The Casting Session
Walking through
the doors to an acting audition can be a terrifying experience. As
an actor, you need to put on your best first impression and avoid
making beginner mistakes that will get you immediately eliminated.
Arriving early is critical to starting off on the right foot. If you’re
late, casting will automatically figure you for a person who is always
late and will be late for the filming if you’re hired for the role.
If you’re expecting “sides” or pages that you’re going to be given
for a cold read, arrive as early as possible to get the most amount
of time to prepare for the audition. They may not expect you to memorize
lines but that doesn’t mean you can’t use that time effectively.
The first person you’ll probably encounter is the casting director’s
assistant. He or she will give you the sides and sign you in. Even
though you may be tired from waiting in line for an hour or two, make
sure you’re not rude to this person which you might consider a peon.
The peon may be best friends with the casting director. Plus, even
if they don’t know the casting director, it’s been said that CD’s
will ask the assistant who was nice and who was a problem. Nobody
likes to work with a problem person and by asking the assistant what
everyone was like, many of these people can be weeded out.
As you get called into the room to audition, take note not to shake
hands with the casting director unless they go to shake your hand
first. These people have to deal with hundreds of auditioners every
day so they don’t have time to shake everyone’s hand. No need to take
this personal. Just accept it and get through the acting audition
by going along to get along.
Before you start your audition, hand the CD your resume and headshot
and state what piece you’re going to perform. Then begin the piece.
Once done, thank the room and leave. The last thing they want is to
have to listen to you explain why you didn’t do a good job or ask
them what you could’ve done better, etc. They’re busy and just want
you to leave.
As you walk back out into the waiting room, hang around for a few
minutes to make sure you’re not wanted back in the room to do the
scene one more time.
Some people might even take this opportunity to psyche out the next
person to go in by making a little conversation with them.
Use this advice to nail your next acting audition. Now go break the
proverbial leg!
