Audition Prep: How to, What to, and WTH?!?!?

Are you in need of help? Do you get really nervous for auditions? Don't know what to wear? THEN I'M HERE TO HELP!

WHaT Do I WeAr?!?

Well that entirely depends on the role and the type of audition!

Every audition, like every actor, is unique. Therefore, we must control the few things we can: Our clothing, and our cold reading/memorized material. Personally, I prefer to wear one of my "go to" outfits. This way I don't have to worry with the clothing the day of, I know I'll be comfortable because it's something I'm used to wearing, and it's a flattering basic, ergo it won't distract the casting director from my audition.

Of course, much like every audition, each actor has their own preferences too. Just because I perform best when clothes are off my mind, I have several friends that only feel fully in character when they look the part with their clothes. If this is the case for you, I still recommend finding something comfortable AND flattering, but also that helps you portray the character you're auditioning as. This does not mean, for example, to wear a red curly wig and baby doll dress to your Annie audition (UNLESS TOLD TO DO SO, ALWAYS FOLLOW ANY AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN!). This does mean to maybe incorporate a ribbon in your hair to help you feel more like Annie. Mary Jane shoes, perhaps? That sort of, subtle, yet effective idea.

WhAt dO i pErForM ThOOO?!?!????

A tale as old as time.

Should you sing Memory from Cats? This could be the perfect time to show off your rendition of Don't Rain on My Parade!! Pause. Breathe.

My turn to ask a question: What role are you auditioning for? This will help us determine EVERYTHING, really. Most directors, in my experience, like to hear their actors in similar roles to what their auditioning for. If you want the leading lady, love interest type role, find a monologue of a similar character type. Then show you ARE that character type, regardless of what their name or time period is in THIS SPECIFIC show.

Example: If I was auditioning for Johanna from Sweeny Todd, I'd maybe pick an Ophelia monologue from Hamlet. This was I can show how naive, loving, and potentially/most definitely haunted by inner turmoil to the point of probable mental illness.

OhKay, bUt lIkE, what even IS Audition Etiquette!??!?

...the etiquette... of auditioning?

I fear this question answers itself, but for anyone who has never been around theatre spaces or had the luxury of higher education, audition etiquette is just fancy smancy people talk for acting polite. Long story short, be respectful. This includes:

1. Don't make noise unless asked a question. Ever. This includes involuntary noises like sneezing or coughing. You are expected to let yourself out and return once you're no longer potentially ruining someone else's audition.

2. Don't get up or enter an audition space unless instructed to do so OR it is between auditions. Again, you'd hate if your precious audition minutes were interrupted by a long door creaking/slamming.

3. Be EARLY. If you're late, you're fired. If you're on time, you're late. (See prev. 'if you're late'.) and if you're early... you're on time. Not only is it just a great practice that will get you so many unseen brownie points, but the acting world moves fast. What if they said be there at 1pm but there was a lot of no shows and they could squeeze you in sooner.. had you JUST been there sooner. But you weren't, so they saw that other actor before you, and well... music starts playing the sad violin from Spongebob
   

BuT LiKe, hoW dO I HaNdLe tHe NerVes??!?

USE THE NERVES.

This last bit of advice is just funny.

My friends and I were all nervous bathroom breakers. I ALWAYS have to pee before I go on stage. Thus the phrase, "USE THE PEE! UUUSSEEE THHHHEEE PPEEEEE!!!" was born.

As silly as it is, I've lived by this phrase. Accept the nerves. Feel the nerves. Allow them to take over, then go out there anyway. Sometimes you really do gotta JuSt dOo iT.

But a few tips I've found that really help me get settled are these:

• Drink a normal amount of room temp water, bordering on hot. This always helps me feel more in my body rather than that cold, shaky, frozen extremities feeling that I get in extreme cases.

• If you are panicking to the point of not having your breath under you/ feel like you're stacking air in your chest but not getting good breaths? Find a quiet place away from everyone and sing to yourself. Even if you aren't a singer. The act of having to control your breath to get through the phrases really helps regulate breathing. BONUS it's a good distraction too.

• Be as prepared as possible. Remember the always be early rule? It's not just out of respect for your bosses/colleagues. It's also for your own peace of mind! I always love making a ritual of "claiming" a spot for myself and "decorating it" with everything and anything I'd need<3.

I can't think of any more questions so, thank you so much for reading if you got this far!

Any More Questions? Shoot me a message!