Educational Theatre of New York

Auditioning is a crucial part of becoming a successful actor in New York. Before you an get cast in a play, film or commercial, you will need to pass the auditions first. There are many ways to look for casting calls and acting auditions in the city of New York. You can subscribe to magazines and websites, sign up for internship in film studios or hire an acting agent to get you interviews with casting directors. Once you have successfully found an audition, it’s time to focus on the important part, which is acing the audition and landing the part you want. Here are some auditioning tips to help you make sure that your audition becomes a success.

Dress appropriately for your audition

One of the most common questions that aspiring actors ask themselves before going to an acting audition is what kind of clothing they should wear. Generally, it’s best to consider the part that you are auditioning for and use this as your guideline. For instance, if you are auditioning for the part of a businesswoman, then you might want to wear a skirt suit or a formal top with a pair of slacks. If the casting call doesn’t specify the role then it’s best to wear your everyday street clothes. However, stay away from anything too trendy.

It’s also a good idea to keep your outfit as simple as possible. Just because you are auditioning for the part of a woman from the 18^th century doesn’t mean you should come into audition in a corset and holding a parasol. Keep in mind that casting directors will primarily be judging your acting skills, not how well you can pull off a costume.

Don’t be afraid of cold reads

A cold read is basically a situation where you will be handed a script or a monologue on the spot and be asked to peform it. A lot of actors are quite afraid of this type of reading. Since they haven’t read the piece before, they obviously won’t have time to prepare. If you already know what you will be reading in advance then it’s helpful to look up the piece in advance so you can practice. However, if you were not informed of what you will be reading then don’t worry! A cold read can also have its advantages. Performing a piece for the first time allows you to become spontaneous instead of being overly prepared.

Be professional

Being professional is just as important as your acting skills when it comes to auditions. It’s important that you behave as professionally as possible.To start with, make sure that you arrive at the audition on time. Time is money in the film industry. Well-established actors who are perpetually late are frowned upon, so imagine how casting directors would feel when an aspiring actor can’t make it on time during an audition. Make sure you practice courtesy as well. If you don’t get a callback after the audition, don’t call and harangue the casting directors. Instead, thank them for the opportunity. You might be surprised how a little courtesy can go a long way.