drawing numbers and the order of advancing candidates
I was in an audition for a full-time position in a well known ensemble where we did not draw numbers in any round, and the audition order remained the same for advancing candidates in the semifinals, finals and super-finals. Is this a normal thing that happens or does it go against some rule (written or implied)? Should drawing numbers be something that is mandatory in auditions to keep things, at least on the surface, random and more unbiased?
The only candidate pre-advanced to finals was a frequent sub and went first, and that was the candidate who ended up winning. I don't want this to sound like sour grapes or that I believe it was fixed. The winning candidate is a fine player and could have won had candidates drawn numbers for each round.
However I've taken over a dozen auditions at this point and this is the only one where numbers weren't drawn and the audition order was pre-determined each round, and it feels like doing that could have prevented this from looking bad. I'd love everyone's perspective, both experienced panel members and audition candidates alike.
It probably doesn’t go against any written rule. In my experience, the practice of number drawing is facilitated by whoever is proctoring the audition, and it’s down to that person to do it in an unbiased way, or not. I would say having candidates maintain the same order from round to round, and then plugging in a preadvanced candidate as number 1 in the finals is decidedly NOT the fairest way to do it.
I would recommend that any round that includes preadvanced candidates in it should have a completely new numbers drawn. I’ve taken some auditions that use numbers for prelims and then letters for semis, so as not to confuse the committee and inadvertently favor a player because they are the same number as a candidate who advanced from prelims. All final rounds I’ve ever played, screened or unscreened, have began with all the candidates drawing numbers out of a hat or a bag. This is the most transparent way - having proctors predetermine the numbers is just an invitation for doubts about fairness and favoritism. I would also recommend that phones be taken, either from the candidates or the committee members (or both), before the numbers are drawn for a screened round.
I do think it’s acceptable for the proctor to determine numbers for prelims, based on the order that candidates arrive. Most ensembles assign you to a certain hour, and when you check in they tell you which number you are. I don’t think it’s a good idea to assign prelim numbers before check in, because of A) possible discrepancies in warmup time and more importantly B) it’s just too easy for candidates to share their numbers with members of the committee in advance, if they have a relationship.