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How to Get Through-and Totally Nail-Your Audition

There are many things that can be disputed in the entertainment industry, but one thing that cannot be challenged is this: actors whom can't audition are not likely to have a future.

Don't panic! We're here to help! But remember, while these steps will help you stand out, it's important to continue your training. Honing your craft as an actor, which you can do by taking auditioning classes, or attending an acting summer camp like Young Actors Camp, where classes specifically pertaining to auditioning are offered!

Pretty nifty, huh?

Prior the Audition

Firstly, let's talk about the basics: get a proper amount of sleep the night before, have your lines memorized, dress appropriately, and have your headshot and resume ready to go. Now, attitude; you have to walk into that room prepared, without a care in the world. Auditioning is an opportunity to act, and that's the one thing you love most, right? So don't worry about booking the job or getting a callback. Just focus on giving a good performance. If you can do that, you're already halfway home.

It's very common for actors to freak out when arriving at the casting director's office, to find 10 other actors who look just like them. Or on the flip side, actors are often stunned when everyone else is a different ethnicity or age range. But the question here is, who cares? None of those people are your concern. The audition is about you, not them. So keep your focus and don't allow made-up anxiety to get in your way.

Here's something else you need to know. Talent agents don't expect clients to book when they send them out on auditions. Now, of course, bookings are a good thing, and your agent wants you to succeed, always, but auditions aren't always about getting hired. They truly just want you to do well so the casting director will become a fan and start bringing you in on a regular basis. The more that happens, the more likely you are to become a working actor.

Remember, casting directors want you to do a good job. They want to be impressed. If an actor nails an audition, they're that much closer to being done with the part.

Here's a great quote from acting coach Ian Tucker: "They are dying for you to blow them away. They're on your side. What do you think, they want to go through hundreds of people and settle? No. Just do what you do. Either you're right for the part or you're not, let them decide."

After the Audition

When you're done, it's perfectly acceptable to ask if the casting director has any notes. If the answer is yes, listen carefully and make the adjustment. If the answer is no, say "Thank you" and leave the room respectfully. The audition is over.

On the way home, it's a good idea to go over the performance in your head. Congratulate yourself on what you did right, and make a note of what you can do better if there's a callback. But don't obsess, and please don't beat yourself up for tiny mistakes no one noticed! You'll do much more harm than good. Again, the audition is over.

And there ya go! If you follow all of these steps, you're already a head above the rest! Look at you go!

Now, the sad truth about the business of acting is that you will spend more time looking for work than actually working. That's why it's so important for you, as an actor, to enjoy your auditions. And that process begins when you first hear about the audition from your acting agents (should you have one), not the moment you say your first line.

Happy Acting!

Register to reside on The Actors Camp, a summer boarding program in Los Angeles. Review all camp programs here: www.youngactorscamp.com

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Next Blog From Camper to Capable: Tales of a YAC Actor Gone Professional Part 2

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