Where you’re going wrong with auditions

There are so many actors whose careers never take off because they never master the art of auditions. I know from personal experience because I spent a long time avoiding them, this led me to miss out on years of work. I felt like time was slipping by so quickly that my career was never going to take off all because auditions gave me nightmares. You may not be scared of auditions the way I was, but there’s obviously a trick you’re missing somewhere because you’re not landing the roles. Let’s take a look at where you’re going wrong with auditions.

 

Auditions are no longer about having 5 monologues up your sleeve and pulling out the most suitable on the day, there is much more creativity involved. Taking a good look at what you’re doing in auditions and seeing every no as feedback, rather than a personal attack on your looks or your talent is a much more pragmatic way to look at where you’re going wrong with auditions.

 

I used to take the nos personally and think a no meant I wasn’t good enough or pretty enough to land the roles. This subjective way of thinking led to a lot of heartache and wasn’t a realistic approach to tweak my audition technique, because even if I got great feedback I’d still end up sabotaging myself with my limiting beliefs (mind monkey’s).

 

As you may know, you should take the same creative process for auditions, as you would should you book the job. But, you should also then forget the preparation when in the room and work moment to moment. Auditions, the same as a shoot or a play are fine balance of prep and flexibility.

 

There are two things that ruin auditions:

1. Lack of preparation
2. Mindset

 

From my own experience of not booking the jobs, preparation was never an issue but mindset was. It may be the opposite way round for you, so we will delve into both.

Where you’re going wrong with auditions

Lack of preparation

This can be anything from not reading the script enough (or properly), to leaving line learning to the last minute, not script analysing, not fully grasping the mindset and behaviour of the role and much more.

 

If you know you don’t prepare as well as you should it’s highly likely this is where you’re going wrong with auditions and it’s time you became more disciplined. Lack of preparation is obvious to see and doesn’t give a good impression. Although you may care very much about getting the role it doesn’t come across that way.

 

If, on the other hand you’re not sure how to prepare for auditions take a look at this blog The art of auditions or make the decision to get help the next time you’re booked in for a casting.

 

Mindset

Both positive and negative thoughts can block you booking the role. Negative thoughts can range from the ones I had; “I’m not pretty enough/good enough to get the role” or it could be something else such as “I’m going to mess up”, “my nerves are going to take over”, “I’ll forget my lines” or “I’ll not get the role anyway”. The positive thoughts that can stop you landing the role are the ones that are peppered with arrogance “I’ve got this role in the bag”, “I shouldn’t have to audition with my CV”, “I know the casting director and she/he loves my work”.

 

Whichever way you look at these examples (and I’m sure you can think of more), they make you sell yourself short.

 

Mindset is one of the biggest reasons actors don’t book the work. Everything starts from a thought, so if you’re saying to yourself that you’re going to mess up, then you will. Your mind is the most powerful thing you own and the body responds to the thoughts that are created in it.

 

If you know your mindset is standing in the way of your career, it’s time you take a look at why you have these thoughts in the first place and the impact they’re having on your acting career. When you have done this get into the habit of challenging these thoughts and replacing them with more effective thoughts that will allow you to be creative and present your craft to the casting director, rather than your monkey mind.

 

Has this clarified anything for you? Did you find this blog useful?

Let me know in the comments box below, or share with your acting friends, it could be just the thing they need!

 

Here’s to your success!

Don’t give up, just keep learning.

 

 

 

 

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