5 Fun Tricks to Use on Audition Days
March 14, 2017
By Jessica Davis, Theatre Arts Blogger
As a professional actress and drama teacher, I’ve learned some fun tricks to make audition days go a little bit easier. Here are my top five tips:
Bring a pillow. This is a very simple tip, but it can be very effective. You will be sitting in the waiting room for many hours, and you want to stay alert during your audition. Sitting on a hard chair or the floor for long periods of time can do a number on your back and legs. A pillow will keep your back supported and your legs elevated, not only improving your comfort but also helping you to sit up straight – which leads me to my next tip!
Sit up straight. After waiting for what seems like forever, you finally hear your name called. You walk into the audition room and see the panel of judges looking at you with anticipation. If you slouch over to the chair (or worse yet, slump onto it), they will have an immediate negative impression of you. Try to walk confidently into the room and sit up straight in your chair as soon as possible after entering. This simple trick can make all the difference in how judges view you in that first
5 Fun Tricks to Use on Audition Days
You get it. You got the part. Now you have to “be” that character. Here are a few fun tricks I use when I am preparing for auditions and performances.
1. Imagine an egg as your face. When you smile, the egg cracks open and a sunny side up egg comes out. When you frown, the egg splits horizontally and a hard boiled egg appears.
2. Imagine your tongue is like the tongue of a dog. It is big and long like a sausage and falls out of your mouth all the time. What does this do? It makes you speak more clearly, slowly, and with more power because you are concentrating on not having your tongue fall out all over the place!
3. Imagine ants crawling all over your body from head to toe! This can help with posture and energy!
4. Put paint on your hands (or gloves!) and rub them together until they disappear into nothingness! This can help with nerves and gives a nice little game to play while waiting in line at auditions!
5. Imagine you are made of sugar cubes, stacked on top of each other so delicately that one wrong move will make you crumble into a million
As actors we are our own worst enemies. We can be so hard on ourselves and get so down about our craft, it is sometimes difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But after working with some of the most amazing actors across the globe, I have come to realize there are 5 fun tricks to use on audition days that will make you feel more comfortable and confident. You just need to know how to unleash these tips and tricks.
Here they are:
1. Act as if you’re not acting!
2. Be free!
3. Be curious!
4. Be vulnerable!
5. Have fun!
The next time you’re in a room full of actors and actresses, waiting for your turn to audition, remember the 5 fun tips above and release the pressure off yourself by being relaxed and having fun! Remember, everyone’s in it together, so don’t be afraid to talk to those around you because chances are they are feeling just as nervous as you might be. And if they’re not, then what better way to learn than from someone who has mastered their craft?
Audition days can be scary. You may be nervous, or feeling uncertain, or maybe even feeling a little bit of both. But, no matter what your audition day feels like, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Here are a few fun tricks to help you on your way to nailing your audition!
1. Remember: It’s not the end of the world if you mess up an audition. It might feel like it is when you walk out, but remember: there will always be more auditions, more theaters and more shows.
2. Make friends with people in the waiting room. The people who are auditioning alongside you also want to make friends in theater companies, so don’t be afraid to start up conversations with them!
3. Eat before your audition! If you’re hungry during an audition, all you’ll think about is food and how much you’d rather be eating than learning lines or doing the monologue you’ve been practicing for weeks.
4. Have a positive attitude when talking to directors and other stage managers! They want to see your excited face and hear about how much fun you’re going to have in their show! They don’t want to see or hear from someone who doesn’t want to be there
1. Superfans
We all know that there is nothing more fun than being a superfan. Whether it’s One Direction, Beyonce or the entire cast of Twilight, we all have something that we love so much that we are completely and utterly obsessed with it. One of my favorite things to do on an audition day is to make up a character who is absolutely crazy about the show I am auditioning for. This way, I can sing the songs from the show pretending that I am one of the most dedicated fans out there. It gives me a chance to get into character and really feel what it would be like to be in this world.
2. Fake it til you make it
Fake it til you make it is another one of my favorite tricks to use on auditions days. It is so easy to get caught up in feeling nervous and insecure when you are in an audition room full of people who are all more talented than you (or at least they seem that way). The best thing to do when you’re feeling nervous is to fake confidence until it becomes real confidence. Maybe even take this a step further and pretend that you are the director of this show and these other actors are just trying out for your vision! This will
Acting auditions can be nerve-wracking for even the most experienced actor. It’s your time to shine and you have to be on top of your game, not just in terms of talent but also in terms of preparation. We know that as an actor, you’re busy with auditions every week and it can be difficult to keep things fresh. Here are some tips and tricks that will guarantee a fun and memorable audition experience.
1. Bring a friend!
2. Have fun with your monologue!
3. Try something new!
4. Take a deep breath…and relax!
5. And finally…..be yourself!
Actors are a very superstitious lot. We all have our own rituals, routines and lucky charms we swear by. There is no right or wrong way to audition, but there are some things that can make the experience more fun, exciting and less stressful.
1. Take a friend with you to your audition. This can be either another actor who is also auditioning, or someone who just comes along for moral support. Having someone to talk to before you go in will help calm your nerves and if it goes well, you will have someone to celebrate with! If it doesn’t go well, you’ll have someone to help console you.
2. The night before your audition, watch a movie starring one of your favorite actors/actresses that inspires you. For example, if you are auditioning for a musical theater role, watch “Moulin Rouge” with Ewan McGregor or “Chicago” with Renee Zellweger or Catherine Zeta-Jones. If you are auditioning for an on-camera role, watch “The Devil Wears Prada” with Meryl Streep or “Doubt” with Meryl Streep (I know I already mentioned her twice but she’s a goddess!).
3. Make sure that when you
