It can be difficult to know what to do during your audition. Do you go for something risky? Play it safe? Should you give the same audition you gave last time or try something new? We’ve written a few articles on our blog, How To Make Your Acting Audition More Effective, with some tips on how to make your audition more effective.
Check out this article on “How Do You Make an Audition Unique.” This article discusses how to make your audition unique in a way that makes sense for the character. You’ll also get some tips on how to find the right balance between doing something risky and playing it safe.
Visit our blog at www.morpheusactingstudio.com/blog
So, how do you make your acting audition more effective? How do you get the parts you want?
Treat your audition like a performance. This is a common piece of advice given to actors and it is true. However, I think it is important to clarify what this idea actually means. It does not mean that you should perform your monologue or scene exactly as you would during a performance in front of an audience – this can be off-putting for casting directors and shows a lack of imagination on the part of the actor. What it does mean is that you should make sure that you are doing all of the things that make up your ‘performance’ for a real audience, which includes:
1) Managing nerves
2) Focusing on each moment
3) Working with your scene partner(s)
4) Being truthful
5) Acting from instinct
6) Reaching for emotions
The main goal of an audition is to get a callback. The main goal of the callback is to book the job. The main goal of booking the job is to continue booking jobs, creating a lasting and satisfying career.
This blog, my Acting Audition Tips blog, is about improving your acting auditions, getting callbacks and bookings, and ultimately creating a lasting career as an actor.
I’m here to help you in your journey down this difficult road. I’ve been there myself, auditioning for years until I finally started landing more parts.
I’d like to tell you a little more about myself so you can be sure this blog will help you with your acting career.
I’ve been acting professionally since 1994, when I was cast as the lead in a feature film called “Amongst Friends,” directed by Rob Weiss. It won awards at both Sundance and Cannes film festivals that year. It was a great start for me as an actor and it put me on the path to having a successful career in film and television as well as on stage in theatre.
Since then I’ve appeared in many films including “The Matrix,” “S1m0ne,” “Swordfish,” “The Replacements,” “Bicentennial Man” and
Auditioning for a part in a film, television show, or stage production is stressful for actors. Directors and casting agents expect a lot from you. They are already imagining how you will look and sound in their production. It is up to you to convince them that their imagination is correct.
Let’s explore some acting audition tips that will make your auditions more effective and help you land the part.
1. Preparation
The first thing to do before attending an acting audition is to prepare for it. Look at the breakdown for the project so you know what kind of character is being cast and about what time period it takes place in. You want to be wearing clothing that makes sense for the role and would allow the director to see how you will look in costume. If there are any accents required, practice them ahead of time so they sound natural when you deliver your lines during the audition.
2. Promote Yourself
When it comes to acting auditions, marketing yourself is vital if you want to get hired and make a name for yourself as an actor in Hollywood. Having a professional acting resume along with headshots and demo reels are essential ingredients in promoting yourself as an actor during your auditions. Keep your resume up-to-date with all
Improve Your Auditions
The best way to improve your auditions is to get feedback on them. We recommend you do this in an environment where you feel safe and comfortable, but at the same time, where the setting is as close to a real audition as possible.
Auditions are scary, nerve wracking and stressful; you have a lot of pressure on you because this could be your big break. It’s easy for things to go wrong. You might forget a line, blow your lines, or stumble over something simple. But don’t panic! We’ve put together some tips to help you cope with that pressure and make effective auditions.
1) Preparation
It sounds obvious but it’s very important to prepare for your audition beforehand. Practice makes perfect! There’s nothing worse than going into an audition unprepared or not knowing your lines well enough. You will be able to relax more once you know what the director wants from you and what the characters are like so you can play them effectively.
2) Relax
This is easier said than done but it’s important not to let nerves get the better of you. Remember that everyone makes mistakes sometimes so if something does go wrong, don’t panic! Just relax and carry on with the scene as if nothing
The single most important thing you can do to improve your audition is to rehearse. It is not enough to “know” the lines, or even to know the scene. You have to have the scene in your body, so that it will come out of your mouth and off of your face correctly and at the right time.
You can’t just show up and wing it. If you do, you will be like a carpenter who shows up on a job site without his tools: you’re going to work hard and accomplish nothing. The end result will be frustrating for both you and the people who are paying you for your work.
You have to rehearse in order to make sure that your delivery will be effective, and that what you are going to say comes across as real, seamless, effortless and natural… because if it doesn’t, no one is going to believe it or care about what’s happening on stage.
You have three to five minutes, sometimes less, to make an impression. This is your chance to show what you can do. There are many ways to go about it and get the most out of your audition time.
First, let’s talk about what you *don’t* want to do in an audition:
* You don’t want to be so busy trying to convince the casting director that you’re right for the part that you forget why you’re there–to show them what you can do as an actor.
* You don’t want to spend too much time telling them what you think they want to hear. “You know, I’m really a lot like this character.” If they wanted someone exactly like the character, they would just cast themselves.
* You don’t want to talk too much or ask too many questions (unless they ask first). They’ll give you sufficient information and if they don’t, it’s probably because they’re not allowed to…or because they don’t know themselves. The less information you give yourself beforehand, the more spontaneous your approach will be and the more creative and free your work will be in the room.
Let’s look at some things *you *want *to *do:
1. Prepare
