Audition Tips for Actors
Overcoming Nerves and Standing Out at Auditions
Learning to cope with audition nerves and sell your talent to directors is crucial for any actor who wants to make a living doing what they love.
Very few actors will tell you they actually enjoy the audition process. It is stressful, nerve wracking and nine times out of ten for most actors – disappointing. However in the business of show it is a necessary evil, so it’s important that you learn how to control your nerves and show the casting director that you really are the best person for the role. Below are some tips that you might find helpful.
- Be prepared – if you know what role you are going to be reading for and it's possible to get your hands on the script, then always read the entire play and be familiar with your character. If it is a new piece of work, get as much information as you can from the casting director prior to the audition. And if you have been asked to prepare a monologue or piece of text then know it inside out. Don’t just learn it the night before!
- It goes without saying, but make sure you know exactly where you are going, how long it will take you to get there (so that you’re not adding to your panic by worrying about being late) and who it is you will be meeting.
- Dress in clothes that you feel comfortable in, unless you know what the character might wear or you have been asked to wear something specific. For example, if going for an audition for the musical Hairspray, you might wear your hair in a beehive! Try and choose bright colors that suit your complexion and make you stand out. Give the director as much help as possible when it comes to remembering who you are.
- Women should always wear flat shoes so the director gets a realistic impression of your height. Keep makeup to a minimum and make sure that the person who walks in the door is the person they expect to see from your headshot. If you have sent a shot of yourself with long hair and you now have short hair, this will not go down well. It’s crucial that you keep your headshots up date.
- If you feel yourself starting to panic, try some deep breathing exercise and remind yourself that if this job is not for you, there will be another one that is, just around the corner.
- Remember that the director and producer want to see the very best of you. They want you to get the job and are on your side, so try and keep this in mind as you enter the audition room.
- Thank the director and producer for their time when you leave and even if you think the audition has gone badly try and stay upbeat until you walk out the door. Keep the spirits up and leave them with a good impression of you – no matter how frustrated you may be with yourself!
- Finally, try and remember that if you don’t get the job it really is not the end of the world. Rejection is part and parcel of the career and there could be any number of reasons why you didn’t get the role – most of which are usually beyond your control. You were too tall, too short, had the wrong color hair, the wrong physical shape, you weren’t the right person to cast opposite the male/female lead. It is so important to learn to accept rejection without letting it knock your confidence. Remember, the next audition you walk into could be the one where everything fits and you are perfect for the role.
Believe in yourself, stay focused, try not to let the industry get the better of you and remember why it is you put yourself through this stress - because you love what you do and you want to share it with the world. Never lose sight of that and you'll be just fine!
The copyright of the article Audition Tips for Actors in Acting & Directing is owned by Jude Schweppe. Permission to republish Audition Tips for Actors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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