The Audition Room
As an actor, I know exactly what the audition room feels like. At times it can feel like death; as if the life is literally being sucked out of you. Auditioning is one of the most horrifying, humiliating, and overwhelming processes. However, it comes with the career. It is the process that will get you jobs. Hopefully, you will become so successful that auditioning will become a thing of the past. Until you get to that point, here are a few helpful tips that will help you survive it.
1. Be Prepared
You should never enter an audition without being fully prepared. It is like studying for a test; the effort you put in will show. Please do not waste the casting director’s time, or your time. This is, after all, your career. All actors have their own ways of preparing themselves. Just be sure to take that time to do it.
2. Be On Time
This really means, be early. Don’t make a bad impression before you even get a chance to open your mouth.
3. Never Apologize
If you’re feeling a little ill today, or maybe a little stressful chances are the casting director will not care. It is much better to cancel an audition than to bomb it because you weren’t at your best. Remember, you are making an impression. One bad audition can affect future ones.
4. Do Not Ask a Ton of Questions
They are not interested in discussing the plot with you. Unless you have a question about the specific side or character that you need clarification on, save your questions for after you get cast.
5. Be Confident and Calm
Go into the audition room knowing that you will be your best. Of course this is where helpful hint number one comes in about being prepared. Remember you are your own sales agent for your career. Even if you’re not completely sure of yourself, act like it. You are an actor!
6. Solve Your Personal Problems First
They can smell desperation. Getting this job will not solve all of your problems. To truly succeed, you need to be in a good emotional place.
7. Forget About It
Do not stress about it. Leave the audition in the audition room. If you need to return to it, you’ll get a callback.