What do I pack for auditions? - Audition time

Hello there!

How has the spring started for you? I hope that rain hasn’t been too annoying and that allergies haven’t sprouted too much yet.

Today I come to talk about something that you might be interested in since we’re still in audition season: what do I pack for auditions?

I just saw a video from Matt d’Avella on YouTube ( https://youtu.be/BtNAX36j1c4) where he showed what he usually carried and where did he carry all of his stuff when travelling. This man is one of the creators behind the documentary “Minimalism” and I found so interesting that we shared a similar mindset when it comes to travel efficiently! (Although he makes a much better job than I do)

Every dancer has a completely different ritual when it comes to auditions and traveling in general. I personally never pack more than what my Herschel backpack can carry and I just bring a purse with me as well for having my vital stuff more on hand. 

The backpack I got last Christmas was the Herschel Little America in Large. It’s a humungous backpack on the inside but looks totally regular on the outside capacity wise. Its adventurous design really caught my eye for quite a while but I was reluctant to ask for it because of its price. It’s not the most expensive on the market but still, it’s an investment. 

When I went to the store to have a closer look, the guy who helped me out explained something about the Herschel company I didn’t know: they have a life long guarantee for all their backpacks. You read it right: LIFE LONG.

If your back breaks, even if it’s five years after its purchase, you just need to go to whatever store that sells Herschel and show the tag your backpack had when you bought it and they will exchange it for a brand new one. That just made myself decide that it was a really good investment.

So, what do I bring with me then?

My musts to carry in the backpack are always:

• 2 Leotards
• Pink tights
• Black tights
• Skirt/s
• Black shorts
• Socks (black tall socks)
• Flat fleshed colored shoes
• 2 pairs of pointe shoes
• Toe pads and toe spacers
• A small pouch where I carry phisio balls and Theraband to warm up
• Tiger balm and Enantyum/Diazepan (antiinflamatory medicine)
• Heel Compeed’s and Dexter Energy tablets
• Warm up attire (trash bag pants, black long sleeve shirt, vest and thick socks)
• Make-up pouch
• Hair pouch with brushes
• Pijama’s (not showing in pic)
• 2-3 pairs underwear and socks (not showing in pic)
• One under shirt to change (not showing in pic)
• A reusable folded bag to enter the studio with the stuff I need only for class
• Small towel

This is the must have in my backpack. I know I can carry a lot more because Herschel Little America backpack is extremely large! But I really do use absolutely everything I carry in every single audition which is one of the main rules Matt also explains in his video. I guess I can still pack even less but I’ll learn exactly what I don’t really need with more and more travel experience.

Now into my purse (that I absolutely have to change because this one is already a messy bag). I like to carry the purse for also when walking around the city the day before or the time after the audition because carrying the backpack all the time (although it has the nicest padding on the back area) can really make you feel it on your shoulders and lower back afterwards.

I usually carry:

• Passport
• Wallet
• Power bank
• Iphone charger
• Gum/Smints
• Hand cream
• Toiletries bag (toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, hairspray, perfume and make-up wipes)
• Book 
• Scrapbook with a pencil, eraser and a black pen
• Phone with several episodes of whatever show I’m watching downloaded on Netflix
• Earphones
• Small fruit bag (I’ll always buy some snacks, mostly fresh fruit for right after the audition or in between class and repertoire if the audition has a large pause or is just taking too long)
• Small box for earrings (I decide last minute which ones I’ll wear)
• Lucky charm

You might be asking yourself: why the book and the scrapbook? Let me tell you that I like to have several options when it comes to entertainment and I love drawing the most when I’m on a trip, I guess because I feel myself a bit more inspired by the change of scenery but believe me, my drawing skills don’t get better anyway :D

Also, the power bank and the charger is because if I have somewhere to connect the charger I’ll use it of course, but power banks are extremely useful as you never really know when you might have a low battery level because Maps apps are the biggest battery consuming apps apart from YouTube and Instagram.

Is there anything else you would carry? Do you think there’s too much stuff? Let me know what you think in the comments down below!

Fun fact, in the last three trips I’ve been stopped in airports for two particular objects: phisio balls and Tiger balm. Now I put Tiger balm in my clear plastic bag (I hate they still make you use those) and still will get asked what’s that. 

With the phisio balls is a different story: they believe I carry cocaine in them. I can see the headlines: “New drug cartel discovered in ___ Airport: ballerinas are the most dangerous drug dealers these days. Watch out with the rollers”

And, to wrap up the whole experience, I ALWAYS get random control, drug test or get asked for my passport to check if I’m a terrorist or something. I’ll explain you some of the best times in airports in another post if you want to get some laughs.

And tomorrow I’ll get into yet another plane to go to another audition that I really hope I can enjoy because, to be honest, although getting a job is the main priority, you might as well enjoy a nice class in a different place, don’t you think?

I hope you enjoyed today’s post!

Love,

Muriel