What is the source of the pressure of an audition? How can it be that this necessary action can be such a daunting experience? Is there any way to effectively deal with the stress of it and put your best creativity forward?
Most “pressure” an actor feels in an audition comes directly from the actor not from those who are “judging.” The truth is those who are watching your audition are on your side. They want you to do well. They want to hire you because they don’t want to have to keep looking for someone to play the role. Those who hire actors (directors/producers) have many tasks to complete and the sooner they complete the task of hiring an actor for the role, the more time they will have to complete their other tasks.
The idea that you have to nail an audition perfectly in order to get the role is not only false, it creates an unnecessary, self-imposed pressure on the actor. It astounds me to discover that most actors think they must give a final performance in an audition on material they have had only a few hours to wok with or less. This amount of pressure is completely unwarranted.
If one truly looks at the film making process and how movies are made, it is simple to see that requiring a final performance at an audition is a complete falsehood. Not only is it not necessary, it is quite detrimental to the actor’s skill and talent. The added stress of trying to put on some slick delivery of a couple of scenes stifles the actor’s true talent of connecting to the material instinctually and bringing life to the character in the audition room. When I audition actors, I am looking for that essence of who they are and their level of professionalism. Not for slickness. (Professionalism is being prepared and caring and so many other things which are not the subject of this blog and is covered in another blog I will do in the near future.)
Another way to properly think about auditions is this; Your chances of getting that specific role you are reading for are quite low. This is just the truth. The odds are not in your favour. Sure you want the role, otherwise you wouldn’t even bother going to the audition. But getting that specific role shouldn’t be your primary concern. The primary concern is you are going to an audition to demonstrate your product (skill and ability as a professional actor) and meet those people who are in the business of hiring the services of actors. So, really, first and foremost, you are there to either establish or maintain a business relationship with someone who may or may not need your services now or in the near or even distant future. Mark Ruffalo has told the world that he went to 600 auditions before he got a role. During that time he must have met many directors and producers and demonstrated them how he worked and what he could bring to a role. Those 600 auditions were not a waste of time. It’s obvious now. It most likely was not so obvious at the time.
Remember, they may or may not need your services. By keeping that frame of mind that you are making connections and demonstrating your wares you will be communicating ideas like this, “I am a professional. Here are my abilities. If you need them, call me and we can talk. If you don’t need them, that’s fine. Call me when you do. I am here. I am a professional and I can provide you with what you need when you need me.” That’s a healthy, business minded actor knowing he or she has something of value for his or her prospective buyers.
If you go into the audition with the viewpoint and thoughts of, “I really, really, really want this role. I just HAVE to have it. Please give it to me. Just give me a chance! I really need it!” you are not telling those who are hiring actors that you provide anything. All you are thinking and getting across to them is that you need them to give you something. That’s backwards. You see, if I am going to buy something – in this case the services of a professional actor who can portray a character – I want to know what I am going to get for my money. I don’t want you to tell me how much you need the money and how you have to have the role and how you must have what I have. That turns off most buyers immediately and they become completely disinterested in dealing with you.
Go into the audition room with the viewpoint that you have a service that you are completely professional at delivering and that you will not only deliver but can give to the director and producers more than they will be paying for or looking for, you are in the right frame of mind and will build a very successful acting career. And that viewpoint will relieve you of the pressure of having to be “perfect” in the audition. And you will not, in any way, give the director and producers the idea that you are a “needy” actor who just wants to get something from them.
With this mindset and viewpoint, you can confidently go into the audition room knowing that you will accomplish your real goal which is to create and maintain a professional connection in the industry so that when they are in need of your services, whether it be today or next year, you will deliver like a true professional.
Neil Schell
Neil Schell 
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