In this episode I’m going to talk you through my best audition tips; I try to follow these, sometimes not so successfully.
- Be Nice
Be nice to everybody. Not just to the auditors, but to everybody. The accompanist, the guy who signs you in, your fellow auditioners, the guy restocking the Coke machine, everybody. The theatre is a small gossipy business and you really can’t afford to make enemies with anyone. I’ve sat in waiting rooms and listened to actors rant and rave about the director before going in to audition without realizing that the lady sitting quietly in the corner is the director’s wife. Do you think that actor had any kind of chance at landing a role? Absolutely not. Likewise thank everybody you had contact with on the way out. - Be Open
Sometimes a director will offer suggestions for your monologue or song, asking you to redo it in a certain style or with a certain emotion. Go for it. The director is trying to determine what you’re like in rehearsal, how well you take direction, how collaborative you are. This is not the time to resist direction. - Be Prepared
Know your material backwards and forwards. Auditions can be nerve-wracking, the situations can be unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The last thing you want to be distracted by is a lack of knowledge of your material. - Be Prompt
Give yourself at least a half hour more than you think you’ll need. Better to arrive way too early than a second too late. Promptness is vital in the theatre and if you can’t even make it to the audition on time, how can you be expected to actually show up to rehearsal on time? - Be Respectful
Don’t bother other people when you’re waiting to go in. If another performer is pacing around running over his material, don’t strike up a conversation. A lot of unnecessary gossip goes on in waiting rooms. If you run into someone you know, go for a coffee after the audition. - Be Familiar
Know what you’re auditioning for. If it’s for a season, be familiar with the plays in the season. If it’s for a specific show then be very familiar with that show. Know what role(s) you want to play. Sometimes they’ll ask. Never say, “Oh, any role is fine,” it comes across as desperate.
