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Audition Tips Every Actor Must Know
(by Charles Todd, AC Staff)
If you went to a job interview, you
would go in seriously. You would wear your best suit,
prepare some of your answers, and research the company
you are interviewing for. You would also bring your
resume, references and other materials to help you get
the job.
Guess what? Auditions are job interviews for
actors. You must take it just as seriously. You must
show up on time, you must wear the proper outfit, and
you must research the part you are auditioning for.
You must also bring materials you need to help you get
the job.
Always be on time for your audition
The worst thing you
can do is arrive late to an audition. In addition to
being unprofessional, arriving late shows the casting
director that you are not driven to succeed and, if
they hire you for the acting job, they cannot count on
you to be on time and be prepared. The general rule is
to always arrive at least 15 minutes early. Following
the 15-minute rule allows you to be on-time, sign in,
ask questions and evaluate the competition.
Be prepared
If you are asked to
perform a monologue at your audition, choose a
monologue that showcases your best talents. If you are
given a script or audition sides, be sure to memorize
your lines. If you are asked to do a cold reading, be
sure to ask questions about your acting role, such as
the age and background of the character. The more
preparation you do, the more confidence you have in
your performance; and the better your performance will
be.
Dress The Part
Show up at your
audition dressed as the character you are auditioning
for. For example, if you are auditioning for an acting
role as a police officer, try to dress as a police
officer, or at least try to wear the shirt and hat and
badge of a police officer. Showing up dressed as the
character you are auditioning for will help casting
directors see you as the character and make them more
willing to give you the part.
Stick to the Script
Don't do a whole
lot of adlibbing. Try to stick to the script as much
as you can. Sticking to the script helps you stay
focused and stay in character. Additionally, sticking
to the script is important because there may be
certain lines that the casting director is expecting
you to deliver; certain lines that are important to
the character. If you don't stick to the script, it
will make it harder for a casting director to evaluate
your ability to fit the character.
Make a Strong Character Choice
The purpose of your
audition is to stand out and convince the casting
director that you are right for the acting gig. It is
extremely important that you make a strong impression
and make strong choices for your character. For
example, if your character is quick-tempered, make a
strong choice about how your character is going to
display anger. Perhaps the character will yell and
scream. Or, perhaps your character will grit his or
her teeth and get red in the face. Either way, make a
strong choice and go with it!
Bring Your Headshots/Resume
If you went to a
regular job interview, you would bring your resume to
help sell yourself. You must also do the same thing at
an audition. Bring your headshot, your resume and
other materials to help sell yourself. Even if you
don’t get the part, you will at least have gotten your
marketing materials into the hands of people who might
hire you in the future.
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