Yell Crew Auditions

Audition Expectations

Squad Composition:
4-10 Individuals (male and female)

Potential returning members must audition each year and are not guaranteed a spot on the team.

Vocals and Visual Cues:
Yell Crew members must have strong voices and personalities in order to lead the Bruin crowds. Voices need to be deep, clear and solid with and without a microphone or megaphone. Visual Cues need to be clear and exaggerated in order to grab the attention of the fans.

Sports Knowledge:
One of the most important qualities of an effective crowd leader is to understand the timing of the game. The Yell Crew member must understand the sport and when it is appropriate and effective to lead cheers. Football, basketball, and volleyball are the most critical sports in which to be familiar going into our audition process.

Clinics/Auditions:

• Candidates will be given an overview of the audition process.
• Candidates will practice responding to game situations with a microphone and megaphone.
• Candidates will have the opportunity to ask the clinician advice regarding game/event situation responses.

Audition Day:

• All of the candidates come into the room for the judging panel.
• Candidates are randomly selected and given 3-5 different game/event situations in which they need to lead the crowd of spectators in a cheer. Candidates must respond to each cheer using the following:
  • microphone
  • megaphone
  • vocals without the assistance of a microphone or megaphone
  • visual cues without vocals (signs can be utilized)
• Candidates exit the room.
• Candidates return for an interview one at a time including 2-3 questions from the judging panel. One of interview questions will be selected from the candidates’ application.
• Audition results are posted on the website at the designated time.

What to Wear:

• BLUE and GOLD
• shirt or tank top
• khaki shorts (not too short) or pants (not too tight)—make sure that you can move
• short, white, ankle socks
• white, athletic shoes--shoelaces tucked in
• hair tied back for females, clean hair cut for males
• no facial hair for males
• no jewelry or body piercings
• no food or gum
• overall clean, mature and collegiate presentation

Notes from the Advisor:
“We are looking for spirit, not insanity. Make sure to work with your vocals, listening carefully for the game and event situations, knowledge of sports and controlled presentation of cheers/chants. Do not respond with an 8-clap to every game/event situation. Use the game situation to help dictate the cheer—incorporating the defense and offense when possible. When given the situation, “Our Bruin defense is on the field and we do not want the other team to score a touchdown”, use for example, “Defense, defense, (clap, clap)” and repeat it. With the original cheer, keep it short and easy to understand. Your goal with the original cheer is to have the spectators pick it up and eventually make it the next Bruin cheer, adding it to the list of favorites including the 8-clap, Bruin spell-out, Let’s Go Bruins, etc. Most importantly, don’t forget to breathe!"

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Time Commitments

Spring and Summer:
The Yell Crew will meet during Spring Quarter to review goals and expectations for the year.

The Yell Crew has the months of June and July off to complete their Spring Quarter, move and settle in for the summer.

Yell Crew works beginning in August - September with the following schedule during selected weeks:

• Monday and Wednesday morning workouts with our personal trainer, Stacey Herring, from 7-9 a.m.
• Selected Tuesday - Thursday evening meeting times.

Rehearsals:
Thursday mornings are reserved for workouts with our personal trainer, Stacey Herring, on the track and in the weight room.

Selected Monday-Friday mornings from 7-9 a.m. are reserved for possible rehearsals for game/event preparation.

Yell Crew members are asked to find an additional 2 times during the week to maintain their individual workout from the personal trainer with cardio and weight training.

Performances:
The Yell Crew performs at Athletic, campus, alumni, media and community service events throughout the year beginning immediately following auditions. The squad performs at:

• all home and away Football games
• all home and selected away Men’s and Women’s Basketball games
• all home Women’s and selected Men’s Volleyball games
• selected Gymnastics meets
• selected Olympic sports events including: Water Polo, Softball, Track and Field, Soccer, etc.
• various campus events including: class appearances, grand openings, recognition ceremonies, etc.
• various alumni events including: seasonal kick-offs, dinners, scholarship presentations, airport greetings, etc.
• media events including: TV promotions, sponsorship promotions, commercials, photo shoots, etc.
• community service events including: community outreach performances at local middle schools and high schools, birthday parties, weddings, bar/ bat mitzvahs, etc.

Typical Rehearsal/Workout:

• For a workout, the squad will work with our trainer, Stacey Herring, on the track for the first hour and then move to the weight room for the second hour following his daily agenda.
• For rehearsals, the squad will work on game material.

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