It’s audition season and while there are many different kinds of auditions, there is only one thing that every actor wants and that is to get cast. Believe it or not, the people who are watching you want to cast someone too.
To get that job there are two things that actors must do at every audition. First, you have to demonstrate that you can play the role. Second, you have to give the casting people the confidence to hire you.
Now demonstrating that you can play the role means just what it sounds like. So prepare your auditions carefully. Make sure that you even in a single piece you show your range by finding all the contrasting elements you can. Think of your auditions as performances so people can see what your finished work will look like in their project.
The greater challenge is giving people the confidence to hire you but it is a key to getting cast. Remember, even if you seem right for a role many casting people will hold out, thinking and hoping that someone even ‘righter’ will walk in next. So help give them the confidence to cast you by being confident yourself. Prepare your audition carefully and even if you’re frightened, act confident. Confidence inspires confidence.
Even if you prepare for the audition and do it without fumbling around, something will go wrong. Most important is how you handle it. Do you fall apart and require someone else to fix it? That doesn’t inspire confidence. Don’t let mistakes or problems throw you and don’t dwell on them.
Finally, you can inspire others by letting your personality into the room with you. Make eye contact with people and interact with them without being chatty. Letting the casting people see the real you, helps them to think about working with you.
Remember when you go into auditions, there are two objectives: to demonstrate that you can play the role and to inspire confidence in the casting people. Working both objectives will help to you reach your goals.
Eric Barr. All rights reserved
When auditioning, is it ok to make slight change to yourself that you believe fit the character? I ask because you said don’t let the casters see you turn your acting on and off, so would that be an example or a tool to inspire caster?
Thanks for the question, Emanuel.
If you are auditioning for film or television, I think you want to enter with those adjustments already made. That way when you start the audition, the casting people don’t see some big shift as you start. If you do make adjustments in front of them, they tend to say, “We saw him acting. We want to see the person, not acting.” By coming in ‘in character’ there is no dramatic change. Afterwards, you can slip out of the ‘character’ if you choose. For theatre, there is a little more leeway because of the distance. So you can enter as yourself and slip into the character without concern that people will accuse you of acting.
Thanks for listening.