Should I bring props to an audition?
When stepping into the audition room, you should be extremely well prepared, ready to adjust and be as realistic to the script as you can be – but props aren’t part of that realism. Especially props that can scare the casting director.
It’s good practice to look for every edge when auditioning for a role. Preparing for that audition as far in advance as you can, working the script over and over, looking for nuances in the character that come across on video, will put you miles ahead of the competition that is still learning their lines in the audition waiting room. But props rarely are a part of that edge, and, in fact, could hurt your chances at booking that paid acting work.
Props always come up when a new actor attends an event where a casting director is holding court. The question they ask is “Should I bring props with me?” The answer is universally, “no.” Casting directors love well prepared actors, and will advise you to dress to suggest the part, but they will tell you not to waste your time bringing props.
You shouldn’t need props to complete the picture of your character. Aside from being distracting when you bring them out, they become one more thing to manage, and one more opportunity for disaster to occur should the prop not function properly, should you drop it, or any other number of bad outcomes. You want the casting people to focus on you and your acting, not your prop.
Your sides can often substitute for a prop – if you’re auditioning as a doctor giving a prognosis in a medical procedural, for example, holding your sides as (or on) a clipboard and occasionally referring to them for details works well. A rolled up set of sides can act as a stick or a bat, or a folded set of sides, as a fan on a hot day.
You might also employ items you naturally carry with you: your cell phone to take or make a call, reaching into your wallet for money or your credit cards, taking your glasses out to be able to read something, or a pack of cigarettes to play with (but don’t light up EVER. EVER.). These are things we work with every day, know exactly where they are on our person and can handle well. Just don’t make a big deal out of it.
The use of props isn’t always something called for in script, and we forget that every day pecadillos – adjusting glasses, checking your makeup, using a handkerchief to wipe your brow are all little bits of business that can add to the character’s world and help you land that role.
Let your action and placement speak to other non-existent props – if you’re being cuffed, simply putting your hands behind your back and jerking your body works. And if you don’t have a phone, touching your ear as if you have a bluetooth headset works just as well.
This is very important: absolutely never, ever, ever bring any sort of weapon into the audition space. This includes guns, knives, bricks, ropes, even homemade items that can be construed to be dangerous in the room should things get very emotional. At the very least, you’ll scare the CD, and at the worst, your audition will immediately be stopped, and you’ll be asked to leave. Don’t ever risk that, as you’ll never be called in by that casting director again.
You obviously want an edge, but props isn’t the area to concentrate on. Rather, know your lines backwards and forwards, have another approach in your back pocket, be adjustable, and build into your performance little bits of business that don’t require any props.
What’s your answer to this acting question? Let me know in the comments below.
Well, I just used props yesterday at an audition here where I live (Miami). It felt right to use them. The script called for a glass of wine so I rehearsed with it and wanted to bring it with me to the audition. The other prop was chewing gum. My sense of this character was that she is a gum chewer. I’m new and learning all the in’s and out’s but one thing I have learned by the massive amounts of research I’m doing is that sometimes an actor can do all the no, no’s and still book the job. Let’s see what happens with this.
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LikeDislikeSo how was it for you as you poured your wine to prepare for your scene? Did the casting team have to wait while you did it? Or did you walk in with it, risking spilling it on yourself? Or did everything flow, clean as a whistle? And what was it for? Commercial? Network TV or studio film? Indie? Student film? All that matters. Bring a glass of wine into the audition space in LA or NY, and you’ll be asked to set it aside, or leave it in the hallway.
And gum is not a prop. Nor are your glasses, or a purse, or a wallet, or even a clipboard or folder. The point of this article was not to let props get in your way.
Share with us what happened!
David
Thank you for the feedback. As for my audition I had a small amount of wine in a small tupperware container with a plastic wine glass and it all went smoothly, no spills, no awkward moments…felt natural and all was good. No one seemed to be put off in any way about it so for now I feel comfortable with my decision and choices. Good to know what the response most likely would be if I were in LA or NY. This is for a web series and as of this writing 7/10 no feedback. They seemed to really like my performance, props and all. I will certainly keep you posted.
On another note, how to I get my pic inserted? Plus I’d like to register but only see where I can “Log in”
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LikeDislikeFor your pic to show up here, just go to Gravatar.com and register there using the same email address you used here. And there’s no need to register here. We’re open to everyone.
David
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