Auditions

So auditioning is a very interesting thing and I would recommend that you take a look at my blog on rejection because that will also help. First of all what I want you to know what it’s like to audition and I will explain that, but I want you to know there are a lot of factors that come into play for you to get the part and one of them is politics. The part may already be cast by the director’s niece or nephew or friend, or a friend of the niece or nephew or whoever.  Also, usually if it’s a bigger movie, you’ll be going in for a smaller part anyway even if it’s not your first movie or TV show or whatever, it’ll most likely be for a smaller part.

What’s important to understand about auditioning is to go in there with confidence, but how do you do that if you’re unsure and you don’t know how and you’ve been rejected a million times? You’ve got to think of it a bit like dating. I hate dating. I feel like I’ve been on a million dates, but I hate first dates because they’re uncomfortable. I don’t like them and I’d probably rather just stay with the guy I’m with, even if he’s the worst guy in the world, rather than go on a new first date with somebody. However, first dates are a lot like auditioning too because you’re having to reveal yourself, be open, decide whether this person likes you and then you don’t know what your competition is! There’s a lot of stuff going on and how are you supposed to remain comfortable? I can help a little by walking you through the process of auditioning.

First of all, it’s best to be early for an audition – I don’t know about a date, do whatever you want on those ☺ – but you want to show up about a half hour early for an audition because if you’re late you feel like crap and you’ve already gone into the “I’m scared” mode or “I’ve messed up” mode and you don’t want that attitude when you’re going into an audition. The next thing after you show up is you’re going to sign in and you’ll usually be shown to a waiting room. There will be all kinds of people to talk to and some teachers will tell you not to talk to them because they may try to mess you up and others will tell you that you should talk to them, but you know what, try both.

For me, the way I got a grip on my auditioning, and even dating, is that I realized there are no hard and fast rules. What you’re trying to do on any date, or audition, is really be yourself and you’re going to find who YOU are, and really show your personality, through doing this over and over and over again. The truth is, the more you do it, the better you’re going to get at it. I know I have one teacher who would say “oh you’re looking at it to make a mark”, but no you’re not. Most of the actors that I know who are successful have been doing this for years and they’ve done a lot of auditions. You’re auditioning to practice auditioning, you’re dating to practice dating.

If this isn’t the right person for you or the right job for you, that’s ok. I listened to the casting director who cast Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally and she said she kept bringing Meg in over and over and over again. She’d also brought her in for The Princess Bride and she wasn’t right for that, but she knew Meg was a good actor. You will not be seen as a good actor until you let yourself shine through and the only way you can do that is by not caring about the audition. This isn’t the “make or break” point. That is one of the pitfalls in Hollywood. There are so many “oh my gosh, I did it, I got this part” moments and the truth is, even if you get that part and it’s in a big movie, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get 100 other big parts. This is a journey, which is why I recommend the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne. He talks about how as a writer he thought that once he’d written this book he would be successful and that’s not what it’s about, so quit putting that pressure on yourself.

Auditioning is about the practice and the learning of it. Some people are really good at auditioning but may suck at being on set, so you really want to learn everything about auditioning and the best way to do that is to actually do it. Right now we have so many TV stations, networks and web series amongst other things. This means you will have plenty of opportunity to practice.

So, you’ve arrived early for the audition, you’ve signed in and you’re in the waiting room. You’re going to talk to people or not talk, work on your lines or not. Try different breathing techniques and different auditioning techniques and going to different classes to help you figure it out. When they call you, you’re going to go in and do the audition and maybe they say you’re not right for this part, you’re more right for that part and then you’re going to do a cold reading and that’s scary too because you will have no time to prepare. But you know what? You’re just going to do it and figure out who you are and make your mark and the best thing to do is just to enjoy it and have a good time. After all, what they’re looking at is “are you right for the part?” and if you’re not right for the part, it doesn’t matter. There are so many parts out there, there is no scarcity of roles and projects to work on. The second thing they are looking at is “are you going to be fun to work with on set?”, so have a good time auditioning, have a good time acting on set, have a good time working with people. That’s the main thing. That’s why I do photo shoots. It makes me so nervous, just like auditioning, but I keep doing it. Let me tell you, even if I’ve already worked with a photographer I get nervous, but I like to put myself in that position because I have to know how to act under all those circumstances and still have a good time. Be professional, have a good time, be myself and let my personality shine through. That would be my biggest tip about auditioning. Be prepared, have fun and be you!