How to Audition for a Soap Opera

So you want to be a soap opera star? There is something special and alluring about the beauty and drama of daytime television. The daytime Emmy Award special may always make your heart melt with the glamour and awards bestowed upon your favorite television stars. Perhaps you want to use a soap opera as a connecting train to higher stardom. Many famous actors started out on soap operas. Meg Ryan, John Stamos and Tom Selleck all have a soap opera to thank for giving them a leg up in show business. Here is how you can audition for that perfect soap opera role.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Send in your head shot to the casting director for the soap opera of your choice. Make sure to attach a resume to the back that is the perfect fit. It should be stapled neatly, and it should be looked over for perfection. A sloppy head shot is not a good sign for one receiving hundreds per day. If possible, have an agent or entertainment lawyer submit your photograph for you.

2. Send another head shot as early as one month after you sent the first one. A healthy but considerate follow up is considered appropriate in this business. Try a new approach if the old one didn't work. Switch around closed or open head shot envelopes. Alternate from what was used previously.

3. Attend casting meetings in your local area if you live near a major market. This will give you the opportunity to meet the casting directors in person and let them discover the potential in you by sight instead of by head shot.

4. Read your lines until you have them memorized once given a script for the audition. You don't want to be thinking about lines when you are in the middle of the audition. The lines should be secondary because you have studied them so well. Spend an entire day focused on committing those lines to absolute memory. Now, toss the sides aside.

5. Work on your character. Start working on the character as soon as you receive the sides. If there are previous incarnations of that character on television, watch some to get her history. Pay special attention to avoid studying the previous actor's mannerisms or interpretations of the character. You don't want it to interfere with your own interpretation.

6. Arrive at the audition at least 15 minutes early. This shows you are prompt, and it indicates that you respect the time of all involved. If they have finished with auditions of others early, they can take you in. You'll be helping them get ahead of the game, and that will be appreciated.

7. Say your lines without looking at the script. Don't look at the script when auditioning. If they say it is an audition on the book, you can keep the script with you. It would be rude to toss it aside. However, the cameras will be rolling on your audition. You want to pop out on camera. You won't pop out if you keep looking at your lines. Keep your eyes open and full of emotion.

8. Bring true emotion to the script. Go deep. Go much deeper than you think is expected. Reveal the truth of the character. You will be remembered if you think of this role as an important feature film role. Give it 100 percent of your effort and your talent.

Tips & Warnings

• Enjoy the audition as much as possible. Keep in mind that this is an opportunity to perform, and they want you to succeed. They want you to be perfect for the part, and you truly are. Keep this in mind.

• Don't be late for your soap opera audition. You only get one chance to make that first impression at an audition.