It’s that time of year again, auditions! The time of year when you have to give your best performance in a short period of time. Follow these 6 tips and you will be ready to go in no time!
1. Preparation
• Make sure you know the show, the song, and the character.
• Check out the full production on YouTube or buy the DVD if possible.
• Know all of your entrances and exits so you will be fully aware of when and where to move on and off stage.
2. Physical Appearance
• There is no need to overdo it with makeup. Keep it simple and remember less is more. (Also make sure you are wearing water proof mascara!)
• Avoid wearing distracting clothing i.e., bold patterns, big jewelry, etc. Remember, they want to see your acting not your outfit!
3. Movement
• Use body language to tell the story if necessary. There is nothing worse than watching someone sing a sad song with a big smile on their face! Make sure that your movements match your song or monologue. If you are singing a sad song then make sure you look upset as well, unless there
Every actor has had a disappointing audition at some point in his or her career. Even more frustrating, we often don’t know why! We come prepared, we are early, and we even think we have a good audition. Our acting coach tells us that it was great, but the casting company just doesn’t respond. What happened?
It is easy to get discouraged when you have an audition that you feel wasn’t your best. But take heart, dear reader! We at GSA have compiled a little list of six tips for nailing your next audition.
1) Know your monologue: Practicing your monologue before the actual audition is key to making a great impression on the casting company. It may sound obvious, but if you want to ace your audition, you must know your monologue inside and out. If you can recite it in your sleep and still nail it when you’re sick with the flu (or worse!) then you’re on the right track.
2) Know the script: Although practicing your own individual part will help you when it comes time to audition, knowing the entire script is equally important. This way, if they ask you to read someone else’s part (which they might), you’ll be ready! And if they ask you
Auditions are like dating. You only get one shot to make a good first impression and auditioning is no exception.
The following are some tips to help you nail your next audition:
1. Preparation- One of the best ways to prepare for an audition is to watch as many auditions as possible. I find that many people don’t know what a quality audition looks like. Check out websites like Casting Networks, Backstage or Actors Access for free video examples of quality auditions.
2. Headshot/Demo- Make sure that your headshot and demo reel are up-to-date and showcase your current look and skill set. Your demo reel should be under 2 minutes, include three scenes and showcase you in different roles/genres.
3. Physical Appearance- Show up ready to work! You never want to show up with wet hair or straight out of bed smelling like breakfast. If you plan on wearing makeup, keep it simple with a little mascara and lip gloss.
4. Clothes- Wear something comfortable with movement, but don’t go too casual. For example, yoga pants and t-shirt isn’t appropriate unless the role calls for it, but neither is formal wear unless the role
1. Always bring your headshot and resume.
2. Learn the script before you step into the room.
3. Please don’t wear bright colors, loud prints or anything with a logo.
4. Never arrive late!
5. Be sure to shake hands with those in the room and make eye contact when they speak to you. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often people forget their manners in the audition room!
6. Have fun & enjoy the journey!
I once had an audition for a show that required me to sing, dance, and act. I was excited about the opportunity but I was also nervous because I knew it would be difficult. When I got to the studio, there were hundreds of other young actors there who were just as talented as me – if not more! After waiting in line for what seemed like forever, I finally got my chance to go into the room.
When I opened the door and saw the casting director sitting behind his desk with his assistant at his side, my heart started beating faster. As he started asking me questions about myself, I tried my best to answer them clearly and confidently but inside I was nervous! The casting director said he liked what he heard so far but wanted me to perform some songs from their upcoming musical which they hadn’t even released yet! Needless to say this made things even more stressful than before…but after taking a deep breath and calming down a little bit, we got through everything without any major issues.”
1. Don’t be late. It’s essential that you know where you need to be and when, so if you have any doubts about the location or time of your audition, make sure you confirm it with the casting director.
2. Know your lines. As an actor, it’s your responsibility to learn your lines before coming in for an audition.
3. Listen to the person giving you direction. If the casting director asks you to do something a certain way, listen carefully and adapt quickly.
4. Go with the flow. Like in life, things don’t always go as planned in acting, so expect the unexpected and roll with it!
5. Be yourself. Casting directors aren’t looking for identical twins of actors they already work with; they want you to bring something different to their productions and be true to who you are as a person and an actor.
6. Be professional at all times. If your audition doesn’t go exactly how you would have liked, don’t give up! Put on a smile and thank everyone involved in the audition process as there will always be other opportunities around the corner.
1. Make sure you are dressed appropriately.
2. Make sure you don’t have any distractions in your performance.
3. Be prepared, but not scripted.
4. Be confident in your performance
