The Audition

Always make sure you attend your audition on time! One thing casting directors HATE is latecomers. Your few minutes of audition time is very precious to them. Turning up late it may have a disastrous effect on their schedule. If you happen to be running late, get your agent to contact the casting venue in advance so at least they can try to fit you in at a later time slot. Turning up late always makes a bad first impression and could even taint your actual audition.

It’s always a good idea to get to the audition venue around 5 – 10 minutes before your allotted time. This will give you time to fill out any casting forms and have your picture taken. For some castings the scripts or sides may have been changed or updated last minute, so getting there early can give you time to familiarise yourself with the recent changes. Make sure you have all your agents contact details with you, they will be contacted if you are being considered for the role.

When you arrive at the venue there is often a waiting room full of actors being seen by the casting director. If your fellow auditionees have any sense they should be looking through the sides and casting breakdown and getting themselves prepared. Some actually like to chat to other actors and ‘network’, perhaps even to quell their nerves. Always make sure you spend this valuable time preparing yourself, filling out detail forms and learning the speech. If they chat, be polite but don’t get carried away with trying to impress the other actors with what you’ve been in or who you have worked with. You will come across many of these overly confident actors in the waiting room at auditions, don’t let them put you off and make sure you spend your waiting time wisely.

There will be auditions that you attend that may have some famous TV and theatre personalities trying for the same part as you. Some actors think that it’s then a waste of their time continuing as they assume the famous name will get the job. This isn’t true. You have as much chance of getting the part as they do. It also shows the quality of the production and the part if it’s attracting these famous names. Don’t forget, they were once in your shoes early on in their career!

Shaking the hands of the audition panel is sometimes not a good idea. It can be awkward if you have to shake hands with every single person in the room and this also takes up precious audition time. If they want to shake your hand when you walk in the room, that’s different, they will offer their hand. Some like to keep a distance from you, remember they are not actors themselves, so maybe not as outgoing as you. One cheery hello is probably best. And it’s a good idea to thank them for seeing you at the end of the audition (even it goes badly!).

If you make a mistake or ‘fluff up’ the lines, don’t panic. It happens. It’s usually best to just continue with the dialogue or they may even ask you to start again. Don’t ask to start the speech again. They will understand you may be be a little nervous, but they will expect you to handle the ‘fluff up’ or forgotten line as quickly and as professionally as possible. In some cases the professional way you handle the mistake is more memorable than going in and offering a great performance.

Be focussed, or at least appear to be! Nerves can get to you when you first walk into the casting room, but take it easy, try to relax. Nerves can be good, it gets the adrenaline pumping and makes you more alert. The casting panel will expect you to be a little nervous. Remember, they want you to be GOOD at what you do. Try and think of them as potential business partners. You are all equals. You’re selling, and they’re buying. Treat them with respect and courtesy, and they’ll do the same.

Try and keep a good measure of eye contact with the casting panel. Using your eyes is vital when playing a part, especially if the part is for the screen. If you have not memorised the lines before the audition, make sure you only look at the script before you deliver your lines. They will want to see your face and eyes when your are speaking, not facing down reading from your script. And don’t get too close to them during your monologue, keep your distance. Some auditions have the ‘x mark’ on the floor and it’s usually a fair distance away from the casting panel. Don’t use the panel in your speech (unless they ask) they are there to evaluate, not to engage, and they may feel uncomfortable if you start shouting and screaming at them in character.

Another good tip is to ask them if they would like you to read the audition again, but perhaps in a different way. It shows that you have more than one idea about the part and may have another aspect of the character to show them. They may have seen all that they want to see and decline, but there is no harm in asking.

Don’t worry if they stop you during a long monologue or a song. Sometimes it doesn’t take long to assess whether you are good or not. Don’t assume it’s because you are bad. You may have already been chosen to attend a recall, where they will see you do a lot more. Remember, they may have to pay rent for the space you are in so they may want to keep it brief.

Some actors think that having an earlier audition in the day gives them a better chance of getting the part. There is an element of truth in this. Early on in the day, the casting director is fresh, awake and has only seen a few actors. Whereas later on in the day, they may be getting a little tired after seeing over 40 peformers doing the same scene and maybe thinking about their evening plans or even a shopping list. But if you get a later audition, don’t let it worry you, it’s even more important that you go in with lots of energy, gusto, preparation and be 100% focussed. Blow them away with what you can do and wake them up from their afternoon slump!

No matter what happens or how little preparation you have done, the audition might go wrong and you may be inclined to make excuses. They don’t want to hear them. Just keep positive, professional and do your best. Put it down to experience and learn from your mistakes.

The most important tip of all. Enjoy your audition. Enjoy the fact that you have been chosen out of thousands of actors to try out for this role. It’s a great achievement to be asked for an audition in the first place. Enjoy performing at the audition, if you enjoy it, the casting panel will do too.