hi!! i have my first audition ever (theater audition) in 2 days and i'm so nervous. i dont know what to expect or how to blow them away. do you have any tips???
Hi @actingsensation
As with the previous ask, I am sorry this response is late and I hope your audition still went well. (I am not a reliable source of quick information.) Still, I’m answering this in the hopes it can help you and others in the future.
I want to preface this by saying though I have sat in on a few auditions, I have never been a director and though I have a theater background, I was crew. I do however have actor friends who have graciously contributed advice.
First, when you walk into the room, be yourself and be CONFIDENT! The director and others watching want to know you are someone they can work with over the course of the project. Recognize you and the director are ona level playing field. You are there to work together and have fun in your craft. You are there to do the work, not to perform in a manner you think will appease them. Be friendly and professional and walk in with the confidence that you belong there. Don’t make excuses. Don’t apologize.
Know your lines inside and out and be open to adjustments. Think about the relationship between the characters in the scene and let that inform your approach to the material. Characters who have a long history together will behave differently that two characters who just met.
Consider the subtext of the material and find those small real moments that you can add to or draw from the script to give nuance and a uniqueness to your performance. Know what your character’s objective is in the scene and what obstacle is in their way.
Deliver your lines like you’re saying them for the first time to make it feel fresh and spontaneous rather than rehearsed.
Add variety to the performance by playing the dynamics of the scene. Don’t stay focused on a single emotion. Try playing emotions opposite as well. Sometimes instead of yelling to show anger, people get quiet. Sometimes people put on a brave face when they are scared or remain stoic when they would rather cry.
This is more advice for the auditioning process in general, but don’t get discouraged by rejection. Directors are looking for someone who is the right fit and sometimes it’s you and sometimes it’s not. Auditioning isn’t having to prove you’re the right for the role or that your better than other people, it’s being the best you that you can be. And if you’re right for the role you auditioned for, you’ll probably be booked. And if you’re not, it doesn’t mean the other person was better than you, just that they were a better fit for that character.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
Jules