How to Audition 101

Your dream is to be a working actor. You’ve always been told you “have it,” but the phone doesn’t ring for callbacks.

What separates professionals from wannabe talent show prodigies isn't inspiration. It’s preparation and execution. Take control of your audition with these ten helpful tips to improve your skills.

1. Confidence
It sounds simple but it takes practice. Walk in the door with your held head high. Be wary of shuffling feet. You don’t get sympathy points if you’re nervous, not feeling well, or having a bad day. Leave it outside the door. You are being sized up the minute you walk in so practice good posture and body language before you arrive. And don’t forget to smile—that’s the lasting impression you want to leave.

2. Personality
Let it shine through. Don’t give one-word answers when having a conversation with the casting director. Ask questions! The industry is looking for smart, curious actors.

3. Connection
Make one with the reader. Memorize the material or be familiar enough with it to maintain eye contact. Knowing the dialogue is important, but making a connection with the reader is what will make the scene natural and believable.

4. Character.
Know the character. Read the entire script beforehand to pick-up as many clues as possible. We know about a character by the following:

• What he/she says about himself/herself
• What other characters say about him/her
• What the playwright or screenwriter says about him/her

5. Objective
Go underneath the dialogue. What does he/she want from the other characters? What is the character’s purpose in the scene/story?

6. Obstacle
What’s in the way of the character getting what he/she wants? Acting is what happens to you as you try to get your objective met, in spite of the obstacle.

7. Opposites
Yelling isn’t the only way to show hatred or anger. Sometimes being quiet as you make your point is a powerful display of emotion. Playing opposites is a much more interesting choice than the obvious.

8. Love
Find the love in the scene; even nasty characters should be likable on some level. Find a moment in the scene where the love can show through.

9. Act
Acting means to do, not to talk. Find your actions and play them! (A wonderful resource is the book “Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus” by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams.)

10. Variety
Feel the levels and dynamic in the scene. Don’t play one emotion. If the character is angry or tough, when might he/she show some vulnerability?

Wannabe? Not you! Interesting, memorable auditions will start to happen for you when you dig into scripts with these thoughts in mind before and during your auditions.

FOR MUSICALS:

Interested actors should prepare 16 bars from a musical and bring a headshot. May use instrumental tracks or acapella.  No original songs and often is best to audition with musical numbers from similar shows for which you are auditioning. 

For the dance call of a musical, you should come warmed up, with the appropriate dance attire and shoes. No bare feet or flip-flops, no baggy clothing.

FOR PLAYS:

Interested actors will be asked to prepare a one minute monologue and may be asked to do some cold reading.

FOR ALL STAGE CREW:

Interested crew members will have opportunities in the areas of Sound, Lighting, Props, Costumes, and Stage.  Closed toe shoes are required.  No flip flops or sandals allowed.

FOR ALL CAST/CREW:

All cast & crew will be required to download 'REMIND 101" app and crew will also need "Voxer" App for all communications & reminders.

We are deep in the middle of inflation and holiday season. We have made it more convenient to submit video auditions. This allows casting directors to initially audition you without you having to travel anywhere. Submitting video auditions saves time, money, gas, and the environment.  We would like to give you tips on submitting a great video audition to casting directors. Following these rules will save you from looking unprofessional or having casting request that you re-tape. 

1. Start out with a long head-to-toe shot. That means that ALL of you should be visible in frame, from your head to your feet. Casting is looking to see your body type in this initial part.

2. Zoom in to your face and slate. Say your name, age, agent, and the city that you live in. Sometimes you may be required to state your height and weight, if requested. Smile while slating. Be friendly and likeable.

3. Have the scenes memorized! Nothing looks less professional when submitting a video audition than relying on the script to read the lines.

4. Do not look straight into the camera! Look at the person who is reading the other lines. This person should be off-camera! Not standing next to you trying to steal the audition from you.

5. Don’t rush through your lines. This is your moment to shine and show how brilliant you are. Take the appropriate beats and be sure to react to what the other person is saying.

6. Whoever is reading the other lines should be the correct gender. If you are reading a scene with a male have a male voice off-camera doing the scenes. If you are reading with a female character have a female read the other lines.

7. Play it back and watch it before you send it to your agent, manager or casting! Have a friend or family member watch it and look for things that you could do better. Unlike when you are in the room and then leave and ten minutes later think off something great that you should have done, you actually have the opportunity to change it and make it as good as possible.

8. Lastly, relax and have fun! Stiff, uptight, deer-in-the-headlights faces do not book video auditions.

Yes, casting directors DO watch these tapes! Yes, I have had client’s book jobs from tapes.

FOR MUSICALS:

Interested actors should prepare 16 bars from a musical and bring a headshot. May use instrumental tracks or acapella.  No original songs and often is best to audition with musical numbers from similar shows for which you are auditioning. 

FOR ALL STAGE CREW:

Interested crew members will have opportunities in the areas of Sound, Lighting, Props, Costumes, and Stage Managing/Directing.  Closed toe shoes are required.  No flip flops or sandals allowed.

FOR ALL CAST/CREW:

All cast & crew will be required to download 'REMIND 101" app and crew will also need "Voxer" App for all communications & reminders.