10 AUDITION TIPS FOR ACTORS- By Ken Davenport
1. ALWAYS bring a picture and resume
It doesn’t matter if you already have an agent, a manager or a parent that promises to “send it over”. You will be the one that won’t be remembered if you don’t have one. A picture and a resume should be like a pair of shoes to you. You wouldn’t leave home without them would you?
2. Work hard to memorise the material
If you haven’t memorised the material, don’t pretend that you have. If you have only a few lines to learn, try to memorise them. But if you can’t then that is ok. Casting directors would rather hear the material as written with the papers in your hand than hear you make up stuff just to prove that you tried (and failed) to memorise the material
3. Don’t make excuses
Don’t even try to say that you have a cold, or the traffic was hectic or that your printer is broken. Just do everything you can to prepare and do your best
4. If you’re asked to make a choice, then make one
Casting directors sometimes can ask the people that are auditioning to choose between two monologues. They want to learn what YOU are attracted to, and they also want to see you make a choice. Don’t ever say “It doesn’t matter. What do you want?” Actors have to make strong, clear choices when developing characters. They want to see that side of you in everything you do
5. Make your first fifteen seconds count
When you meet someone for the first time, don’t you tend to make a lot of suppositions? Well the casting directors do too
6. Be the three C’s
Be comfortable, charismatic and confident. Actors have to command attention. They have to be the most interesting people in the room. Whether that room be a one thousand seat theatre, or a room full of the camera crew. Be someone that they would want to get to know. If you can do that yourself, you will also be able to do that in a character
7. Don’t take the last audition times of the day
Casting is never an easy process, and at the end of the day, a creative team can be grumpy, tired and want to go home. The early actor tends to get the part. This may seem unfair but it is usually the case. Another reason to be scheduled early? You don’t have the rest of the day of actors to be compared to. Casting directors are much more likely to call someone back that they see early because they have no idea what the rest of the day will bring
8. Let them know where to find you
Even if you have an agent, put an email address where you can be reached directly on your resume (For safety reasons, it might be best to use a separate email just for this purpose). This way, if you ever leave your agent, or if your agent doesn’t get back to the casting director right away, interested parties have a way of at least sending you an inquiry. You don’t have to respond. Pictures and resumes sit in files for years. You always want some piece of contact information to be accurate so that someone can find you fast
9. Don’t start over
Screw up? Fight through it. And odds are it probably wasn’t as bad as you thought. You’re more sensitive to it then they are
10. Always audition!
The best way to master auditioning is just like everything else. Do it over and over again. By doing this you will eventually become numb to the nerves. You’ll be able to be yourself. And you’ll get free practice too! Actors who get to work on sides with directors at an audition get a free coaching
Remember, casting directors want you to be great. They’re pulling for you more than you can ever imagine.