Top 10 Things to NEVER Do At An Audition

Top 10 Things to Never Do at An Audition

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Things to Never Do At An Audition.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the exciting and nerve-racking audition process and the things that you should avoid doing to give yourself the best chances of getting the part.

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#10: Don’t Look (Too) Different From Your Headshot

This one is actually good advice for auditions AND for online dating. Unless it’s a completely open audition, the casting director has seen your headshot and called you in to audition with the assumption that that is what you look like. But if you show up looking completely different, you could very well just be wasting your time - and theirs. And it doesn’t have to be just huge physical changes. Turning your headshot into a multi-filtered glamor shot will also frustrate casting directors. Of course, if you booked a recent role in which significant changes were required, then be sure to bring that up since casting directors like to know you’ve been successful getting acting gigs!

#9: Don’t Act like a Major Star Before You Are One

Yes, confidence is good and you should believe you’re good enough to get the part - otherwise, why are you doing this? However, walking in with an “I’m the man! (or woman or person) attitude isn’t always a good look and is sure to turn some people off. Maybe one day, to paraphrase Counting Crows, you will be a big star and you will see yourself on TV staring right back at yourself. But until you are, a little humility doesn’t hurt. Because the truth is, if you were a big star, you probably wouldn’t have to audition anyway.

#8: Don’t Be Too Excited

It might sound a bit cliched, but it’s best to be cool and collected when entering an audition. Of course, you’ll be nervous and excited, but ideally you will want to calm that excitement to the point where it doesn’t hinder your performance in the room. Channel those feelings into some positive energy that will get you into character. And the same goes for your levels of aggressiveness and/or overconfidence, as well. Maybe in other parts of your life, you’re the “alpha,” but trying to dominate and “alpha” the folks in charge of the casting is probably not going to get you the part.

#7: Don’t Get Intimidated by the Others There to Audition

While sitting in the waiting room with all the other actors, you could ruin your audition before you even get into the room to read your lines with all the thoughts going through your head. It’s easy to get intimidated by other peoples’ looks or talents. The truth is that most of them are likely feeling the exact same way while looking at you. We’ve all seen the person on some singing competition who walks out on stage and looks like they can sing, talks like they’re a great singer and then, they start to sing and well… So, instead of focusing on others and potentially bringing yourself down, just focus on yourself and do the best you can do, because that’s all you can do!

#6: Don’t Show Up Without Knowing the Lines

Few things will offend a casting director more than an actor who shows up unprepared. That doesn’t mean you have to be completely off-book though. Sometimes, very busy casting agencies won’t have time to send out the sides several days beforehand, meaning that actors may have minimal preparation time with pages and pages of a script. However, you should have at least tried your best at being as familiar with your lines as possible. Unless your audition is a cold read, keeping your eyes on your lines the whole time tells people that you didn’t care enough to prepare. It’s also an easy leg up on all the other folks who didn’t take the time.

#5: Don’t Perform Directly for Any One Person

We’re often told to always look people in the eye. It shows respect, it can make a person more memorable and can even lead to a deeper attraction from the person opposite you. However, in the context of an audition, staring right at the casting director, or anyone else at the table, can cause awkwardness, which is obviously something you want to avoid. You also shouldn’t be looking directly into the camera either, unless you’re directed to. That being said, keep your eyes focused, and don’t look all over the place either. Keep your eye lines to a minimum, and appropriate for the scene that you’re auditioning with.

#4: Don’t Ignore Directing Notes

If you’re in an audition and someone gives you a note about your performance, you need to take that note and act on it. On a set, the director is the boss and you have to be able to take direction, so if you can’t - or refuse to - do it in the audition, how likely do you think you are to get the part? It may not always be easy to incorporate a note on-the-fly. But that’s why you gotta rehearse-rehearse-rehearse beforehand with many different takes and choices. Also, if you’re asked to improvise a scene in your audition, don’t panic and say you can’t. Thinking on your feet is an important skill for an actor. Just commit to a choice and see where it goes.

#3: Don’t Try For Things Beyond Your Ability

As any actor will tell you, the job comes with a lot of rejection. You want to put yourself in the best position to succeed, which means trying out for roles that match your ability as a performer. In that same context, it also means not stretching the truth so much on your CV that you’re asked to do something you actually can’t do. At best, this could lead to another “no,” while at worst, you may set yourself up for an embarrassing audition. If you have an agent, make sure to talk to them about what roles they think you’re best suited for - and be sure to practice your skills at home and by taking classes in order to expand your repertoire!

#2: Don’t Let a Mistake Ruin Your Mojo

Nobody’s perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. While some mistakes can be very costly, a mistake during an audition probably doesn’t fall into that category. In fact, the most important part of making a mistake in your audition is how you handle it. Do you let it destroy your mojo? Or do you move past it and continue rocking your audition like a pro? Obviously, you want to do the latter, not only for yourself, but for the casting folks watching you. Showing them that you can make a mistake without falling apart will surely impress. And if you think you can do better, an apology and a polite request to take it again may sometimes grant you a second chance in the casting room!

#1: Don’t Be Late

Whether you’re going to an audition or tasked with announcing the Queen of Hearts, it’s never good to be late! Being late tells the casting director you aren’t serious about the audition. And remember, they’re seeing lots of other people, so if you can’t be bothered to show up on time they’ll happily move on to the next person who did. With that being said, you also shouldn’t arrive too early.. Arriving too early gives you time to sit around and overthink everything. Also, showing too much eagerness might not look too good to a casting director either, since being over excited or too eager can make some people uncomfortable. Just be on time and be courteous to everyone involved.