There are so many things in auditions that are beyond you’re control, that have nothing to do with talent and everything to do with the specifics of a production and the people producing it. But many of the really common mistakes can be avoided.
Being late
On occasion, if you’re late a director or casting agent will squeeze you into another slot, but don’t count on it. Get there on time.
Being unprepared
It’s obvious but it’s still the most common thing people get wrong at auditions. Not knowing your lines, or how many pieces you’ll be expected to present will put a big mark against you. And don’t cover it with excuses, the director doesn’t want to know. Things are rarely perfect – get on and do your best.
Being wrong for the part
You might be desperate to get a part, any part, but you’ll only end up wasting a director’s time and annoying them if you turn up for auditions you’re clearly not suitable for. If the part specifically wants someone who can tap dance or ride a unicycle and you can’t, it’s not for you.
Not being you
You may be an actor going for a great role but the director still wants to get a sense of who you are. They want to know what you’ll be like to work with, how easily you’ll get along with your fellow cast and crew. It can be tempting to enter in character and stay in character through an audition. But try to find a moment, to be you, even if it’s just when you smile and say thank you at the end.
Choosing the wrong monologue
Many actors do themselves a disservice by choosing a monologue they would never be cast for. Look for pieces that suit your age, gender and within reason physicality. You don’t have stick to books of popular monologues from well known plays, look to a range of sources such as poems, novels or oral histories. Sometimes you will need two or more monologues so make sure they show different aspects of your ability, eg comic and dramatic, accented and non-accented. It’s also good to perform scenes in which a character undergoes a change or shows a range of emotions.
Over running your time
Auditions can be short and sharp. If you’ve been told to prepare a two minute monologue don’t try and perform one you know takes five. Practice and time your monologue and edit it to fit. But even when you’re in a rush and nervous don’t forget the simple things, like making sure you’ve got the director’s attention before you start. Wait till you get a signal to go, even if it’s just a nod from the stage manager.
Losing it to nerves
You’ve garbled the introduction, rushed through the lines and half way through frozen, and ended up apologising profusely over and over again near tears. Nightmare! Everyone gets nerves but how you handle them is an important part of the job. Excessive nerves will put a question mark against whether you can really cope with a part. The more prepared you are the more confident you will be. Stay positive, breathe, slow down and if things go wrong, stay calm. You can ask for another go or restart and that will be far better than throwing a tanty.
Being rude
It’s a really bad idea to take an attitude into an audition. Whoever you’re dealing with from the people in reception, to the production crew and the director, be polite. People talk, it’s a small industry and actors who are argumentative or discourteous will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Being inflexible
Often a director will ask you to change the way you present your lines. Or you might be asked to improvise. If you’ve only rehearsed your piece in a certain way, it can be hard to change. You may freeze up, stumble on your lines or end up looking stiff and awkward. Worst of all, you may make excuses not to do what the director has asked, or argue back. Being flexible and responding to the moment are critical skills in acting. When you get the improve right you get to show your creativity, how you respond under pressure, that you can really focus, listen and respond to direction, so give it a go!
Telling them why you should get the part and how much it means to you
Do your audition and politely leave. Don’t try and extend your time with long discussions on all the reasons you’d be great for the part, or what you think is essential that they may not have thought of. It’s not the time to give them a line by line explanation of your CV or tell them how much it would mean to you to be part of their production. Let you’re acting do the talking. If you’re want they want, they’ll call you.
