Tips on acting, auditions, and all that Jazz
So I’ve been acting for quit a long time now, with a very fulfilling and well rounded experience in both film and stage, so I wanna give some tips to the younger people or older who are about to start dive into this world and need a few pointers.
headshots and resume tips
Quality = money; paying the big bucks for your headshot means you’ll book more gigs. You have to invest in yourself first before anyone will invest in you.
When you get your headshots taken make sure you wear a color that complements you but doesn’t pull from your face.
KEEP your headshot up to date. That means if your headshot picture is you with red hair and you’ve since dyed it blonde, I wouldn’t recommend using the red hair resume.
IF you have to use an old headshot and there is a noticeably difference in your current appearance, make note of it. (not suggested)
Let the camera guy do his job.
Get as many photos as you can that reflect who you are.
Resumes should be neat. There isn’t one template for resumes but it should be easy on the eyes and easy to read.
Make sure you have contact information and basic state information somewhere on your resume. (name,email or phone; height; eye color; hair color; weight)
Categorize your material. (Mine goes film – Stage – Training – skills)
Quality over quantity. If you’re pushing 25 and you’re resume still consist of high school performances, it’s time to drop some of those. Don’t bombard your resume with roles just because they’re roles make sure each role speaks to the performer you are today.
Quantity over Quality. They want to know you’re a performer make sure you have roles that speak 1) to the role or show your going out for, and 2) to your skill.
A lot of people say DO NOT put extra / background experience on resumes. (This constitutes having less than five lines.)
If you don’t have a resume write a good cover letter with your training.
INVEST in yourself; pay for the more experiences paper. Psychologically heavier resume paper seems more reputable.
place both your resume and headshot on the same paper back to back, less paper for them to deal with.
Print the best quality you can– IN COLOR–. You want your headshot to shine and have the best quality to offer.
Research the show; i recently had someone audition for Spring Awakening with me who had no idea what the show was about. know what you’re walking into.
Pick a monologue that relates to the role you want. That means if the show you’re going for is about dark heavy material then you pull from a dark heavy show (like The Pillowman)
This means you have to know material, which means you have to be constantly reading and researching shows
Rehearse. Don’t wait last minute to memorize your monologue. It’ll obvious who walks into the audition room ready and who stayed up all night preparing.
Know the material well enough to answer any questions they might ask. If they ask what show is that from, KNOW IT
Do monologues that are from published playwrights, that one monologue your friend wrote wont cut it.
Searching online for monologues is cool, but so is reading plays and getting a better grasp of the character.
Know why you’re character is saying the monologue.
If a monologue was easy for you to then is was easy for everyone else to find, remember that.
Be prepared (cold reading / slides/ video auditions )
If you get sent sides to read and record then make something out of nothing
really study the lines and try to figure out why your character MIGHT be saying these things.
Get a friend to record you with a camera with decent Quality. 1080P is great. 720p is cool. Anything lower than 480 I wouldn’t suggest at this day and age with technology.
Make sure your lighting is well enough to see your face.
NOW is the chance for you take risk and really make the slide your own
Do several recordings back to back to get a good feel for it.
DONT look into the camera directly to deliver your lines. Find a focus point.
DONT change the wording around, trust the writer.
Learn how to send video files as small as possible. Large files take forever to download and might be a burden depending on where the person is.
Be prepared (Musical audition - singing)
Make sure you find a song that really complements your voice. Not everyone can belt. Every song doesnt need you to belt.
Know the musical your audition for. Whats the music like? The plot? What shows came out around the same period?
When picking your audition song ask yourself :
Does this show complement the show im auditioning for.
Is there a character in the musical this musical that could sing my audition as their role?
Am I hitting the same notes as the character I want to audition for?
Make sure your sheet music is in your key.
Make sure you have back up songs to sing if they ask for more or you second guess your first song choice.
Have a great warm up the morning before your audition
Find your sweet spot and work it honey.
I personally keep a sheet music binder full of songs that cover different emotions, ranges and characterization. INVEST IN YOURSELF.
Don’t get upset if the pianist messes up, go with the flow.
Practice with your sheet music, the worst thing you can do is not practice with the music then get to the audition and its not in your key.
be patient these things take forever.
Dont be nervous, make yourself rememeberable but not for bad reasons.
Take a moment to read your side to yourself and then go for it.
Don’t insinuate the handshake.
There isnt one way to get training but there is one thing for sure, you have to get training.
Even big name actors still go to training, acting is a skill you can loose.
College is one way but not the only way
Workshops and master classes are another way too. they just cost money upfront. INVEST IN YOURSELF
Acting is 40% Talent 60% who you know. Networking is important
DON’T burn bridges you might need.
Make sure the person doing the workshop knows what they’re doing, research them on IMDB. IBDB. Or GOOGLE.
Notice a scam before its to late.
There is still a lot to cover, what should the next set of tips be on?
