Audition Secrets - Sample extracts from the book

Prepare
A word of encouragement, A casting Agent in LA says, “All I have to do in the morning is shower and show up. The actor showers, rehearses, chooses wardrobe, rehearses some more, throws up, memorises in the car. Faces a room full of people vying for the same part and get five minutes of my time. There has to be respect for that. They have certainly earned mine.”
§ Know your lines (inside and out! Know your lines)
§ Know (or visualize) Who, What and Where (explanation below)
§ Know who you are auditioning with, what they are like, what they expect, what they have done. (do your homework)
§ Be on time! Organise yourself to (give time for traffic, public transport problems & getting lost, my personal favorite)
§ Re-read your CV so when the camera is on, you remember what you’ve done
§ Be ready with 10 things about yourself - 2 being funny
§ Five to 10 things about your acting abilities (studies, past projects or show, TVCs, perhaps an interesting thing
about one or each of your experiences

Research/Reflect
§ Use your Intuition and intelligence to figure out the audition scene or monologue
§ If you don’t understand the scene or character or even a word - research!! - Use the dictionary! At the audition
    “ASK”. You don’t need to be a mind-reader.
§ Reflect how the character would re-act

Enthusiasm
§ Do you want to be there? Uh Yes! Be happy. Be proud. Be confident……and you will be if you are prepared.
§ Show it! But don’t shake their hands to death and beg for the job!
§ If it’s camera, remember “less is more”, but energy within has to shine outside without flailing hands. Watch some
     brilliant actors who barely move, but whoa, the audience knows what is going on and feels it.

Professionalism
A word of caution - every casting agent I have ever met has said that the worst thing for them is when an actor comes in unprepared and unenthusiastic with no energy. It’s a waste of time for all - and a downer.
§ All the above
§ Have your photos, CV (show reel, if possible) at hand and in tiptop shape!
§ Be nice to the receptionist or person who greets you, but don’t overdo any schmoozing
§ Do your job and leave.
§ Leave your Personal “baggage” outside the door. (You can pick it up on the way out, but why? You’re an actor and
     have just had a fabulous experience auditioning.)

MESSAGES FROM THE FRONTLINE:

“Suzie, I sucked, I sucked so bad. Horrible…F…
I took my friend (I know you told me not to) but anyway, they let her read too and SHE GOT THE PART!!!!
Help me please I’m dying oh damn I sucked can you believe it! Shanna

Hey Suz,
The audition was great! (Name withheld) even winked at me as I left. Oh my God I’ve got to have this part I auditioned with (name withheld) and even though she kept forgetting her lines, she had her boobs
up against me Signed: Mr. X

Suz,
Did I get it? I’m dying here awwwwwwwwwk! Do you know how famous I’ll be. How soon will I get to kiss her….call me…. Mr.X
from above

SMS - help me get through the weekend,
You promise Monday morning? Mr. X Blah blah blah - how much will I earn I mean it’s the 4^th audition. Mr. X

Agent: phone call Do the other show Mr. X.

Mr. X Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwk!!! Bye this sucks.

Hey Suz,
We all were great! They loved us! We know we’ve got it in the bag so call as soon as you hear. Said we’d know today.
Ms A

Sample Extracts From The Book

MY FAVOURITE
“Actors search for rejection. If they don’t get it, they reject themselves"
Chevy Chase

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