Performance Resume

Need a professional-looking performance resume to help you prepare for an audition? Creating a musicians resume for musical theatre that is well put together, helps you stand out and ultimately represents YOU is key. Here is a list of best practices to do when creating a singer resume:

What to Include in Your Performance Resume

• Your Name – Display big, bold, centered and on the top.
• Contact Information – Place right below name and include parent telephone number and name, parent email address, website and agent (if applicable).
• Personal Information – Include your height, weight, hair color and D.O.B.
• Credits/Experience – Include production, character, theatre and city if different from location you are auditioning. Add the director’s name if it is someone important and worth acknowledging.
• Training – add acting, vocal and dance experience if all three pertains. It is more important who you studied with, not necessarily always where you studied. Your teacher is your best reference. Add specific dance disciplines. If you have attended workshops with industry professionals, list those instructors and be sure their names are spelled correctly.
• Concerts – This is an optional section and I would only include it if it is a professional experience such as singing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra or Mozart Requiem with the cathedral choir.
• Awards – Only include awards that pertain to an artistic honor that is more on a community or state level such as 2nd place soprano in All-State choir not necessarily first place in your school talent show.
• Special Skills – Things that the casting team might be looking for, dialect, specific dance skills, playing an instrument, juggling….

Formatting and Layout

• Size – should be 8 ½ x10 so to fit double sided with your headshot on the other side.
• Font – Make sure your font choices are easy to read with proper spacing to make the information easy to digest. When using multiple fonts, make sure they compliment each other and create a clean look.
  • Your name or header – You may choose a fun or interesting font, but it should be easy to read. If they can’t read it, you are less likely to be casted.
  • Body – Since it will be smaller, use something clean and simple like Arial or Times New Roman.
• Color – I highly recommend just going with black and white, and besides, it is more economical.
• Layout – Make sure everything lines up. Use the table function in word and then make grid lines invisible.

Other Tidbits

• What to Include – Your credits/experience tell the story you want to tell. If you are just starting out, it is ok to include those beginner roles or ensemble work as this is what you have. Casting directors appreciate where you are and want to be part of your journey. At some point you might have to take things off, white space is key especially on either side of your name. This is a great place for casting directors to write notes about you and your audition like a CALLBACK!
• Make it Look Professional – Don’t throw your resume together, take time to be thoughtful and detailed. Present a clean, easy to read, accurate and error free resume (no typos).
• Personalize and Update – Make your resume a working doc (I love google docs). Update often or make personal depending on what and who you are auditioning for.
• Your Resume Represents YOU – As both a performer and person.

Your performance resume tells your story and represents you when you are not in the room. Use these tips to make your musical theatre resume or musician resume  look professional so you feel more confident and can focus on nailing that audition.