How To Ace An Audition: ‘Throw Yourself Into It And Be Brave’

If you’re an aspiring actor with dreams of performing on a professional level, enrolling in a course at a performing arts school can be a great way to get there. However, taking this route does come with a lot of financial stakes. The cost of auditions alone can be expensive, with most schools requiring fees ranging from £35 to £85 just for submitting an application. Not to mention, there are also travel and accommodation expenses to consider. Therefore, it’s essential to give it your best shot and ace your auditions.

To help you prepare adequately, we asked students who have successfully auditioned for their top tips on getting noticed on the big day. Jak Malone, 24, studying acting at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, shares how he learned to avoid certain mistakes. Looking back, he admits he wasn’t ready for his first auditions, as he tried too hard to be posh in his Shakespeare monologue. However, he later learned that the audition panel wants to hear the real you, so don’t try to present yourself as someone else.

Malone also advises sharing your monologue choices with others and not letting pride get in the way of accepting help. Moreover, it’s essential to keep your nerves in check on the day of your audition. Focus on your personal thoughts, work on your pieces, and take some time for yourself when needed. Michaela Blackburn, 20, studying acting at the London College of Music, acknowledges that nerves can significantly impact your performance, but you can overcome them by preparing well.

Blackburn believes that the best way to combat nerves is to find what works for you, such as consuming pineapple before an audition to clear your throat. Lastly, Ellie Ruiz, 19, studying musical theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, learned the hard way that picking monologues requires careful consideration. Rather than relying on Google’s search results, which can be random, it’s best to select a playwright you like and explore the various plays they’ve written.

Ruiz shares that you should not worry about forgetting your lines, as it can happen to anyone. In fact, she believes that the panel might be impressed if you can recover from it, so don’t let it derail your audition. Overall, these tips from successful auditionees can help prepare you for your big day and ensure that you give it your best shot.

During an audition, it’s possible that the panel may give you a rather absurd instruction to see if you’re capable of following it. For example, you may be asked to perform a monologue while embodying a specific color, such as red, or while acting like an animal, like a bear.

This kind of unusual direction can be bewildering for first-time auditioners, and may lead them to play it safe by simply making slight adjustments to their performance so they won’t feel too exposed. However, if you want to make a lasting impression, you need to be willing to stand out from the crowd.

When starting out, you might also think that wearing certain clothing to an audition can help you get noticed. However, this may not always be effective, and can even work against you. For instance, I once wore an embarrassing Hawaiian shirt to an audition, thinking it would make me appear youthful and laid-back. In retrospect, it was probably a mistake.

Mosson, on the other hand, suggests that you take even seemingly nonsensical directions as an opportunity to demonstrate your versatility and courage. By throwing yourself into the performance and showing that you’re game for anything, you can impress the panel and secure their attention. And don’t worry too much about your attire; wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.

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