By Aislinn Ní Uallacháin
www.castingireland.ie
1. We want you to get the part!
If you’re invited to audition for a project, the casting team on the other side of the table are rooting for you. They’re hoping you’ll get it. Getting asked into the room in the first place is a wonderful thing. Believe me – whoever is running the casting session wants to show the client they’ve done an excellent job of assembling the best options. They’re not there to judge talent all day for the sake of it. Somebody will get the job and they want it to be you!
2. Be Prepared.
Depending on the job, production may provide you with a section of the script (known as a side) ahead of the audition. If you have that luxury, brilliant! Become as familiar with the script as possible. When you think about it, there’s not a lot you can control in an audition scenario. When I was acting, I knew the only thing I could control was my level of preparation. It’s challenging when you’re given a script at short notice, but it’s very much part of the job. Embrace having an opportunity to perform in front of a captive audience and remember to enjoy it!
3. Don’t Make Excuses.
You’d be surprised at the amount of actors who come into the room and the first thing they say is, ‘I’m sorry I haven’t had much time to prepare’, ‘ I didn’t get any sleep last night’, or ‘I only just got the script now’. Just relax and try not to begin on a negative note. You can only do your best, so go ahead with your audition and let the team make up their own minds. Don’t set yourself up for a fall! Take a deep breath and believe in your abilities.
4. Be Adaptable.
Sometimes, it would throw me off when I did an audition and the team would ask me to do it again in a different way. It seems so blatantly obvious now but as a youngster starting out, I took this to mean that they didn’t like my performance or didn’t think I did it ‘right’. Don’t let this phase you! The casting team will more often than not ask you to try it a different way, mostly to see if you can take direction and are happy to experiment. They want to see how you think on your feet and how you collaborate to arrive at a great take!
5. Be Willing to Play.
If there’s nothing to prepare in advance of the session, the casting director may ask you to act out a scenario on the spot. Some actors love this, others don’t like it at all. All you can do is try your best to loosen up and listen carefully. That way, you can absorb and then present what the team are asking you to do. Don’t be afraid look silly and be willing to play around. They might ask you to do this because they’re not quite sure what they’re looking for yet – so it could be you. Lean into using your imagination!
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If you’re in need of Cast for your next Production, get in touch. We’d love to help. Simply email info@castingireland.ie or call us on (01) 634 3112.
