Audition Advice for Actors

Hello actors!

It has been so nice seeing all of you this audition season. So, a bit about my audition season: I sat in on all three days of the Philadelphia General Auditions; EPA, non-union, and college.

Right around this time, I had auditions and callbacks for the ReVamp Collective show, as well as auditions and callbacks for a Fringe show, Vs. Series in which I am directing a piece. But, enough about me, let's talk about you: the actor…the auditioner. 

Side Note: I will say that I am not a huge fan of the traditional audition process. It is stressful for all involved. The directors and casting director are hoping to find the people they need, and the actors are hoping to land a job. I get it actors, I’ve been where you are, I have been on both sides of the table. Auditions are the worst and the best. You have two minutes to show someone your talent, creativity, and who you are as a person. This is a difficult feat that few accomplish really well. Then, there is a barrage of advice that you receive. And guess what, I am going to give you my thoughts, comments, and advice after sitting through auditions and talking to colleagues about auditions.

Okay, so let’s start with the "business of being an actor" section. A level of professionalism and courtesy will take you a long way. Please know WE ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER! Everyone talks and you don’t know who knows who. Even a small lower budget company have artists who know and are friends with artists at larger, bigger budget theatre companies.

1. NEVER 'no show, no call' to an audition, especially a specific show audition

• We all understand that life happens: traffic, family issues, personal issues. Call or email, even the next day. Seriously lie to me. I’d rather hear from you then be ghosted. Cause when you ghost me I infer that you are unreliable, unprofessional, and I’m going to ghost you. Also, don’t waste my time.

2. Your headshot needs to look like you

• While we all want to look fabulous, your headshot is not the place to go glam.
• It is also important that you look your age in your headshot.
• Stay away from distracting backgrounds and women, please don’t wear jewelry. These are all things that draw my eyes away from you. You want to be memorable.

3. Format your resume

• When your spacing is off, it makes your resume hard to read. Make sure you put your most prominent credits at the top of your resume. If you are auditioning for theatre put your theatre credits at the top.
• Also, pick and choose which credits you include. If you have a plethora of credits, good for you because that means you are working. At the same time, you do not want your resume to be over-crowded.

4. Make sure I can hear you - especially your name

• This is especially true if you are a standby. I don’t have your resume in front of me, and I don’t have your name, and I don’t hear your name, I just stop caring.

Alright, let’s move onto the artistic side of your audition: songs and monologues.

• Specifically, for the General Philadelphia Annual Auditions, I suggest that you do a song and a monologue, unless you really only want to perform in musicals. I need to see if you can act, not just act a song. While I can only speak for myself, I know other auditors shut down when they hear two songs.
• Most companies in Philadelphia are casting straight plays and a good majority are producing classical works. We want to hear you handle heightened language.
• While we are talking about what not to do, PLEASE stop using monologues from An Ideal Husband, I Hate Hamlet, All's Well That Ends Well. No matter how well you perform these monologues these are three that I saw multiple times over the course of auditions.
• Your monologue in a cattle call/general audition is the only way I get to know you. Pick material that speaks to you and is representative of who you are. Don’t pick pieces because you “think” it’s funny.
• NEVER EVER get monologues from monologue books. The pieces are dated, usually a dream, flashback or a past tense story. I want to see you be active in your piece. It takes a little more work, but find sections of dialogue and combine them to make a monologue. An acting teacher told me to read as many plays as possible and make a list of playwrights that speak to me.
• Find monologues that say what you want to say. I saw so many neurotic and love sick women, and men being derogatory to women in their monologues. While this is the work that is out there, know your audience.
• Find monologues that are age appropriate. If you look like you are in your twenties, a piece about being married for 10 years is probably not going to play well for you.

With all that said my final parting words of advice are; show me who you are, be dynamic, be fierce, and be prepared.

- Carly Bodnar