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20 Theatrical/Commercial Audition Points To Remember
By Info4Actors.com

1. Use Yahoo maps or at least get a Thomas Guide so you will not get lost or be late going to auditions.

2. If you don’t have a cell phone at least have a pager with voice mail so your agent can contact you immediately for same day, last minute auditions (trust me, you will get those “be there in 2 hours” calls).

3. Invest in a good audition appointment book to keep track of your auditions and the clothing you wore. It’s also great for recording the names of the casting agents and associates you will meet. A company called Holdon Log has great audition tracking tools.

4. Ladies, always wear light, natural makeup. No perfume or colognes (men as well). Some casting directors are allergic to them and specifically make this request in their breakdowns.

5. Dress for the audition according to your agents instructions. But for the most part, never wear complete costumes. Ex: The agent says dress like a cop, don’t wear the night stick, flashlight, handcuffs etc…This makes you look very green like an actor that does mostly extra work.

6. Always take a couple of extra headshots (with stapled resumes of course) with you in case they are needed. This happens at times on commercial auditions.

7. BE ON TIME! Arrive at the audition 20 to 30 minutes early in case there is copy to read, script changes or other adjustments to be made.

8. After you park your vehicle, be sure to examine closely all parking signs and instructions so you will not get a ticket. If it’s a meter, after you drop your coins, wait a few seconds. Sometimes the meter shows time after you drop your coins, then switches back to 00:00.

9. At commercial auditions on the sign-in sheets and size cards, they ask for your social security number. NEVER WRITE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON THESE FORMS. Identity theft is the #1 crime in Los Angeles County. If you are in the union, leave your SAG number on the sign-in sheet, if not leave it blank.

10. When auditioning for a commercial, the casting associate will usually take a Polaroid shot of you. Never ask for another Polaroid unless it is absolutely necessary (the shot is blurry or it did not develop). Most Polaroids are not very pretty and there isn’t a whole lot that can be done about it. It irritates casting when actors complain about how bad they look in their Polaroid and ask for another one.

11. Be cordial and friendly with other actors at your auditions. You may as well get to know them because you will be seeing those very same actors at other castings. You should strategically create an “acting community” around you and be a great team player in it. You’ll will need the support and encouragement of other actors as you journey.

12. Never use foul language or exhibit a poor attitude at castings (or anywhere else!). People judge you by your attitude first then the words that go with it.

13. Take all of your personal belonging in the audition room with you. Never leave purses or backpacks in the waiting area. If you leave your personal belongings in the waiting area, they may not be there when you return.

14. No gum chewing in the audition room. Remove it BEFORE you enter the room.

15. After you enter the room, place your personal belongings (purses, backpacks etc…) out of the view of the camera (in a corner or off to the side). It infuriates casting when your personal belongings show up on camera while performing in a scene.

16. Exhibit a healthy, friendly attitude towards the casting director, associates and or session director. This means smiles are involved. Your face is the “framework” of your personality. If you don’t smile when you meet people, they will make quick judgments about you and unfortunately they are usually negative. So be prepared to shine. It could mean more auditions with that casting director in the near future if they like you when you as soon as you enter the room.

17. Listen carefully to any and all instructions given. Casting Directors #1 complaint is that actors don’t listen. They hear, but they don’t listen! Ask questions if you have any. The Doctor says that based on the sessions he has run, actors will have questions before a scene but are afraid to ask. If you have questions ASK!

18. Have fun while auditioning. Actors seemed to have forgotten the reason they got into the business in the first place-TO HAVE FUN! They’ve made it stress filled and competitive. They tell themselves stories like, “I’ve just got to book this job or I wonder if I’m pretty enough??” This takes all the fun out of the game. Your job is to pursue the freedom of expressing yourself through the craft of acting. You will do just that if you get out of your head and into your hearts desire which is to have fun. Is it all really worth it if it’s not fun?

19. When you are finished with your audition, thank the casting/session director(s), grab your belongings and leave. Don’t start joking around with them or asking questions about callbacks and shoot dates. If there is any information necessary for you to know your agent has it. If you seem overbearing and unprofessional at the pre-read or first call, The Casting Director will think twice before calling you back to meet the producers and on the next audition(s) in the weeks to come.

20. If it’s the first time you’ve auditioned for that Casting Director, send him/her a thank you card. The Hallmark type with the matching envelope is best. Include a business card that shows you smiling.

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