Rabu, 21 Agustus 2013

SM Audition

A Useful Guide to the SM Entertainment Auditions

Here's a quick guide that I've compiled based on my own experience and other sources.  This is a guide for the SM Entertainment online audition, e-mail audition, and post audition.

For more answers:

Treat this as a job application (after all, if you do indeed become an idol, this will be your job andcareer).  Make sure your grammar and spelling is to the best of your ability.  Also, do away with comments like "plz support!" and "this is my dream!"
  • Also, please, please, please double, triple, and even quadruple check your application before you hit "Send".  It is very unprofessional to send a second email saying "I'm sorry, but I put in my place of residence wrong." 
  • If you are anything less than totally proud of the photos and video clips, don't send it in.  Re-record it or re-take the photos.
If you have any questions, you can check out Basic Audition Q & A or comment below!

Online Audition (everysing.com)
(Note:  I have updated it to match everysing's new layout.)
Open:  Year round
  1. Open global.everysing.com.  Make sure you aren't on everysing.com or everything will be in Korean.  Make sure you are signed in.
  2. Click on "Audition" at the top of the page - there will be others that say Audition farther down the page, but don't click on those!
  3. Click on "SM everysing Audition" at the top left.  Scroll through the guide to the bottom.  Click the button on the left that says "Audition Apply" 
  4. Attach your video file on the appropriate section.  It must be in the .avi or .wmv format and less than 50 MB.  If the program you used does not have .avi or .wmv as a conversion choice, convert it anyway and then convert it again to .avi or .wmv using a conversion program. 
  5. Enter the song title and artist.  (If you can spell it in Korean, I suggest adding that as well)
  6. Enter the subject.  Honestly, I don't know what they are looking for.  On my audition, I just put the title again.
  7. For the content, put anything else that you want other views or the judges to see about the song.
  8. Make sure you check the box at the bottom that gives them permission to upload the video to YouTube.
  9. Click the red "Update" box at the very bottom.
Now you can also audition via SMTOWN's official homepage. 
  1. Sign in to smtown.com.  The login e-mail and password is the same for everysing.com.
  2. Click on "Audition" at the top of the main page.
    1. Go to the right side of the audition page (www.smtown.com/link/audition) and click on "Apply Now"
    2. Make sure you set your language to English.
  3. Click on "By Online."
  4. Fill out the required fields as accurately and honestly as possible.
    1. Career is the same as Experience.
    2. You may only choose ONE field to audition in, so choose carefully.
    3. UCC (video) URL is where you would paste a link (usually YouTube) to your audition clip.
    4. Only check and list languages that you are fluent in.
    5. Your photo must be JPG, GIF, or PNG.  Make sure you look natural in the photo!
      1. You should keep your hair off your forehead and out of your face
      2. No crazy hair-dos.
      3. No make-up.  Also, if you have facial piercings, I would suggest taking them out for the photo (they can alter your appearance).
      4. Good lighting
      5. Make the photo good quality (no old school cellphone camera photos, no blurry photos, etc.) but don't give them professional grade photos (yearbook photos, graduation photos, etc.)
      6. No editing
      7. No fingers or hands in the way of your face.  So no peace signs.
      8. Don't change your facial features - smile, but don't be winking or making a weird face.
      9. Make sure your hair and/or face isn't out of the frame.
    6. While not required, the self-introduction is a way to stand out.  Let your personality show! (And use good grammar!)

If you have any questions, you can check out Basic Audition Q & A or comment below!

E-mail Audition
Open:  Year round
  1. E-mail address:  usaaudition@smtown.com 
    1. For non-USA and non-Korean residents:  If you are e-mailing from a country other than the USA or Korea, please use smaudition@smtown.com
  2. Subject:   Name/Age/Gender/Category you are auditioning for   (EX:  Angela/16/Female/Singer)
  3. Attach a video containing a sample of you dancing.  Like the everysing.com audition, make sure the file is in .wmv, .mp3, .wav or .avi form.  Even if you aren't auditioning as a dancer, still include a dance clip!  Their website states that mp4 and cda formats cannot be evaluated.
  4. Attach an mp3 (or video) of you singing.  Don't edit it. 
  5. Attach 2 photos.  They ask for a front shot of your face and a profile shot.  Make sure the photos are in JPG or GIF format.  They also ask that you DO NOT photoshop, edit, touch up, or in anyway shape or form mess with the photos!   They are also asking for quality shots as in no camera photos or scanned photos!  (Scanned photos makes it near impossible for them to know if editing was done so they don't allow scanned photos).
  6. The body:  Wow.   It took forever for me to find this...but it's buried in a Q&A section at membership.smtown.com.  There no longer is an application form:

    1. Name/Sex
    2. Area of Application
    3. Date of Birth
    4. School
    5. Place of Residence
    6. Contact Information (1) Cellular Phone (2) E-mail
    7. Experience [1]

    1. Fill these out.  DO NOT include any extra information.  I know some of you will be worried about the "Experience" section, but don't sweat it, especially if you're young.  I suggest putting down anything school talent show and larger down.  (The backyard show you put on with the neighbor kids doesn't count...)
      1. If you haven't taken any lesson, don't mention it!  The judges assume you have had no lessons or training unless you mention a school or time when you did receive it.
      2. Area of Application - It means, "What Are You Auditioning For?".  In other words, singer, dancer, VJ, actor, model, etc.
    2. Hit send.
    If your files won't all fit, DO NOT send multiple e-mails.  Trim the length of your singing and/or dancing clip.  In all honestly they probably won't watch more than 30 seconds anyway.  Also, double check that you can play the files without any problems.  If there are any glitches or errors, they will disregard your e-mail.
    Another suggestion is to send the e-mail on weekdays.  The weekends are probably a very busy time.
    If you do not receive a reply with 2-4 weeks, assume that you did not qualify.  SM's official website and their official Facebook page state that "E-mail audition results will be notified individually to only those who were qualified."


    If you have any questions, you can check out Basic Audition Q & A or comment below!

    Post Audition (Snail Mail)
    Open:  Year Round
    This will cost you money in the form of extra postage.  You will be paying for a heavier package and whatever it costs to send mail overseas.
    Make sure your CD/DVD/USB/DV/memory card is SECURELY wrapped.  Any damage to make it unreadable will cause your audition to be ignored.
    1. Address your envelope:  서울시 강남구 강남우체국 사서함 1952호 SM엔터테인먼트 오디션 담당자 앞
      1. Here's the breakdown in English:
        1. S.M. Entertainment Korea, <Artist Planning and Development Team>
        2. Gangnam, P.O. Box 1952
        3. Seoul, South Korea
      2. You can also send to the office in the States:
        1. Audition S.M. Entertainment Audition USA 4322 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90010
      3. Unless you can write fluently in Korean, I suggest sending it to the USA office.  I have heard that the Korean office won't accept out of country mail, so send it to the USA office unless you happen to be in Korea and sending it from Korea.
    2. Put the CD/DVD/USB/DV/memory card in the envelope.  Once again, the USB should have the files in the mp3, .avi, .wmv, or .wma format.  Make sure the item is securely wrapped in something like bubble wrap.
    3. Just use the format used above for the E-mail Audition.
    4. Include the front face shot and the profile shot.  No editing, photoshopping, touching up, or anything on the photos.  Print them out or include them on the media format you are sending.
    5. Figure out the correct postage.
    6. Send!

    If you have any questions, you can check out Basic Audition Q & A or comment below!


    Live Audition (In Person - Seoul)
    Important Update:  The Live Audition format has changed.  USA Auditions are now MONTHLY.
    3/16, 4/20, 5/18, 6/15, 7/20, 8/17, 9/21, 10/19, 11/16, and 12/21 are the Audition dates for 2013.

    LA Auditions
    Address:  4322 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 300 Los Angeles CA 90010
    Email:  usaaudition@smtown.com
    Time:  2pm - 5pm Pacific Time, on the 3rd Saturday of every month.

    Seoul Auditions
    Address:  Sinsa-dong, 659-9 Hyesung Building, Seoul
    Email:  master@everysing.com
    Time:  Every Saturday starting at 2pm KTS

    Seoul Weekly Auditions NEW
    Open:  Year Round
    For instructions on how to get there, click here.  (Coming Soon)
    Please note that you should arrive early.  The line starts to grow around 1!  Also, please bring water, iPod, and a writing utensil!  SM is in no way shape or form on time, so don't have anything planned afterwards!  (It took me over 2 1/2 hours for my audition - I arrived at 1:30 and got out after 4).
    NOTE:  As cameras aren't allowed, this is all done from memory.  I apologize for any inaccuracies!

    1. Arrive at everysing in Apgujeong.
      1. Enter at either entrance - the auditions are held in the basement.
        1. From the front door (facing the main road), walk up the stairs and through the entrance on your right.  Pass through the glass door at the back of the store.  There will be an elevator to your left and stairs to your right.
      2. Just follow the line and get in line.  The line will snake up the stairs after awhile, so the front entrance (the one facing the main road) is the best way to get in.
    2. Wait.  You will have a wait time before the audition starts.  This is where the iPod come in useful.  Those waiting will listen to their music and warm up for the audition.
    3. Once the audition starts, an assistant will hand out a sticker with a number.  Put the sticker on your left chest, in clear view.  It should not be obstructed by clothes or hair.
    4. You will be split up into groups of 10 and ushered into rooms (later groups will wait on the stairs until the audition starts).
    5. Another assistant will bring you a sheet to fill up - where the pencil comes in useful.
      1. The form is in Korean, but the assistant should be bilingual and can explain it to you.
        1. First part you MUST sign.  It states that you are auditioning for SM at SM.
        2. Second part is optional to sign.  It gives SM permission to use anything they video tape as promotional footage or to post on their website/YouTube.
        3. Next line is where you fill out the date (년-year, 월-month, 일-day), your audition number (the one on your sticker) and your sex.
        4. The next few boxes you should fill out to the best of your ability.  They ask for name (and Korean characters if you have a legitimate Korean name - not the one you or your friends decided on, but one your parents gave you), birthday, address, phone number, height and weight (be honest), school and year, area of application (what you are auditioning for) and your Korean social security number.
          1. If you are a foreigner, leave this one blank.
          2. There will be a box with the word 심사 by it:  Leave it blank as it is for the judge.
          3. If you want any chance to dance in your audition (even if you are a singer) mark that you are auditioning for both singer and dancer or the judge WILL stop you from dancing.
        5. There will be a box near the bottom asking you to circle a number.  Circle number 1 as it means you are auditioning at the Weekly Audition.
      2. You will wait the longest here.  This is where the water comes in useful as there is very little circulation in the rooms.
    6. The auditions will start, starting with 1-10.  The rooms will have their curtains drawn and you are asked NOT to raise them.  You will be able to hear the auditions through the walls though.
      1. I will tell you 95% of the auditions will be (sung) in Korean!
    7. You will be led out of the room and onto the stage.  You will leave your bags on a bench outside of the stage.
      1. They ask you explicitly to look at the camera while auditioning, and not the judge.
    8. Sing!  Sing about 30 seconds.  If the judges like it, they will allow you to keep singing, but they will cut you off if they are finished listening to you.
    9. After everyone is done singing, you will get literally 30 seconds to "dance."  You may chose to stand back and not dance, but I suggest dancing to improve your chances.
    10. You're done!
    For more answers:
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