Do Acting Auditions Freak You Out? Use These 6 Tips Now!

Landing an audition is a great accomplishment in itself, so make sure you are ready to rock it by some simple body language tips to both use at the audition and prepare with beforehand. 

Here are 6 quick tips to help you have a great acting audition:


Body Language 
Try practicing this with a friend first. Make sure that your legs are slightly apart. Have your hands apart, on your legs - but don't be stiff! The idea is to be open and relaxed. Having open body language during an audition is so important. It shoes that you are receptive to questions being asked and actively listening. When you practice your body language with a friend, take a note of what you are doing and would like to be doing with each part of your body. Without practicing this ahead of time, you leave it to chance and hope that your body language come across well at your audition. 

Relax, but not too relaxed 
You can come off as *too* relaxed. This is especially true if you’re asked to sit in a large sofa seat. If you sit too far back in the seat it can look like laziness or avoidance. However, if you sit forward, you appear more attentive and more interested. Some people relax because they’re not very interested. Other people relax because they have bad body language. Whatever your reasons, read the director and use your best judgment based on the situation and scene. 

Eye Contact 
Be sure to make good, strong eye contact. If you are unable to do this, the audition director may think you either have something to hide or you may not have confidence in your skills. If you have a hard time concentrating when looking straight into someone’s eyes, you can try looking in-between their eyes. They won’t be able to tell that you aren’t looking straight into their eyes, but you’ll find it easier to maintain focus. As suggested earlier, try it with a friend first and practice getting comfortable with it.  

Smile
You need to practice a strong, sincere, smile. A good smile has the power to say, “I’m a happy, confident person and I’d love to work here”. Try practicing smiling in a mirror. Practice a smile that puts people at ease. It’s just as much your responsibility to ensure that there is a relaxed atmosphere during the interview. 

Sleep well 
It’s all very well having fresh look at your acting audition, but if your eyes aren’t looking bright and alert then you may just be wasting your time and effort! Be sure to get a good night’s sleep before your acting audition. Remember – this is a very important day – you need to look your best without bags and able to prove the audition's importance to you.


Breathe 
Everyone gets nervous. But one of the best ways to be calm and relax before an acting audition is to breath slowly and deeply. Breathing deeply relaxes you by slowing your rapid, nervous heartbeat. Additionally, you're also ensuring that your brain has as much oxygen as possible. As a result, you’ll be able to think clearly and be able to respond to difficult questioning more rapidly, providing you with the effective combination of being relaxed and alert at the same time. 


Becoming a good actor takes time, so be patient with yourself.  If you are ready to take the next step and improve your skills with coaching and classes, get in touch with us at the Acting School for Film and Television in New York City.  We look forward to helping you succeed.