One of the biggest things to share are pre-audition jitters. Everyone has them at some point in there career, especially new actors who are just starting. They key to any audition is being prepared. We talked to several casting directors and comprised a list of things to remember when you go in for your audition.
Sides or Monologue
Auditions will ask for either sides or a monologue. Always have two monologues ready to go, one comedic and one dramatic to show your range.
As you progress in your acting career and start to book bigger jobs, the need for monologues becomes obsolete as many auditions will have sides. Sides are part of the actual script you’ll be auditioning. For commercials, it will probably be a cold read. For films, TV and narratives, you’ll be receiving your sides beforehand. Check with your agent or whoever is casting the project to make sure you have your sides a few days in advance.
Dress Appropriately
Unless you’re dressing the part of a homeless drug-addict, don’t come into an audition dressed like one. An audition will probably last for 10-15 minutes tops, a little longer for callbacks. It doesn’t sound like a long time, but you still want to be dressed accordingly. Don’t wear anything outlandish that may distract your audience.
Bring Your Headshot and Resume
One of the biggest problems for new actors is that they forget their headshot. Or they don’t have a resume. You’ll want to bring two headshots with a resume stapled to the back to every audition. Yes, someone saw your picture before hand to land you the audition, but you don’t know who. When the time comes to casting the producer, director and casting director will go through the headshots of people who auditioned. If your face is not in the pile, that’s a sure way to make you forgettable.
Be Early and Sign In
Get to your audition about 10-15 minutes early. You want to be relaxed before your call time. Check for a sign-in sheet and sign in. Once your name is on that paper, expect to be called at any moment.
Slate
If you don’t know what it means to slate by now, you better find out. Whether the casting director is recording your audition on-camera or in the voice-over booth, you’ll be asked to “slate.” For voice-over that simply means say your name. For on-camera it means say your name and possibly your phone number as well into the camera. Check with the casting director to see if they want your phone number slated. Otherwise, just say both.
Be Confident
Confidence. Confidence. Confidence. When you do your read or monologue, be confident in the choices you make. The director will give you notes and may ask for a different read. Trust your instinct and your training to lead you in the right direction. If you’re unsure, ask for a little clarification, but don’t get flustered. Sometimes they may not know what it is exactly they are looking for, so it’s up to you to make a smart choice and show them what they’re looking for.
Know Your Schedule
Always go to auditions with your schedule. Most likely you were asked by your agent, or read on the casting call what the shoot dates are. So you should know before if your free before even taking the audition. But, changes always come up, and the production team may want to know about rehearsal dates. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Get in & Get Out
Sure, you’re a friendly person and you want to win the director, casting director, and producer over with your winning personality. Problem is, there is about a hundred more people who fit the same bill and they’re all waiting to be seen.
Win the production over with your audition. Be respectful of their time as well as the time of the actors waiting behind you. Auditions are usually scheduled in pretty tight. So, don’t become the chatty person with a million stories and jokes to share. If the production makes a joke while speaking with you, sure sneak in that quick quip, but don’t take over the audition. You haven’t been cast yet.
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