How to Relax During an Acting Audition

Stay calm during an audition

Auditions can be terribly nerve-racking. It's exciting enough to get called in for a role that you're dying to play or a casting director that you've always wanted to meet but we all want to actually get the gig. Casting directors often say that nerves are evident in an audition room and no one wants an insecure actor. If you don't seem confident in the audition, the casting people will think that you won't be confident on set or on stage.

Things You'll Need

• Preparation time

Instructions

1. Be prepared for your audition. Casting directors will generally provide you or your representation with your audition material a day or two before your audition. Go over your lines until you feel comfortable with them. Research the production for which you are auditioning. If it's a television show, try to watch an episode beforehand. If it's a film, familiarize yourself with the writer or director's other work. If it's a theater audition, read a synopsis of the play.

2. Arrive to the audition early. Nothing will amp up your nerves like rushing to get to the audition. Don't put yourself in a bad situation. Leave plenty of time to find the audition location.

3. Warm up before your audition. Perform tongue twisters to loosen your facial muscles and sharpen your diction. Sing a song loudly in the car to exercise your voice. Dance around before you enter the building. Essentially, release any pent-up tension you're holding inside.

4. Avoid caffeine and excess sugar before your audition. Both can make you jittery and manifest as nerves.

5. Breathe deeply and slowly as you wait to be called. Slowing your breath can have a very calming effect on your entire being. If you feel nerves overtaking you, close your eyes and slow everything down.

6. Keep your audition sides with you at all times, even if you've memorized your lines. You may forget a line or two in the audition room and you don't want to disrupt the entire audition to ask for it. A professional actor will always hold her sides during an audition and simply refer to them if she finds it necessary.

7. Bring a water bottle with you to the audition. You may experience a dry mouth due to nerves.

8. View your audition as a fun time to act in front of people. Try not to think of the end result. You may book or not book the role for a variety of reasons, many of which are out of your control. Aim to just do good work and have fun.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel good about the preparation you've done. Self-confidence really reads to a room so walk in feeling good.

• Always greet everyone in the audition room warmly.

• If you don't receive the sides beforehand, arrive to the audition a bit earlier than you normally would to work on them before your audition time.

• Don't beat yourself up after an audition. It's hard to be objective of your own work. View every audition as a learning experience.