I’ve Got An Audition – Will I Get The Role? Some simple tips.
Auditions are part-and-parcel of an actor’s or singer’s routine. Whether you are auditioning for an amateur or a professional production, the process can still be nerve-wracking and, sometimes, harrowing.
The thought of auditioning scares a lot of people, even after a lot of practice. Preparing for an audition is a process and by putting in the ground work, we can overcome some of our fears.
As a professional actor and singer, I have attended many, many castings. Most of the castings that I have attended have resulted in my not being offered the part. This is normal. The business of performing is a highly competitive market so when I attend an audition, I always bring to mind that the producers and directors already have a pretty good idea of what they are looking for. With this knowledge, as long as I show up on time and do what I am asked to do and execute it to the best of my ability, then I have already succeeded in my goal. Taking action is the important element. The outcome is totally out of my hands and out of my control.
We actors more often than not never hear back from the audition panel if we are not successful in the audition. It is not the end of the world. Letting go is a very important tool for us as well. It is an ability that has to be practised over-and-over-again. I always keep a record of my auditions. I note down what happened during the process and remember if I was relaxed and at my best or not. If not, I consider what I could have done better. Sometimes, there are no particular areas that I feel might have gone badly, so I consider that I may not have been suitable for the part because of other factors.
It cannot be stressed enough that the two most important points to take on board when auditioning are: 1) preparation and 2) relax.
Preparation for an actor involves many disciplines.
Exercise.
We are using our bodies as instruments to convey emotion and meaning. We might, therefore, take regular exercise and keep as fit as we can. Many actors can be lazy in this regard and laugh off the very idea of taking up a fitness routine. However, regular exercise keeps the body tuned and helps the mind enormously. I feel far better after exercise and in a much more positive mind set. This can only be a good starting point.
Monologues.
A lot of actors do not know enough monologues. There are good audition monologue books around but there is also no harm in writing your own or asking somebody else who has a flair for writing to create one for you. A monologue does not have to be long. Again, we need a couple of good monologues as our starting point. Two monologues should show good contrast. One might be from the classical repertoire whilst the other, modern. From there, we might then ask ourselves which regional accents we can use comfortably. Then we start building other pieces using those accents. An actor who can use accents already makes themselves a more useful actor. Aiming for 10-15 monologues is wise and shows commitment. A singer always knows several songs well and can pull them out of the hat at an audition. Similarly, an actor should be of the same mindset.
Sight-reading.
Sight-reading is a must for all actors. It is a skill that needs practice. If you cannot afford to attend a sight-reading class then simply reading extracts from novels and plays while recording our voices is the next best thing. I use my webcam on my computer. I set it up and practice reading to camera. At a commercial, TV or film casting, we will nearly always be handed a script to read to camera. Delivering text to camera takes practice but with short regular bursts, this can be improved very quickly. The trick is to deliver all the lines, looking at the camera and not in the script. So we follow the rule: READ, THINK, FEEL, SPEAK. We can read one sentence at a time and then look up to deliver the line. We then take in the next sentence and so on.
Punctuality.
This goes without saying. Arriving slightly early gives us time to focus and calm the nerves. Some simple deep breathing exercises, sat in a chair before we go in to the casting, will slow the heart-rate and lower the blood pressure. It is also wise to bear in mind that we may be surrounded by our fellow competitors for the job. Sitting around chatting aimlessly to be friendly or appear nonchalant diverts us from our primary purpose. We are here to get the job or do the best we can and leave a good impression. Therefore, this is the time to focus inwards to the body and mind and forget what is going on around us. We concentrate on what we are about to do.
After the event.
Life goes on! The important thing to remember is that an audition takes up only moments or a few minutes of our lives. We then exit back into the real world and move on to the next project. Everything in life is temporary and we cannot hold on to anything, particularly the aftermath of a casting. We let go and move on. Having loved ones or fellow actors with whom we can share the news and anecdotes of casting helps us to process the moments, let go and move on.
Attending as many castings as possible is great practice. While work is very difficult to obtain as an actor, particularly if you are just starting out, get to as many castings as possible. I treat each and every one of my auditions as a mini-performance, an opportunity to get in front of my mini-audience and bring them into my make-believe world. I create something that I hope touches the audition panel in some way. This is acting. I believe 100% in the material I bring to the audition. By attending many castings, we do learn to handle the situations with more aplomb and ease. We develop and improve.
