Tips

Audition Tips

First of all, every single director will audition differently. Your absolute best way to be prepared is to do your homework!   The following is a list of general suggestions to help you prepare for your audition. They are not black and white rules....we all know people who broke every rule and came out with lead roles. These suggestions are for basic community theatre auditions.

Auditions to theatre schools are different in that they usually require monologues and have very specific guidelines...like nothing older than 50 years, or one comedic, one Shakespeare.

1) No surprises...
--Find out everything you can about the audition.
--Will you do a cold reading or a prepared monologue?
--If it's a musical, will you sing to a pianist? a tape? what?
--Will you have to dance? will it be a "freestyle" or will you learn a combination?

2) Prepare yourself...
--If you work, find out if you will be able to make all of the proposed rehearsals. Do not wait until after you are cast.
--If you have been given sides (part of a script), know your lines.
--Rehearse your lines different ways, try out all variations of your character
--If you have not been given sides, try to read the script in advance so that you'll know the basics of each character and the general synopsis
--Eat something about an hour before your audition. Bring a bottle of water with you. Go to the restroom a few minutes beforehand. Do not come into an audition worrying about your digestive system!
--Do not drink milk or milk products that will coat your throat. Do not drink carbonated beverages or other foods that make you burp!
--Consider what roles you are prepared to accept. If you are only interested in playing the lead, you need to be upfront about that. There are always pros and cons of saying "lead only" ...some people say it even though they would accept another role because they think it will push them over the top into the part. But, you run a great risk of putting yourself totally out of the show. Of course, if you have lots of other offers or just wouldn't be content with another role, you should be upfront about it.
--Arrive at the audition "warmed up" both vocally and physically.

3) Dress appropriately...
--If you are auditioning for a musical, come prepared to dance.
--Do not wear restrictive clothing or clothing that is too big.
--Do not wear flip flops. Wear tennis shoes or dance shoes unless you are told otherwise. Any shoes that make a lot of sound should be avoided. You want the director to notice YOU, not your shoes or clothes.
--If you can do it without going overboard, try to wear something that suggests the character that you are hoping to land. For example, if you are going for a young role, try to dress younger or wear your hair in pigtails.   Do not show up in a full costume.

4) When you arrive...
--If there is a sign-in sheet, make sure to sign in legibly. Find out if you need to fill out an application or give any other information.
--If you have a resume, bring it. Bring two.
--Read over your lines. Get into character. Focus on why you are there.
--Even if everyone else is chattering away, try to find some space to "get your head together."
--Find out if there are rehearsal tapes, scripts, etc. for you to use to prepare.
--Don't get too stressed.
--Don't get too relaxed.
--Spit out your gum. Don't ever chew gum at any auditions,rehearsals or shows.
--Be prepared to wait.

5) When you are called in...
--Walk onto the stage (or audition area). Make sure that you have stopped walking before you start talking. Don't come on rambling.
--Take a deep breath, smile and look at the casting director.
--If the audition is being taped, you may want to ask where you should look. For live theatre, tapes are usually used only to verify a casting committee's choices, so if in doubt, play to the casting committee...but don't overdo it.
--At the end, DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING. Do not point out that you messed up, do not point out that you are sick, do not point out that you were not prepared.   If you mess up, it will be MUCH better if you are able to pull yourself back on track.
--Stay in character until you are completely finished. Wait a beat...then go back to being yourself, thank your casting committee, wait another beat to see if they have any questions.
--If you are singing to pre-recorded music and it stops, keep going unless they tell you to stop.
--If you are singing to accompaniment and "get lost", get going and let the professional accompanist figure out how to keep up with you.
--Be prepared to be stopped before you are finished with a song.
--Be "direct-able"... be able to accommodate whatever variation the director asks you to do. For example if he says "read it with more anger," you might raise your voice a little or add a more staccato delivery.
--Do not compare the length of your audition with others. Sometimes, a part is landed in the first minute and there is no need to have that person continue.
--Be prepared to sing any and all of the character's songs.
--Never tell a casting committee or a director "NO" during an audition even if you think you can't do something. Whatever they ask of you, give it your best shot.
--You are "ON" as long as you are at the audition site. Do not believe that casting directors "don't count" any bad behavior that they observe before and after a formal audition. Your past travels with you all your life.

6) Afterwards...
--Do not leave the audition site unless you have been told to leave.
--Resist the human temptation to bad mouth those who got roles that you wanted.
--Resist the human temptation to bad mouth the director who did not see you in the role that you had your heart set on. The director has his/her reasons for casting that may not make sense to you. Realize that no matter how much you gripe about it, the director is not going to re-cast to make you feel better. There is absolutely nothing good that can come of your bad behavior.
--If you are offered a role, you need to accept or decline that role as soon as possible.   You need to have figured out what you'll accept BEFORE the audition.
--If you accept the role, you need to start preparing immediately.
--Talk to work about your rehearsal schedule.
--Do NOT underline your lines in your script unless the director tells you to.
--Do not cut your hair or change your appearance in any way unless approved by the director.
--Do not expect a director to be sympathetic to "new conflicts"...like taking a family vacation or going to Six Flags.

**Smart actors realize that they are basically "auditioning" every moment that they are in the director's presence...your attitude during your current show will have an impact on your NEXT show!**

Things that you can do to tick off a director:

--Count your lines.

--Memorize all of your lines before the director has given you any direction.
--Cut/Dye/Change your hair without permission.
--Compare your role/your costumes/your stage time to someone else's.
--Base your character on the "film" version or on how someone else played it.
--Say the words "When we did it in high school, we...." or "Well, that's how so and so did it..."
--Be late for rehearsal.
--Leave early from rehearsal.
--Skip rehearsal.
--Lie about where you were during rehearsal.
--"Mark" every dance.
--Come to rehearsal in appropriate attire.
--Come to rehearsal "knowing it all"
--Come to rehearsal "knowing nothing at all"
--Forget your costume, forget your script, forget your prop.
--Interrupt rehearsal with your cell phone's incessant ringing.
--Bring your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your mom, your whole neighborhood to rehearsal.
--Give the same performance each time when the director continually tells you to "tone it down" or "bring it up a notch"
--Not know the difference between downstage left and upstage right.
--Correct another actor.
--Correct the director.
--Chew gum at rehearsal.
--Constantly talk in the wings.
--Have no ideas.
--Continually have to eat your meals during a rehearsal.
--Make fun of the show, of the other actors, or anything associated with the show.
--Leave the rehearsal space without putting everything back in place, picking up trash, etc.
--Come in with an unprofessional attitude.
--Don't give 100% at each and every rehearsal.

Quotes...

Do not try to push your way through to the front ranks of your profession; do not run after distinctions and rewards; but do your utmost to find an entry into the world of beauty.~ Konstantin Stanislavisky

Some scenes you juggle two balls, some scenes you juggle three balls, some scenes you can juggle five balls. The key is always to speak in your own voice. Speak the truth. That's Acting 101. Then you start putting layers on top of that. ~ Vincent D'Onofrio

A movie camera is like having someone you have a crush on watching you from afar -- you pretend it's not there.~ Daryl Hannah

A lot of what acting is paying attention.~ Robert Redford

Acting is not being emotional, but being able to express emotion.~ Thomas Reid

Insecurity, commonly regarded as a weakness in normal people, is the basic tool of the actor's trade.~ Miranda Richardson

There are no small parts. Only small actors.~ Ginger Rogers

I don't do T & A very well because I haven't got much of either.~ Téa Leoni

It's not a field, I think, for people who need to have success every day: if you can't live with a nightly sort of disaster, you should get out. I wouldn't describe myself as lacking in confidence, but I would just say that the ghosts you chase you never catch.~ John Malkovich

An actress must never lose her ego -- without it she has no talent.~ Norma Shearer

Actors ought to be larger than life. You come across quite enough ordinary, nondescript people in daily life and I don't see why you should be subjected to them on the stage too.~ Donald Sinden

Life Tips for the Actor

(Yeah, yeah... you think you already know all of this stuff. But, as a director,

I can attest that many of you do not put your knowledge into action!)

--Stay healthy.
--Get plenty of sleep.
--Wash your hands often. Amazing how something so simple can really
affect your health!
--Avoid eating big meals late at night (like after a late rehearsal).
--Avoid excess speaking/yelling during the weeks leading up to your performance and especially the week of the show.
--Drink plenty of water. Bring water with you to rehearsal. Write your name on your bottle. (Don't share your germs with the entire cast by sharing, either!)
--Do not drink tea or "coke" type products--- they stain your teeth and no one wants a performer with a dingy smile! (unless perhaps your character calls for it)
--Read, read, read! Read plays, read scripts, read how-to books on acting.
--Always warm-up before any
performance, whether it be sung or spoken.
--Don't stress out about the set, props, wardrobe, etc. Your job is to be the actor.
--Do not try to second guess or argue with the director. You are the actor. Worry about your job and let him worry about his. Excess stress will bring your performance down.
--Keep your resume updated. You should be prepared to dash to an audition on a moment's notice.
--Take dance lessons.
--Take voice lessons.
--Take acting lessons.
--Take risks...on the stage.
--Try to get outside your comfort zone of characters. If you always play the "hunk," audition for the "nerd!"
--See as many productions as you can.
--Make as many friends in the biz as you can...who you know is sometimes the key to even knowing about opportunities!