Do you not just know the words of your favorite songs, but their register and time signature? If you want to hear the entirety of your favorite soundtrack, do you even need to play the album, or can you just sing it?

If you answered yes to one or both, chances are you’ve considered trying your luck with a theater audition. Maybe you have your sights on a small local company—or perhaps you’re taking a page from Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle and heading straight to Broadway! No matter your choice, here are some things you can do to help you land that first role.

Workshop It

If you’ve never performed in front of an audience before, a low-stress way to get your feet wet is to attend a workshop or class. Everyone is there to practice and improve their technique, so there is no pressure to be perfect. You can ask the teacher questions beforehand to find out the skill level they will be working with, as well as class requirements. Workshops aren’t just a great place to hone your performance, but to network and ask for tips when you’re looking for auditions.

Become a Triple Threat

When it comes to musical theater, people sometimes just focus on the musical part, but there is more to a production than just singing. You can have a beautiful voice and still be passed over for a role, especially if your acting is stilted or wooden, or if you trip over your own feet when attempting a simple pas de bourrée. While you don’t need to master acting and dancing, you should aspire to at least be proficient.

Know Thy Self 

If you’re a teen, don’t audition for characters that are middle-aged. If you’re an alto, don’t try to force yourself to sing like a soprano. People have a tendency to try to craft their image a certain way because they think it will lead to being cast as the hero or ingenue, but you don’t have to be the star to show you can shine. Your performance is going to be far more jaw-dropping if you embrace what makes you unique, craft your audition pieces around it, and go for roles that flaunt it.

Be Kind

Even on the bad days, try to remember that everyone, no matter their role (or lack thereof), is important and deserves respect and patience. How you treat the people around you will stick with them longer than your performance. Choose to be remembered for your kindness.