Imagine being led to the middle of a room, placed in front of a group of your peers, and asked to sing on cue. Intimidated yet?
This is what many Bowdoin students have been going through over the past week while auditioning for the few coveted spots on one of the school's six a cappella groups. These groups include two all-male groups, the Meddiebempsters and the Longfellows, two all-female groups, Miscellania and Bellamafia, and two co-ed groups, Ursus Verses and BOKA.
The a cappella groups have been singing in dorms, putting up posters, and even sidewalk chalking around campus to advertise their groups in an attempt to cajole new vocalists to join their ranks.
Many new students have expressed interest in the singing groups as a result of the groups' marketing efforts.
"When the groups came around to sing in the freshman dorms, it helped me figure out which group I wanted to audition for," said Fhiwa Ndou '13. "I really got a sense of the groups' dynamics."
While one might think the audition process is just singing, auditioning for a Bowdoin a cappella group is actually much more. Most groups select members using two criteria: musical ability and personality.
Discussing what the Meddies look for in a new member, Mikel McCavana '12 said, "It's the ability to blend with the musical and personal identity of the group, as well as adding their own individuality".
Three-year Meddies member Chris Li '11 added, "It's tough to describe the right fit. When it's right, you feel it".
"You've got to try to balance both out so you don't graduate a class that has half of your members, or all your altos, or your strongest soloists," added Edward Gottfried '11 of BOKA.
"Actual auditions are pretty standard across the board. You fill out a questionnaire with some basic information about yourself as well as some sort of super-lame 'fun' question which theoretically clues the group into your personality," Gottfried said.
Each group sees a different number of prospective members. Many of the a cappella groups, however, have noticed an increase in the number of males auditioning.
"Usually we get around 20 to 30 girls and 10 to 15 guys; this year we got 20 guys," noted Gottfried.
The audition process can be incredibly intimidating for the first years auditioning, who made up the majority of the auditionees this year.
"We know it's a rough process, especially for the first years, so we try to be as accommodating and welcoming as possible," said Miscellania business manager Kathleen Emerson '10.
Remembering his own audition process, Gottfried said, "I seem to recall being incredibly intimidated by members of groups, none of whom are actually frightening in the least."
Each group presents a different atmosphere for the try outs, noted Robbie Deveny '13, who auditioned for four of the six groups.
"The Longfellows held theirs in the chapel with brilliant acoustics and relaxed moods...while Meddies's was in a darker room and semi-intimidating," he said.
After auditions and callbacks throughout the week, the a cappella groups met on Thursday night to declare the people they want to induct, in an event called "tap night".
"It can get pretty intense how it all comes down to these few moments," said Li. "It's pretty stressful."
After heated negotiations, the groups pick their new members. If a situation arises where two groups desire to "tap," or choose, the same singer, a member of an uninvolved a cappella group calls the vocalist and asks which group he or she would prefer to be in. The singer in question must make a decision and choose a group within 10 minutes after the call.
"There's pressure on everybody; the groups and the auditioners," said McCavana.
Audition season also brings a sense of rivalry between groups.
"There are casual rivalries between all groups...it's basically all in good humor," said Gottfried. "The one time of year when things can get combative is now, because, unlike at any other time, there's something at stake: lots and lots of new talent".
Erin McAuliffe contributed to this article.