Community Answers

1. 

   149

   

   7-23-11

   David H. Lawrence XVII says:

   Answer: Sitting in the audition room, waiting to audition for a paid acting job is a unique position to be in, and can be a nerve-wracking experience. By keeping focused, concentrating at the tasks at hand, and not engaging in games that can be destructive to you and to your fellow actors and your audition efforts, you’ll find the experience more exhilarating than exasperating. And you’ll book more paid acting work.

   
   

   Getting the call or email from your agent that you have an audition always means hope and preparation – hope that you’ll book the job and preparation to make that hope a reality. Once you walk through the door of the audition room, you’re using a different set of skills than you do when you walk through the studio door or the door of your trailer on set – you’re using your auditioning skills, not just your performance skills. While you will perform as part of your audition, that’s not the only skill you’ll use.

   Once you’re in the waiting area, take a moment to assess the temperature in the room. Don’t rush to sign in right away, but rather stop and collect yourself, and see how quickly the audition room turnstile is moving. You don’t want to be caught having to jump right into the audition room without a moment to catch your breath and get into what you’re doing. When you do sign in, sign in, and out, with your union member number, time in and out, and any personal information they want. It’s helpful to the union to get this information.

   
   

   You might ask actors that are leaving the audition room how many people are in your audience. If you can, position yourself in a chair that allows you to see into the audition room as the doors open, so you won’t be surprised when there’s a casting director, an assistant, a reader, two writers, a couple of producers, someone from the network and the show runner all in the room. It’s happened to me. If it’s a call back, prepare to do exactly what you did in the pre-read – that’s why they brought you back. DO NOT change a thing about your performance.

   While you’re sitting there – remember, this is your profession. It’s a job interview, and it’s not just this acting job you’re interviewing for – it’s a relationship you’re building that will help you gain access to all the other acting jobs that casting director may be casting in the future. Keep your eyes on the prize: even though you may know your lines cold, have made strong choices on your character and can do the scene backwards, resist the temptation to joke around, play head games with or otherwise be distracted by the other actors, and don’t distract them. It’s a competition, but make it a respectable one.

   Go over your script lightly, stay loose and realize this is yet another opportunity to act. Look at it as a performance, and realize that most of the time, a casting director and the eventual decision makers to which she is feeding choices have an embarrassment of riches with most of the parts they cast. Yes, your acting has to be world-class, but the choice of who to cast often falls to those actors that are most memorable (in a good way) on-camera and in the room. Getting along with everyone easily is sometimes the winning edge, and most people would rather have a good actor that is fun on the set and easy to work with, than a great actor who is a pain to be around.

   
   

   When you’re called, have your sides and headshot in hand (and be ready not to give it to them if they’ve got you covered electronically), go in, and be cheerful. Own the room, don’t shake hands unless a hand is offered, knock them dead, and be ready for adjustments and to pull out some of the other choices you’ve made, if asked. When they say thank you, give them a quick “My pleasure,” and leave the room – just the room. Don’t leave the audition waiting area just yet – sign out with your time, gather your things, make sure you have everything, note the rest of your day, quietly and to yourself.

   Why wait a moment or two before leaving?

   Because you never know if they need you to read with another actor, read for another part, they’ve run out of Neighbor #2’s to feed lines to another character, or any of a myriad of other reasons why the casting director might want to pop her head out and call you back into the room – meaning more face time on camera. Don’t hang out forever, but a few minutes dawdling might just might pay off.

   What’s your answer to this acting question? Let me know in the comments below.

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