The glitz, the glamour. The costumes, the sets, the lights. The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd.
What do you think of when you think of being an actor?
Would it surprise you to learn that the job of an actor is much less glamorous, and much more workaday than is portrayed in movies, or even at the Tony Awards?
Actor Joe Mantegna once said, “I think of acting as a blue-collar profession.” According to that description, the job of an actor is closer to a construction worker than an office worker. It makes sense when you think of actors using their minds, voices and bodies to create something, rather than sitting in a cubicle, in a conference room, or at a computer.
Acting is both a mental and physical challenge, and there is no substitute for good, old-fashioned hard work when building and maintaining a career in theatre or the media arts.
So, what is the primary job of the actor? Believe it or not, performing in a play, musical, or in the media is the easy part. The real work of the actor is AUDITIONING.
Why? Because that’s where you earn the roles that end up paying your bills. If you can learn to become an expert in the job of auditioning, you increase your chances of a sustainable career in the arts.
So, how do you develop audition expertise? Here’s just a few suggestions to get you focused.
First, get to understand the audition process by – you guessed it – auditioning! Even if you feel like you don’t have a strong chance of getting in, take the opportunity to experience as many auditions as you can, especially early in your career, and try to improve with each one. There’s no teacher like experience, so go get some reps in. If you’re still in school, audition for every role you can, and don’t be afraid of going for those character roles that push you out of your comfort zone. The older you get, the more “age-appropriate” your casting is likely to be, so take advantage now of auditioning for as many different TYPES as you can
Second, always be preparing for your next audition by continually improving yourself. Work on your acting, singing, and dancing skills by taking classes, private lessons, and audition workshops. To use a sports metaphor, if performing in a production is like being in the big game, then classes and workshops are like the weight room, where you strengthen yourself in preparation, and auditions are where you let the scouts determine if you’re ready and right for the team. If you can’t afford to pay for lessons, that’s OK. YouTube and your local library are great resources for videos and books that can help you learn and effectively prepare for auditions. Also, learn how to put together a professional-looking resume. It can help you stand out. However, if you’re still growing, I don’t recommend getting expensive, professional headshots unless you are already working professionally. Chances are you know someone who has a good camera and knows how to take a decent headshot for not very much money.
Third, do your homework. Find out specifically what will be required of you in the upcoming audition. Don’t just do the same song or monologue you did for your last audition. Read the play to learn about the story and characters. Choose audition material that highlights your strengths, as well as helps the director see you as a viable option for the available roles in this specific production. If you’ve spent the time researching the play and its characters, and working on presenting yourself in the best possible light, then any cold readings they throw at you won’t feel quite so chilly.
So, if you’re deciding where to put your effort when it comes to your acting career, make sure to spend the time and effort to learn how to audition effectively with these steps:
- Put yourself out there and AUDITION while LEARNING about the process
- GET TRAINING and CONTINUALLY IMPROVE your performance skills
- DO YOUR HOMEWORK to prepare specifically for any upcoming auditions
It will pay off in the long run.
What’s a tip you could share that has helped you prepare for auditions? Let me know in the comments!