Five Great Audition Tips

#1--Always be on time for your audition

    The worst thing you can do is to arrive late to an audition. In addition to being unprofessional, arriving late shows the casting director that you are not driven to succeed and that, if they hire you for the acting job, they cannot count on you to be on time and prepared. So, why would they want to hire you?

#2--Be prepared

    You must be as prepared as possible. Before you go to an audition, find out as much as you can about it. What is the casting director looking for? How does the casting director view my character’s role in the story? What would they like to see my character do? How long will the audition take? Do I need to bring anything? Can I read the script ahead of time?
    If you are asked to perform a monologue at your audition, you should practice it until it becomes second nature before the audition. If you are given a script or audition sides, be sure to memorize your lines. And, if you are asked to do a cold reading, you should ask questions about your role, such as the age, background and personality of the character.

#3--Dress The Part

    Show up at your audition dressed as the character you are auditioning for. For example, if you are auditioning for a role as a police officer, try to dress as a police officer, or at least try to wear the shirt, hat and badge of a police officer. Showing up dressed as the character you are auditioning for will help casting directors see you as the character and make them more willing to give you the part.

#4--Stick to the Script

    Don't do a whole lot of adlibbing. Try to stick to the script as much as you can. Sticking to the script helps you stay focused and stay in character. Additionally, sticking to the script is important because there may be certain lines that the casting director is expecting you to deliver; certain lines that are important to the character and to the story. If you don't stick to the script, you may skip the important lines the casting director is waiting for you to say. That will make it harder for a casting director to evaluate your ability to fit the role, which in turn, makes it harder for you to get the job.

#5--Make a Strong Character Choice

The purpose of your audition is to stand out and convince the casting director that you are right for the acting gig. It is extremely important that you make a strong impression and make strong choices for your character. For example, if your character is quick-tempered in the story, make a strong choice about how your character is going to display anger. Perhaps the character will yell and scream to display anger. Or, perhaps your character will speak calmly while giving the evil eye. Either way, make a strong choice and go with it!