So *That’s* How You Get on The Voice: Insiders Reveal Their Secret Audition Hack

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Soaps.com may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

After more than two dozen seasons on NBC, hundreds of contestants have come and gone on The Voice — even more have auditioned and been cut before making it on TV. According to reports, tens of thousands of singers audition for The Voice each season, but only a select few make it to the Blind Auditions viewers see in the premiere episode of each season. So how can you get on The Voice? We break down the audition process ahead, including the secret past contestants have identified as the key to making it past the first round.

How to audition for The Voice

Step 1: Create an artist account

The first step to auditioning for The Voice is creating an artist account, where you can provide you personal information and select a date and time for your first virtual audition.

Step 2: Complete your virtual audition

Before auditioning in person, contestants first have to participate in a virtual open call, where they have one minute and thirty seconds to perform a verse and chorus of one song either a capella, with an instrument or to a track. In that time, they’ll also have to introduce themselves. (The Voice moved to virtual auditions after the COVID-19 pandemic). Contestants who The Voice‘s casting team wants to move forward will receive an email after the audition.

Step 3: Audition live at the producer callbacks 

Contestants who move forward from the virtual casting call are then invited to perform live in front of producers during multiple rounds of callbacks in Los Angeles, according to Good Housekeeping.  Contestants who make it past callbacks are then invited to perform at the televised Blind Auditions.

Step 4: Prepare for the Blind Auditions

Before the Blind Auditions, however, contestants go through long training periods before their audition is even filmed. Kat Perkins, who was on The Voice Season 6, told Cosmopolitan in 2021 that there were five months between her first audition and when she filmed her Blind Audition. In the month before filming, she also told Cosmopolitan that contestants are trained for every situation possible, including fainting, getting sick on stage, and reacting to coaches turning around. She also received voice lessons from teachers hired by The Voice.

“We also had social media and interview training by professionals who were brought in by The Voice to teach us skills for living our lives ‘out loud’ on social media, radio, print, and red carpet platforms,” she said.

The Voice audition tips

So those are the steps on how to audition for The Voice. But what about how to make it past the auditions? Well, according to singers who have auditioned before, there are a few secrets aspiring contestants should know.

No original songs

According to a Reddit user who claimed to have auditioned for The Voice six times, the NBC show favors covers of songs over original music, so it’s best to perform a popular song that already exists. “One thing about the voice is they don’t like people auditioning with originals,” the user wrote. This also in contrast to American Idol, which seems to favor original songs. “I’m not sure why but I know they don’t allow covers on the show so that could be the reason. American Idol on the other hand likes originals,” the user continued.

Market yourself by genre 

The same user also claimed that The Voice favors contestants who can fit squarely into a music genre, whether that be pop, rock or country.

“I tried 6 times was told no then I tried again with a different genre and was told yes. I always sang pop or rock and I finally decided to do country. They also base it on if you look like a country, pop, rock artist. It’s not just about if you can sing, which I didn’t understand till recently and from speaking to other who have been on the show,” the user wrote.

Have a story

Another Reddit user who claimed to have a friend who auditioned for The Voice also noted the importance of having a story when trying to make it past the first auditions, as, after all, The Voice is a TV show. “Have a friend that was recruited/auditioned and producers were fond of her.. but they wanted to hilight a part of her life/story that she didn’t. When she declined their narrative, they declined her too. It’s definitely not all about the voice,” the user wrote.

What your wearing matters

The Voice notes it themselves that aspiring contestants should dress the part for their virtual auditions to make it through.  “Dress to impress! Wear what you would wear if you were to land a ‘Blind Audition,’” The Voice‘s official video audition tips page reads. A Reddit user also claimed to know someone who made it through the video audition simply because of what they were wearing. “I know a guy who trashed the audition he said so himself… but got put through all the way to the blind auditions because of what he was wearing. The producer told him that even though he didn’t feel he did well that he had ‘something.’ He got cut his first blind audition noone even turned around for him,” the user wrote.

The Voice is available to stream on Peacock.