10 tips to prepare for auditions

Nail that audition with these top 10 tips

Auditions often come with very little warning, yet you want to be as prepared as possible. There are ways you can be organised in advance, so that the experience is less stressful! These tips are written with actors in mind, but are also useful for singers and other performers.

1. Leave plenty of time to get to your destination, incase you are held up by traffic or have difficulty finding parking.
2. Always keep a highlighter and pen in your car, handbag, or backpack, so that once you print out your audition sides, you can easily highlight your lines or make notes.
3. Keep up-to-date copies of your resume and headshots in a folder, so that you can have them on hand.
4. Always have a copy of your script handy, so you can read through it whilst waiting. Do learn your lines as best you can. (Even if they say you do not need to be scripts down, the less reliant you are on your script, the more you can free yourself to perform!)
5. Ensure you have a small coin purse in your glovebox, for parking, tolls, or a quick snack on the go!
6. Keep a small makeup purse, with base, translucent powder, mascara and a natural lipstick. The most important thing is to not look overly shiny under the lights, and look natural. Many actor’s cake on makeup, in particular if they think their character would wear alot, it is generally better to allow the makeup artist to worry about that if you get the part – let them see how you look naturally, and allow them to imagine what they might want to do with your makeup look!
7. Drink / pack bottled water – it is vital to keep hydrated and to lubricate your vocal chords. Try to stay away from softdrinks or milk products before an audition, as they are not ideal for your voice.
8. Comfortable clothing – It is important you can move comfortably, and are not wearing uncomfortable shoes, for you to perform at your best. You also will want to have layers so that you can take off as needed, and are not too hot or cold.
9. Be careful what you say and what conversations you get involved in. Don’t say anything in the waiting room you wouldn’t want the director to hear (or be told about)! Avoid gossiping, rolling eyes, or whispering. And be aware that some people will try to psych you out, so just concentrate on what you are there to do, and avoid distractions.
10. Most of all, have fun and treat it like a learning experience. You will not always get every role, sometimes simply because you do not have the look / voice/ personality they decide they want, it may have nothing to do with your talent. Just turn up prepared, with good manners and a positive attitude, and you are on your way to a rewarding career!