Audition Observations: The Do's

Actor and Director Ben Hodge has been the acting teacher at Central York High School for the past 10 years where he has developed an innovative and fresh curriculum for young actors aged 13-24. This curriculum and workshop format is now available to the greater York area with hopes of training and leading new actors to the realisation that acting is a more than just a hobby or pastime: it is an honourable profession and a way of life. His connections with New York City, LA and local talent agencies are now being offered to anyone who joins the Studio classes and have opened the doors for many already joined. He currently runs classes and offers private acting coaching via Skype. Connect with Ben on Twitter or via email

Photo Credit: adapted from Kris Krüg via cc

A few weeks ago, I was asked to serve as a judge for a York Revolution and YWCA Voice Quest Competition. Performers had to select a 1-2 excerpt of a song and put together a video to be considered for the callbacks. Tonight was the callback audition for several young performers. In all auditions, whether singing, theatre, or film there are things that can really help make you stand out (both in a good and bad way). I wanted to quickly share some of my observations with the hope of informing you before your next audition.

Here are some DOs from tonight’s callbacks:

Come in with a sense of confidence

There were a few individuals that walked in without being cocky, and just looked like they were comfortable in the environment.

The audition room is somewhat notorious in causing the performer to feel that they are on an island, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I

know that these auditions are nerve-wracking. Show me that you know how to handle it. If I see you believing in your performance, there is a good chance I will believe in it as well.
Select the right performance piece

This is crucial. Make sure your selection fits the proper time frame. If not, make the necessary edits for time and dramatic effect.

A few individuals did not make the proper cuts and repeated the chorus of their song 3-4 times. This is not necessary and is problematic.

You aren’t singing the whole song like you do in the shower.

Pick the proper time frame, with a 1-2 verses and chorus and roll with that. Don’t go on and on.

And most importantly: STAY WITHIN YOUR RANGE. This applies to your singing range as well as your acting range. Select a piece that you can actually do well. Save your challenging pieces for workshops and coaching sessions.

Go into auditions with your strongest material that showcases your strengths.
View the audition as an opportunity to share the joy of performing with us

In other words, find a way to communicate your love for what you are doing (singing, dancing, acting, etc.). Look like you want to be there.

A few people tonight looked like they’d rather have been fifteen other places than in that audition. I guarantee you that they all wanted to be there. They wanted to win.

The problem is they clearly didn’t communicate that.

Their nerves got in the way of the joy they have for performing. You might have a beautiful voice and a great acting ability, but if you come off distracted, aloof or scared, it can unfortunately get in the way of a booking.

Frankly, if you don’t care, chances are I won’t care too much either. That’s not how you want your CDs, judges, etc. to feel.
Show me something

I want to be moved. I want to be interested. I want my pencil to drop out of my hand with my head up watching/listening to every word you sing or say.

Get my attention (WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE) without looking directly at me.

Move me.

And please, don’t just stand there. There has to be some form of movement…I don’t mean walking around. I mean shift your torso, make facial expressions and gestures that show me that you aren’t a stiff board who has a great voice.

The key here is to just be natural.

If you sing a song like At Last and can’t naturally connect to that…you need to find a new profession, or a new coach who can help you learn to show what you are singing or saying.

If you don’t want to take my word for it, take the great Marci Liroff’s simple advice: “BRING IT.” And BE GOOD.

About Ben

Ben Hodge has been acting and directing for 20 years in a variety of formats. He has directed several productions in York, PA and had his play REACH performed in NYC at an Off-Broadway venue in 2009. Ben studied English and Acting at Messiah College and received his Masters in Education from Penn State University. After the success of REACH, the hit play about the hidden issues of 21st Century teens, Ben started acting classes in the York, PA area and created Ben Hodge Studios in October 2009. His main goal is to bring a high-level, professional acting workshop to York, PA that is modelled after professional workshops with influences by Uta Hagen, Sanford Meisner and David Mamet.

Audition Observations: The Do’s

About Ben