Auditions are inherently nerve-wracking. Actors talk ad nauseum about how they do fine in preparation or in production, but freeze up in that audition room. Why do auditions have to be this way? I believe that actors need to change their conception of auditions and look to construct a new audition paradigm. Auditions should be energizing. They should be enjoyable. They should be opportunities to perform. Easier said than done for sure.
This week's post is part 2 on Audition Don'ts. Last week's post generated a great conversation about auditions across the country and I hope that this week's post can do the same.
3. Making the Safe Choice
Okay. Playing things safe is a sometimes a decent strategy in some aspects of everyday life. It probably is a wise move to keep your speed and aggression under control when driving. It's probably a good idea to play it safe when handling radioactive material. However, playing things safe as an actor is never a good idea. Safe choices are comfortable, predictable, basic and "logical." They seem logical at the time because you are often in your own head over-thinking the choice, trying to predict what the Casting Director wants, or what you think is the proper "read" for the scene. Ironically, the safe choice is not logical. In the world of auditions, logic can kill your chances for success. Sometimes the illogical makes the most sense.
What matters is risk-taking. What matters is being bold with your choice. What matters is eliminating "acting the scene out" and allowing yourself to listen and really feel in the scene. What matters is YOU. So what is the bold or risky choice? The next time you look at a side or script, consider all of your possible "ways" (or choices) for performing it. There is probably one or two of those choices that you tell yourself "I'd NEVER be able to do" or "I'd feel weird or uncomfortable." Ready? The bold risky choice is the one you think you could never do. These choices still need to fit within the circumstances of the scene, but they have to be bold and fresh. And they will most certainly STRETCH you as a person and actor.
Try opening up to more freedom and risk-taking with your reads and auditions. The risk-takers are often the ones who are remembered in auditions. Those who play the safe choice are often overlooked or forgotten. Try adding some risk and boldness to your next audition and see how it can free you up to new possibilities.
5. "Aw Shucks" Body Language
Some of you think that you are not getting call backs because of your acting. That might be true, but I'd say a good number of you are not getting call backs because of your body language. How do you enter that room? How do you take your mark? How do you leave that room? Those aspects are crucial to your success. Auditions are blown for a majority of actors that come in looking defeated, hunched over or with a grim look on their face. You have lost before you have ever started. Your audition starts before you enter that room.
Shed the "aw shucks," "woe is me" body language and start adopting confidence and a sense of pride in what you are doing. Anthony Meindl shares a story about one of his actors realizing that she wasn't owning the room during her auditions. She realized that she actually needed to be more selfish in the audition. She needed to give herself permission to be confident in herself. She needed to be selfish in her ability to do her best. I think that confidence and selfishness need not be negative here. It is okay to believe in ourselves. Especially when we are in a position to showcase what we can do.
Some comments on BEFORE, DURING and AFTER:
Before you enter that room: Pick yourself up. Avoid slouching over in a corner with sad music pulsing through your headphones...EVEN IF you are playing a depressed character. Save the transformation until after the CD is able to see the real you walk in. Try adopting a power pose in the waiting room. You'd be surprised with the results. CD's want to see a confident, real, pleasant and natural human being, not someone who is "in character" before they even start. These things will help with that.
When you walk into that room: Keep your head up. Smile. Breathe (you'd be surprised how many people forget this one). Find your mark firmly and plant yourself firm upon it. Maintain a "power" pose (without going overboard), answer any questions from the CD, gather yourself and go! After you finish, they may give 1-2 notes (direction or adjustment). Take that direction and continue. And when in doubt, always LISTEN. Trust your instincts and trust in YOU and your abilities.
As you leave: Say thank you, smile and walk out confidently and as natural as you can. DO NOT under any circumstances speak out about your performance. No need to linger and wait/ask for feedback. They will be clear about adjustments or direction. Be careful about any noises or sighs, etc. that could come out of your mouth. Those can be obvious signs that you are passing judgement on your performance. Let what just happened...be.
Several years ago, an actor walked into one of my auditions. He gave a decent performance and actually had a quirky, tech-geek look that we were looking for. Unfortunately, I don't remember his actual acting ability. What I remember was how he acted on the way out: he slouched his shoulders in classic defeat style and audibly said: "God, I suck." As the door closed behind him, I turned to my assistant and said: "He's not ready." I remember him for his last words and behavior, not his acting ability. Be memorable for the right reasons. The "Aw Shucks" mentality will get your remembered for all of the wrong ones.
6. Missing the Moment
Stop for a second. Look around you. What do you see? What do you hear? There are moments happening all around you. Do we pay attention to them? If not, we need to. The moment is where the truth lies. Actors have to be in tune more with these moments in auditions. The text is one important thing, but the moments are the only real thing that matter. But why do so many actors miss these moments? Perhaps it's because you are thinking about your performance, your hair, your nerves, or you are trying to read the room, stressing over what your auditors are thinking about you right now. Maybe you are focused solely on the text, eyes and head tilted down staring at that piece of paper; looking for answers within the material. The answers are not found there. The real answers are found in the moments surrounding the text.
Are you looking at the reader? Are you making eye contact with your scene partner? Are you reading their behavior and paying attention to what they are saying and how they are saying it? If you can begin to answer yes to those questions, then the text will begin to come alive. You will discover that the reaction is equally as important as the action. Be present with the reader or scene partner. This includes anchoring your eyes on the appropriate subject. If you are doing a scene with a reader or another actor, look at them! You'll be surprised what you might notice. Pick it up, react to it and use it.
Auditioning is arduous. It can be horrifying and traumatic for many. But it doesn't have to be that way. You have control of your attitudes and feelings. You can learn ways to strengthen your confidence and focus. You can change your perspective on the process. You can make it an enjoyable opportunity to perform or you can make it another trip into hell.
At the end of the day, it's YOUR choice that matters. As you focus less on "them" and what everyone else is thinking, you are freed up to be more yourself and more present in the moment. And then the end results don't seem to matter as much. And then you might start to find success...or success will begin to find you. Because you aren't losing sleep or killing yourself trying to find it.
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