This summer, I got to go to Korea and audition for JYP. However, that was probably my last trip to Korea for a while (and I didn't make it) so that's a little sad.
I thought I might share some tips for the everyone else, as well as what goes on. Hopefully you will do better than me?
Anyway, every first and third Sunday, JYP holds open auditions.
You go to their audition building, and wait for a while.
It's probably the best to get there at least an hour early.
You can't enter the building. They have fingerprint scanners and everything so you can't enter.
You'll probably see some current trainees or other workers go in.
Don't bring a ton of stuff, just your phone, earphones if you plan on listening to music, or whatever you need to audition.
A nice worker will let you in and give you a sticker with a number. You slap that onto your chest and go up a couple floors.
They let you into a dance practice room, and you'll sit on the floor in groups of 5.
On a side note, they have this thing where people can get memberships (for people who audition more than a few times) and you get first turn? I'm not quite sure, but you get the first crack at it, although it's probably better not to get a membership if you don't live in Korea. And if you do live in Korea, it's still not a good idea considering if they are going to take you, you shouldn't have to audition at the same place more than 3 times. This sounds harsh, but it's reality.
Moving on. You fill out some forms with pretty basic stuff: name, age, birthday, weight, height, what you're auditioning for, experience.
It'll also ask you for school name/address (That's more for the people that live in Korea) You might need a translator if you are not Korean, since the application is mostly in Korean.
You hand in the form (and CD if you're a dancer) and you wait.
Be nice. Smile, and try to make friends.
You never know what they might end up to be, and everyone is pretty amiable.
After a while, they'll start leading the groups of five out.
Since I got there early, I was in the 3rd group (after all the membership people).
From what I could tell, most of the people tend to be singers. If you're a dancer (like I am), congrats! You have a little bit of a boost.
You go up another floor, and wait in front of another practice room.
When you enter the room, there will be one judge (a very bored looking judge lol) and a camera person behind him/her.
There's a white line of the floor. Don't cross it.
You go in order.
Singers just stand on the line and start singing. No introductions or anything.
Word of advice to singers: Make sure you have your song memorized. The girl in my group forgot almost her entire song. I felt really bad, and it makes the atmosphere really tense and awkward because of the silence. Also, have another song prepared, just in case. If you're not Korean, have at least one Korean song just in case. Or, if you can't pronounce Korean well, don't. The judges don't want to hear you butcher their language. (I know, also harsh, but this is the truth. Sorry.) If you are Korean, have an English song prepared. English is always impressive to them.
Dancers move up to this X in the middle of the room and the judge will play the music you have prepared.
If you don't have a CD or the CD screws up, they will play you a random song.
Word of advice to dancers: Just dance. Show them everything you've got, because you only have 30 seconds to impress. Pull out your most impressive moves first, because you need to catch their attention right away. Also, don't forget your CD or bring music. They'll let you use your phone for music. But, I highly suggest a CD. A phone is a bit unprofessional, and not bringing anything is just offensive to them. It's like going to school and not bringing any school supplies. Plus, the random song may not be the best. I heard Rihanna from outside of the room (when I was waiting), and it wasn't the best song to dance to. There weren't any models or anything in my group, so I don't know what to tell any models. Actually, now that I think about it, I think it was only singers and dancers.
After everyone finishes, you thank them, and that's it.You're done. Congrats! You go back downstairs and exit the building.
In my group, there were 3 dancers and 2 singers. There was also only one boy in my group, and he danced. The other rapper was a girl, and she rapped love the way you lie by Eminem. It was actually really good, considering she was a native Korean and didn't know much English. Her pronunciation was decent but she lost some of her flow after she stumbled on a phrase and I think she lost her confidence after that.
The other girl dancer was pretty good, but she danced to Exo-K's History. Her routine wasn't as impressive as Exo-K.
The rule of thumb is, unless you can replicate the dance and make it look just like the artist or dance better and make the original artist look like a beginner, don't pick their song.
**TIPS**
- Act confident, starting from when you walk into the building and don't drop the act until you leave. Your audition doesn't start when you start dancing or singing, it starts the second you enter the room.
- Don't be nervous! Everyone is just as nervous.
- LOOK GOOD. LOOK GOOD. Now, I'm not saying to slather on makeup (don't do that), but you need to look presentable. Put on a minimal amount of makeup, nice clothes (comfortable jeans and a t-shirt if you're dancing, but if you're singing, you can wear other things. Make sure it's nice, but not too nice. Don't wear a dress or anything. Don't wear skimpy clothes either. A casual shirt/shorts of reasonable length or jeans combo is fine. All the girls were completely dolled up when I was there. Some of them were a little too heavy on the makeup. You do not want to be that girl. Even though everyone claims to go for talent, your looks are the first impression. Make sure you look good, and know you look good! Everyone is beautiful in their own way, so rock it. Be comfortable in your own skin. Confidence is attractive, but keep in mind that arrogance is not. Koreans are really big on being humble. Also, remember that you are there to audition, not to go to a party or anything.
- If you're only staying for a shorter time in Korea, go to the first audition and not the third. It'll take them a week or so to answer back and you want to still be in Korea.
- Dancers: Practice your moves. Practice them until they are perfect, because when you get in front of the judge, chances are, you'll get nervous and go into auto-mode. I think that's mostly the cause of my failure. I didn't practice enough and I screwed up. I've practiced more and really improved.
- ALSO: Don't pick a rival group's song. That's not the best choice. If you're auditioning for JYP, don't sing/dance to I Got A Boy by SNSD. If you're auditioning for YG, don't sing/dance to I Don't Need A Man by Miss A. If you're auditioning for SM, don't sing/dance to Ugly by 2ne1. And so on.
- Singers: You don't have to be the loudest in your group. If you can't sing loudly, don't force yourself. Make it sound good, and show them that you have the potential.
- Don't sing one of their own artist's more popular songs either. They'll know the song extremely well by that point, and it makes it hard to impress them. If you can sing extremely well, by all means, go for it. However, if you are more mediocre, then singing a popular shouldn't be your first choice.
- As most of us know, SM= Looks, YG= Talent, and JYP= Potential. For JYP, you don't have to be the best, just show them that you have what it takes to become the next big thing.
I'll put up more tips when I can think of some, but that's all for now. I wish you the best!
For dancing, is it okay if its not a Korean song owned by the company but rather more like a freestyle dance? You know, remix, etc..
ReplyDeletePlease do reply. c:
I like your blog. Its so cute <3
And also, how did you get to JYP? o:
ReplyDeleteCan you bring an instrument like a ukelele?
ReplyDeleteLOVE your tips they are helpful :) I also think that they can be used for other kinds of auditions as well.
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ReplyDeleteIf you sing, would you have to dance with the group later when everyone's finish? [freestyle.]
ReplyDeleteWhat if you can sing but can't dance??? Would I have to dance some stuff or not cause I can dance.
ReplyDeleteHi I'm from 2019 xD
ReplyDeleteJYP doesn't accept CDs anymore! You have to bring a mobile phone or they will pick a random song for you to dance freestyle.
Thank you so much!!!
ReplyDeleteCan we dance in an English song?
But, I am so terrrified I won't debut
ReplyDelete