See what an audition video can look like, then build a clear submission of your own. These examples are for learning how performers present an assignment on camera. They are not a universal format: the current audition packet and direct instructions from the corps always control what you must perform, record, edit, export, and submit.
Browse audition video examples ↗ · Read step-by-step video instructions ↗
Start with the exact assignment
Download the newest packet for the corps, section, and audition cycle you are applying to. Read every page before recording. Make a checklist of the required excerpts, exercises, movement, order, tempo, count-in, camera angle, orientation, number of takes, and deadline. Note whether the video must be one continuous take, whether a metronome or accompaniment is allowed, and whether staff wants one combined file or separate clips. If an instruction is unclear, ask the corps before filming; do not guess based on someone else’s video.
Write down the submission details too: accepted file types, maximum file size or duration, file-naming format, upload platform, privacy setting, link permissions, required applicant information, and how to confirm the submission arrived. Requirements can differ by corps, role, and season.
Set up the camera so staff can evaluate the assignment
- Use the required landscape or portrait orientation. Put the phone or camera on a stable tripod or fixed support. Do not hand-hold it while performing.
- Use the rear camera when possible, clean the lens, and turn off notifications. Avoid digital zoom; move the camera to frame the requested view.
- Follow the packet’s distance and angle exactly. If no angle is specified, choose a position that clearly shows the required playing area or movement. For full-body work, include the performer from head to feet, the instrument or equipment, and the full range of motion, with a little margin so nothing is clipped.
- Keep the camera level and still. Check that stands, music, equipment, and other people do not block the performer. Do not add camera movement, cuts, or close-ups unless requested.
- Make a short test clip and review it on a second device if available. Check that the frame is not reversed or cropped and that the performance remains in focus.
Light and sound: make the performance easy to see and hear
Face the main light source when practical. A window or bright lamp behind you can turn your face and equipment into a silhouette. Use even light so hands, posture, instrument, flag, or foot placement remain visible. Avoid flickering lights and a busy background. For outdoor recording, check wind, changing sunlight, and background activity.
Choose a quiet room or practice space. Silence alerts and appliances, and listen for HVAC hum, echo, traffic, or people talking. Place the camera close enough to capture a clean sound without clipping. Make a test at the loudest part of the excerpt: if the audio crackles or distorts, increase the distance or lower the recording level. Do not cover the microphone. Avoid adding music, filters, noise reduction, or audio effects unless the corps permits them.
Prepare and record the performance
Practice the assigned material in the same order and setup you plan to use on camera. Warm up safely, check tuning or equipment, and have the packet’s references ready. If a count-in, spoken introduction, or slate is required, use the requested wording and placement. Otherwise, keep the opening brief and begin when directed.
Record the number of takes the packet allows. If it requires one continuous take, record the full assignment without stopping, splicing, or combining performances. If retakes are permitted, select a complete take that follows the directions; do not combine the best fragments from different takes. Do not add captions, transitions, speed changes, color effects, or visual edits that could change how the performance is evaluated. When in doubt, submit an unaltered take and ask staff about any permitted edits.
Role-specific framing checks
- Brass: Keep the face, instrument, posture, and any required movement visible. Check that the bell or mouthpiece is not cut off if the assignment asks staff to assess it. Place the camera where sound is clear and not overwhelmed by direct bell output.
- Battery and front ensemble: Show the hands, instrument surface, sticks or mallets, and body position required by the packet. Confirm that the camera angle makes the assigned technique visible. Use a metronome or reference track only when allowed.
- Color guard: Use enough clear space to show the full body, equipment path, tosses or catches, and travel if assigned. Check ceiling height, nearby people, walls, and floors for safety. Keep the camera far enough away to avoid clipping equipment at the edges.
- Visual, dance, or movement: Frame the whole body and enough floor to show the requested steps and direction changes. Wear clothing that lets staff see alignment and movement as requested. Make sure lighting and background help the performer stand out.
Review, export, and name the file
Watch the complete saved file—not just the first few seconds—before submitting. Confirm that it plays from beginning to end, the correct take is included, nothing is muted or clipped, the picture is stable, and every required part is visible. Check the beginning and ending for accidental pauses or cut-off material.
Use the packet’s export specifications and filename exactly. If it gives no format, ask the corps when possible; a widely supported MP4/H.264 export is a practical fallback, not a universal rule. Preserve the original frame rate and aspect ratio when you can, and avoid aggressive compression that makes hands, feet, or sound difficult to evaluate. Reopen the exported file after rendering to catch upload or conversion problems.
Upload and submit carefully
- Use the platform and privacy setting requested by the corps. If submitting a link, confirm that staff can access it without requesting permission or signing into your personal account.
- Test the link in a private or signed-out browser window. Check that it points to the final file, not a draft, folder, or alternate take.
- Use the exact naming and applicant-identification instructions. Do not put private contact details in a public video description.
- Submit before the deadline, accounting for the stated time zone and upload time. Keep a copy of the final file and the submission confirmation.
- If the corps requests a confirmation email or form, complete it. If you do not receive the stated confirmation, contact the official staff contact rather than sending duplicate files to multiple addresses.
If you are under 18, have a parent, guardian, or trusted adult help check privacy settings, permissions, and the final submission.
How to learn from the examples below
Watch each example once for the overall assignment, then replay it while checking framing, lighting, sound, preparation, and whether the performer follows the visible directions. Ask what you can learn and what may be specific to that corps or audition. A video may be old, unofficial, or made for a different role; use it to understand presentation, never as a replacement for the current packet. Do not copy another performer’s routine, music, or personal setup if your assignment differs.
Watch audition video examples ↗
Final submission checklist
- I used the current packet for the correct corps and role.
- I included every assigned item in the required order and followed take and editing rules.
- The camera view, orientation, light, and sound match the instructions and make the work easy to evaluate.
- The exported file plays fully and uses the required format and filename.
- The upload link and privacy settings work for the corps, and the submission is complete before the deadline.
- I saved the final copy and confirmation.
For corps profiles and program information, visit the Drum Corps directory ↗.