Top tips for nailing your next audition

Long before you start your acting audition piece, a casting director has an opinion of who you are from your headshots, right down to the way you walk in the room and introduce yourself.

Here are a few audition tips to help you smash your audition:

Arrive 15 minutes early

This gives you chance to freshen up, calm those nerves and get to know your surroundings. Don’t sign in until you have to, this will give you chance to study the script without added pressure.

First Impressions Count

• A smile is worth a thousand words and will help relax you and your audience. Imagine a friend in place of the auditioner(s) and greet them with a warm confident smile.
• Make eye contact. Sometimes, when we’re nervous, we tend to look away, so make sure to look people in the eye when you speak.
• Check your body language. Don’t let the awkwardness of standing in front of seated “judges” make you fidget or cross your arms or do any of the other telltale signs of an uncomfortable actor. There is tremendous power in stillness, so use an approach like the Alexander Technique to centre yourself. If you’ve already practiced this in audition technique class, even better.
• Take the lead. Don’t wait for something to happen. When you enter the room, greet everyone and introduce yourself. Make contact with a simple question like “How’s your day going so far?” and hand over your headshot and resume. If you are at a film or commercial audition, find your mark and stand on it.

Performing your audition piece (AKA the 5 P’s!)

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance – it’s all in the practice and presentation. Your confidence levels will be higher and you’ll feel more in control if you’ve properly prepared for the reading. But also bear in mind that you need to be flexible and be ready to take direction from the casting director.

Try to come across as wanting the role, not needing it – you may be desperate but the casting director doesn’t need to see that. Auditions are part of your role as an actor so treat each one as practice.

Exit stage left

Once the audition is over, make a quick, clean exit. Don’t linger or ask questions such as when callbacks will be. Having said that, do find some reason to wait in the waiting area, maybe check you phone. Often the directors will have a chat after and they may want to see the scene again, and not sloping off straight away may mean a call back.

For your next professional headshots, take a look through the actors headshots gallery and book your next session with Mark Skeet.