Educational Theatre of New York

Going to your first acting audition can be a very daunting experience for many actors. Acting in front of your bathroom mirror is one thing, but performing your lines with a room full of professionals is quite another. If you have recently moved to New York with a dream of becoming a successful actor then expect acting auditions to become a regular part of your life. A lot of aspiring actors have botched up their first auditions because they simply did not know what to expect. Being prepared does not necessarily mean that you won’t get nervous during your first New York audition, but it will certainly give you a certain calm since you can focus on your acting skills. Here are some of the things that you should expect in a New York acting audition:

You will be watched by a handful of strangers

It would have been easier if you can perform your lines in front of one or two casting directors, but in most cases, you will probably have to audition amidst a roomful of people. Aside from the casting directors, there will probably be a camera man recording the audition. There might also be a producer or director in the audience. The casting director would probably have brought along a bored relative or friend as well. No matter who is in the audience, make sure that you treat everyone with courtesy. That shabby looking guy in the back row who looks like the janitor might easily be the director of the film.

Make the casting director’s job easier

You are probably feeling fresh and excited by the time you enter the audition room. However, since the casting directors would have probably seen hundreds of people by that time, they are most likely no longer in a good mood. Obviously, it will be in your best interest if you don’t do anything to make the casting directors even more tired and irritable than they already are. You can do this by forgetting to bring some of the requirements, talking too much, not reading the audition notice carefully, etc.

You might be asked to do a cold reading

Some actors go into an audition, feeling confident after having mastered their monologue, only to find out that are supposed to do a cold reading. Cold reading is when you get asked by the casting director to read from a new script on the spot. When this happens, all the confidence of the actor goes out the window and he starts to panic. Do not let this happen to you. During cold readings, the casting director will probably give you all the instructions you need. You can also feel free to take a minute or two to mentally prepare. Keep in mind that you don’t have to memorize the lines, you just have to perform them well.

Keep these things in mind before going to your first New York acting audition