11 Things You Need To Remember About Auditions
Auditioning is an essential component of an actors’ life – it is your opportunity to showcase your talents, network, raise your profile and secure work. With so much seemingly riding on each and every audition it is easy for actors to view auditions as something to be conquered, feared, endured or overcome. However, actors should view auditions as their friend, as a ten-minute performance, in which they are the starring role, to a small audience who are happily and eagerly focused on just them. Successful auditions demand concentration, freedom and joy (yes joy!).
11 Key Points For Auditions
To help you get the most from each and every audition here are 11 key points to remember (plus some great advice from Bryan Cranston below):
It’s Called Show BUSINESS
As Jean Seberg said, “It’s called show business, not show art”. It’s important to know that at the point of auditioning you are engaged in a business activity, you are meeting potential partners, collaborators and employers. It’s not a perfect process, there are many variables, it’s not personal and you’re not owed anything. How you approach this opportunity is entirely dependent on you, as outlined later, we propose you approach it with joy! Your life is not on the line, neither is your career nor your sense of self-worth.
All Jobs Auditioned To Be There
In the world of production everyone auditioned for their job at some point, you are just the next person in line to audition for your job. Writers, directors and producers have to pitch projects to production companies, financiers and distributors. Editors, musicians and heads of department all have showreels and have to pitch themselves for projects. You don’t see these auditions, but they are there. So, remember, you are not the only person auditioning for your job, you are just the next person auditioning for your job. This idea helps combat any notions of victimhood or that you are being treating differently from anyone else in the production. You aren’t - everyone has to audition for their job, now it’s your turn!
You Are The Solution
The production has a problem and you can be the solution to their problem. They already think you could be the solution to their problem as they are seeing you and they wouldn’t waste their time seeing someone they thought was unsuitable. If you are being auditioned or have been asked to submit a self-tape for a project, the people in charge already think you can act and they already think that you can do the job so you have nothing to prove – good to know!
Want Nothing
When you enter the audition space, want nothing from the people in the room. Do not look for approval, reassurance or validation. This is often immediately apparent and is extremely off-putting. You are only here to give; give them your version of the character, give them your personality, give them your answer to the problem of how to cast this character. Give, give, give. Enter the room with an attitude of generosity.
You Are Worthy
To combat any feelings of imposter syndrome, know that the people hosting the audition have already made the decision to give you some of their time so you do not need to prove that you are worthy of their time – they already think you are.
Auditioning Is The Job
It’s useful for actors to think that auditioning is in some way their job – not a pre-curser to doing their actual job. Whenever you audition, say to yourself “I’m going to work today”, it’s a powerful idea that sets the audition (rather than the job) as the opportunity and reduces the focus on the production you are auditioning for. Let everyone else in the waiting room ‘audition’, you are ‘going to work’.
Bring Joy
Bring joy, always bring joy. Joy is infectious, memorable and positive. Joy makes you stand out and who doesn’t want more joy in their life?
Take Ownership
Take full ownership of your first take in the audition space. The first take is yours, fully yours, they want to see what you do with the material without their interference. Once you’ve given them your unique version, be ready to change and adapt to whatever they throw at you. Know that if they ask you to make changes you haven’t done anything wrong – they just want you to change something. In short – showcase what you came up with and then be ready to immediately collaborate. After all, this is a collaborative artform.
Everyone is scared
Everyone in this process has some level of fear. They are scared too, if the audition is for film or TV then the script has probably never been shot before. They are nervous too as they don’t know if the project is going to work yet. Therefore, be confident (not cocky) as they will take confidence from your confidence.
It’s Not Always About Acting
It is incredibly important to remember that the most suitable actor for the job, gets the job. This does not necessarily mean that the best actor gets the job (although occasionally, of course, the two go hand in hand). Auditioning is not an acting competition; it is a suitability competition. The question the production team are asking is, “who best fits into this world or community that we are creating?” Therefore, if you do not secure the role it does not mean that you are not a good actor, it means that (in the opinion of the decision makers) someone else was more suitable for the role. If you don’t get the job, it’s simply not your turn. Say to yourself – “it’s someone else’s turn”, this helps you to avoid taking on negative feelings about rejection and implies that at some point it will be ‘your turn’ – which it will!
It’s All Teamwork
If you are auditioning in a casting office, as you exit the room thank everyone present for seeing you and wish them good luck with the rest of their day and with the project. These people invited you to their exclusive party, they put their attention solely on you for a period of time, they were encouraging you the entire way and wanted you to be excellent. They might have even thrown some ideas at you to help you be excellent. They are actually part of your audition team – so thank them. These people work hard and remember, they already think you can do the job!