready! By the way, agents still say theaters are always looking for a good tenor, but I was a pretty good tenor and there was always plenty of competition for every job. It was never easy and it’s never going to be easy! However, to be successful you need to be in the arena (ie be IN GERMANY), remain persistent and be at the ready with your core repertoire! Toi toi toi!