What goes through your head when you’re preparing for an audition?

Do you hesitate a lot?         Never – rarely – sometimes – usually - always

Do you get confused?                Never – rarely – sometimes – usually - always

Do you question everything?  Never – rarely – sometimes – usually - always

Do you get lost in thought?     Never – rarely – sometimes – usually - always

HOLD ON! This is not a psychology test!

Breathe.

We’re just checking if your inner actor is as confident as the one you aspire to be.

We can’t do anything about the butterflies in your stomach before an audition, but we can definitely set you on a path that’ll keep your feet on the ground.

Have no fear, Mixfame is here!

Go through these tips to prepare for an audition, a role, or a casting video.

If you’re looking to kill it at the next audition (figuratively speaking), you might want to consider these do’s & don’ts as part of talent etiquette. It is the professionalism expected in the industry.

1-      Respond to all audition calls. Don’t waste a minute or a day thinking it over. The entertainment industry has always been in the fast lane, and nowadays, it is drastically changing and rushing. Casting directors make audition choices by the minute. Don’t miss your chance and reply immediately to all the agency communication. Keep an eye on www.mixfame.com and don’t miss out on the casting calls we post regularly!

2-     Prepare for the audition script or role beforehand. Even if it’s an improv, you need to be prepared. That’s the irony of life. Make sure you let your natural talent show while auditioning. Don’t copy-paste someone else’s performance. To find out more about the history or content of the performance, do some research on the play or production. You'll be able to get into the role and perform well at the audition by becoming familiar with all of the players or parts and the play's tone and style. You could also research the director to understand the expectations. If it’s a specific role, be extensive with your research. Understand the character traits and read about similar roles in other productions.

3-      Be friendly, charming, and professional. That’s not easy to balance but it might be good to be self-conscious about this. Greet everyone properly, with or without a handshake depending on how you read the person. Make sure you know and repeat the name of the director or casting director. Flashing a natural smile (not the joker one) is very helpful to make you feel at ease. Don’t cringe it!

4-      Be on time! Even if punctuality isn’t your best asset, make sure you get to the audition around 20 min before it starts. You never know what might happen and you don’t need more stressors than usual. This will give you time to sign in, fine-tune any last details, and avoid sweating by rushing there. If they’re giving numbers or calling names, you’ll make sure to be there and not miss your chance.

5-      Go easy on the makeup, perfume, and dress code. You want to look and smell good, but not too overwhelming. During the audition, they want to focus on your natural talent rather than on distracting elements such as heavy makeup or overwhelming perfume. As for your outfit, you could choose to dress for the role, or just be in something comfortable. You don’t need anything that would add pressure to your day or make you self-conscious about how you look. What directors are looking for is not your attire but your talent.

6-      Memorize texts, songs, or music and rehearse them. Ensure you understand what you’re supposed to show or perform in your audition. Check and ask if there is a specific script or some lines to prepare before coming to the audition. If it’s a tricky text, work hard to perfect it. If it’s a monologue, choose something that is not frequently performed to stand out from the crowd. Also, ask some close friends to practice in front of them, or just do it in front of the mirror. It’s the oldest trick in the book when it comes to feeling and being prepared. In certain cases, you might be asked to read a part that was not assigned to you. Don’t freak out. Practice some sight-reading, or what is also called “cold-reading”.

7-      Get into character. That would mean changing accent, tone, or even clothing. Don’t bring a full dresser with you to the audition, unless the rules specify it. However, do what is needed to get to feel the character and be it to the fullest.  Also, body language is something to be attentive to. If it’s not specified, be creative with how you see the character moving or reacting.

8-      While waiting for a decision, just be patient. The directors' work schedules are always a mystery. You might get a call back right away, or it might be days, weeks, or even years (ok, let’s hope not that long.) Keep calm and wait before you get an answer. And if it’s not to your liking, consider every audition as exposure and experience. Starting from the bottom up and going step by step might seem a long and tedious journey, but that’s the way to success in the entertainment industry. Don’t compare yourself to others. Your time will come to be appreciated for your talents. Meanwhile, keep nurturing them and growing your potential. With maturity comes clarity.

9-      Make sure you get enough sleep, are well hydrated, and you’ve eaten a decent meal. Don’t roll your eyes when you read this. As basic as it may sound, this is actually a turning point in how you feel during audition day. If you’re well rested, hydrated, and fed, your body won’t distract you with a growling stomach, a headache, or puffy and sleepy eyes. Be careful not to be overzealous and go for something spicy or “not-stomach-friendly”. This will only make the jitters worse.

10-   Have your own voice. Nothing can ever go smoothly with everyone. You might encounter a situation in which you feel you need to raise an issue or stand up for yourself. You have every right to do so. However, be very conscious of when, where, and with whom. Find out who the person in charge is, be polite when addressing them, and be certain that the issue you’re raising is of value. We cannot guarantee the proper and fit response being given to your concern, but this will go a long way with how you handle yourself during or after auditions. It reflects your personality and shows your singular character, not as a troublemaker but as an advocate of fairness and righteousness.

We have promised to share 10 tips to get you ready for the audition. But we’re feeling generous. Some auditions don’t require in-person presence but a general video casting submission. So, what to do then?

We promise we’ll be quick yet efficient.

Here’s what you could do to ensure your general casting video makes an impact. Casting directors anticipate seeing your greatest work on self-tapes because they may be made on your own schedule and repeated as much as necessary.

1.       Shoot Horizontally.

If the casting director doesn't specify otherwise, always hold your video camera horizontally rather than vertically for a nice self-tape, whether you're using a DSLR, mobile phone, or another high-quality device.

2.       Stay in Frame.

The casting director will be able to view your expressions just like an audience member by framing the image as a close-up to catch the top third of your body. Similar to a standard headshot, adjust the camera so that your face is in the middle of the picture.

3. Keep Your Background Clear.

Use a plain gray or white background for your self-tape to get rid of any distracting background elements that can make it difficult for the casting director to concentrate on your performance.

4. Pay Attention to Your Environment.

Reduce background noise in the area where you're self-taping to get the best sound quality. Any windows should be closed to keep outside noise from entering the room.

5. Know Your Lines.

Review the script and know your lines to be ready to tape with your reader. Unless specifically requested by the casting call, you should strive to have the lines memorized. Do not forget that if you fumble a line, you can always record another take on a self-tape.

6. Dress for Success.

Select attire that enhances your figure while allowing your skin tone and hair to stand out against your background. A white top might not be the ideal option if you are especially fair and taping against a white wall, for instance. Generally speaking, plain colors work best while shirts with logos, designs, or loud patterns might be distracting.

7. Choose Your Co-Reader Wisely.

The other characters' lines in the script will need to be read out by a reader who must be present. Give them any pertinent background information about their character.

8. Remember the Medium.

Keep in mind that acting in theater is different from acting in film and television. For instance, stage players need to project to be heard from the very back of the theater. However, the camera may be only a few feet away from the actor in cinema and television.

9. Submit a Single Video.

Make careful edits to all of your footage together once you're satisfied with your takes. Unless specifically instructed otherwise, you must merge your slate and all scenes so that the clips play consecutively in a single, seamless video. We advise you to upload this casting video to your online profile. Many casting directors check and search profiles by the minute for hidden talents outside of auditions. This could be your chance to catch their eye!

10. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Self-taping requires a specific talent. Getting your frame set up can be difficult on its own, especially if you are recording alone or in a small space. Practice your audition setup and make any required adjustments to the lighting, background, and equipment.

We could go on and on about what to do and how to prepare for an audition. Plenty might be left unsaid, but we don’t want to sound like a broken record. Head to www.mixfame.com and get ready to start a career in the entertainment industry. We’ve promised to have you back, and we’ll be there for you every step of the way!