There’s nothing more stressful than the audition room.
Scratch that.
There might be a place that’s more stressful- It’s the inside of your car as you pull out of the parking lot after being in the audition room. Tell us if this inner monologue sounds familiar:
“That felt okay. Pretty good. Gosh, my heart is still pounding. I hope they didn’t notice I had a stain on the front of my shirt. Shouldn’t eat Taco Bell in the car. I feel like I tried too hard. Did I try too hard? I think I looked desperate. I was way too dressed up for this audition. That girl going in after me booked that Sony commercial instead of me. She’s really good. These shoes are dumb. Why did I wear these shoes? (Commence head banging on the steering wheel.)
Hear this actors, and believe it: You are your own worst nightmare after the audition is over. Really and truly.
Here’s a few tips for dealing with the audition…after it’s over.
1) Don’t apologize for your performance in the casting room. Don’t explain. Don’t excuse. You won’t procure sympathy (or, most likely, a callback) by telling the casting director your good pants were at the dry cleaner, you were stuck in traffic and your dog died…. Thank the casting director and know that if you’re right for the role, they’ll contact you sometime in the future.
2) Drop it at the door. When you get home, go online and look for other auditions you might be good for. Order a new play you’ve been wanting to read and perform it out loud. Throw yourself into a new acting challenge right away. Put your focus on getting stronger and honing your craft.
Don’t call the casting director. Don’t call your agent. Period. Resist the urge to call your agent to say “Did they cast it yet?” “Did we hear yet?” Your agent will contact you as soon as they know. And for the love, don’t contact the casting director. Are there exceptions to this rule? Sure, I guess. There are exceptions to every rule. If you have a big concern or problem pertaining to the audition, use your discretion. But if you ask me…don’t do it.
3) Learn From It. Whether your booked the role or you didn’t, there’s always something to be learned from each audition. So ask yourself “What Was It?” Maybe you discovered you need to brush up on your cold reading or Improv abilities. That kind of feedback is a gift. Now go do those things, and next time you’ll have a different experience.
That’s it for now, actors! As always, call us if you have questions about anything from agents and auditions to super-objectives and sub text. That’s what we’re here for.
