Hi guys, welcome back! Or welcome for the first time! Either way I’m glad to have you.
I’ve been a part of theater since 2012, you may think, that’s only six years, but I’ve been a part of several productions since and have gotten main characters in most, but the scariest part of the whole process is not opening night, or your first rehearsal, it’s auditioning. I totally get it, auditions are terrifying. Putting yourself out there can be scary. Sometimes you can help what happens, sometimes you can’t;let’s focus on when you can. I’ve compiled a list of the top eight things you can do to absolutely nail an audition.
Tip Number 8
Be confident in yourself. I put this one up top because it is probably the most important, if you don’t believe in yourself, neither will the casting directors, it makes for a horrible audition. Aim for the stars, if you go for ensemble, you’re going to get ensemble. If you aim for a main, there’s a chance you’ll get it. Practice performing in a mirror to boost your self confidence, record yourself(it sucks, I know) so you can hear mistakes. You are your worst critic.
Tip Number 7
Do not be cocky. If you walk into a audition with a sly smirk on your face saying, “I got this”, you get a bad reputation very quickly. It doesn’t matter if you know everything like the back of your hand, everyone has just a good of chance as you do. Plus directors can sense cocky attitudes, I swear they have an extra sense or two.
Tip Number 6
Practice your audition in front of others. If the audition room is the first place you perform in front of people, something may go wrong. Get the first time out of the way and eliminate mistakes. It helps you big time. Plus you can get real life feedback from people you know and care about, not some stranger you’re hoping to impress. Perform for your grandparents or parents, friends, family, and everything in between. Get as many reps in as you can so it will go as smoothly as possible when the time comes.
Tip Number 5
Be prepared. I cannot stress this enough, if it says come with tap shoes and a headshot, have have tap shoes and a headshot in your bag.
. If you aren’t prepared you’ll immediately stand out to the casting director, and not in a good way. Most auditions call for the following items, A Headshot, Your Resume, Jazz/Tap/Ballet Shoes(if you’re auditioning for a musical.) and a monologue are the standard things you should always have at an audition. Be prepared so you won’t be late, if you’re on time, you don't necessarily stand out, but if you are late, you stand out big time. I suggest leaving the house at least an hour prior to your audition if the audition sight is thirty minutes away. Never be late to an audition.
Tip Number 4
Be nice to everyone! People who work for the theater company you’re auditioning for could put in a good word for you if you’re nice to them. Not only the theater staff, but your fellow auditioners. You are not better than anyone when you walk in that room, you’re all on level playing fields until you walk into that audition room. Be nice. Just smile and wish others to break a leg, if you make it in the production they’ll remember you. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. My mom always says, “It’s always easy to convince someone you’re mean after you were nice first, but if you were mean first, it will be hard to convince them you are nice.”
Tip Number 3
Act cool and collected, even if you’re not. If you’re nervous,
can tell. Including the casting director. Practice being collected in nerve-racking situations, it will help you in the future I promise. I personally take deep breaths and use the five strategy, which can also be used during a panic attack, five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. The actual name for this is grounding, but I call it the five method. I recommend this for when you’re on deck or you’re about to go into the audition room.
Tip Number 2
Stand with great posture. You never see this in other posts like this, but it is
important. If there is a very hard decision, whoever looked the most professional will probably get the job, one of the ways to show you are professional is having great posture when auditioning. Not only does it make you sound better when you are auditioning, it makes you look very prepared, and basically says, “Hey, I want this job, so I am going to do everything in my power to get it.”
Tip number 1
No excuses. None. At all. The director doesn’t want to know you have a cold or you got stuck in traffic, they have other people to see and hear. Walk in, say hello, answer any questions they have, then audition, then get out. If there are dance auditions, the words, “I can’t do this” better not come out of your mouth. If you are aloud to ask questions, “Sir/Ma’am I’m having trouble with(insert part here), could you possibly go over it again?” Be professional and make no excuses. Because they don’t want to hear it, they want what’s best for their production, and if you make excuses, you aren’t it.
I hope these were helpful, these were all collected from experience at different theatre companies and from some other actors in the production I’m in right now. Theater can be a fight to the death. Auditions can be ruthless, but hold your head high, smile, and you’ll be fine. I promise.
Have a tip? Leave it down below, helping each other is what we do. Hope you have a great rest of your day!
Also any good stocking stuffer suggestions? I need ideas.
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