ACTING IN THE CITYOnline Weekly Trade for the Acting Community
Advice from Casting Directors
Ask any casting director what matters most when an actor shows up to an audition. Most will say, "They need to be prepared." (Showing up on time can not hurt either.)These should be obvious, but it is surprising how many actors make a bad impression with something as simple as inappropriate behavior. It can knock you out before you step into the ring. Remember: Casting directors already have the job — you do not. So you need to prove yourself to them, not the other way around.
Other suggestions we heard from CDs: Avoid unnecessary chit-chat. Do not linger in the room for too long after you read. Stay away from using most props. And avoid making physical contact with the casting director during your audition.
A feeling of desperation is another sure way not to get a callback. Never view an audition as nerve-wracking nightmare, or make it look that way. Consider each audition an opportunity: A chance to perform for an audience — albeit a small one. Or walk into the audition saying, "No matter what happens, I will do the best I can today." Remember: The casting director is not here to judge you harshly; he or she simply wants to find the perfect person for the role. That could be you.
Actors sometimes seek out coaching for auditions, but primarily for large film/TV roles, or for admittance to an MFA program. Many believe it is worth the expense — if only for the boost in self-confidence. In last-minute emergencies, actors even resort to phone coaching, although that is not an ideal situation.
However, with or without coaching, one trap to avoid is too much preparation. Read the sides carefully but do not freeze your approach — you may be asked to change it. Longtime coach and acting teacher Craig Wallace says he never sends actors out 100 percent set for the audition. "If you are over prepared, you have no flexibility," he says. "And you do not know what 50 percent of the process is until you walk into the room.
"You can not have the piece controlling you. You have to leave room for the circumstances of where you are going to be."
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