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Audition Tips | 5 Ways To Standout & Be Memorable To Casting Directors

AUDITION

As someone who’s spent 20 years in the entertainment business as a Casting Director, including 14 years as Vice President of Casting at HBO, I have held a lot of auditions, seen thousands of self-taped auditions, met and hired a ton of actors.

With all that casting experience behind me, and the thousands and thousands of actors that I’ve auditioned and coached, I can tell you this with 100% certainty:

As an actor, there are specific things that you can do that make you memorable to Casting Directors (in a good way).

Now let's get to what you are here for!

5 Ways To Standout & Be Memorable To Casting Directors

acting tips  Zig While Everyone Else Is Zagging…

stand out be memorable

As Casting Directors, we have hundreds of actors that come through our casting sessions every single day. And if you were a fly on the wall, you'd be shocked at how predictable it becomes because 99 out of 100 of them are doing the exact same thing.

It's really kind of odd when you think about it.

All those different actors making the same choices to play the character the same exact way.  I don't know why it happens (other than bad training), but I do know that it's pretty easy to set yourself apart from them by knowing the 5 things you're learning now.

So, to stand out, you need to do something different in your audition. Now by different, I don’t mean coming with a clown nose, standing on your head or making some kind of crazy choice that has nothing to do with the scene.

No. Zig when other people are zagging simply means this…

When you come in and you do something even slightly different, Casting Directors stop in their tracks and say, “Ooo, who’s that?”

You want to be that actor that makes us go “Oooooo!”

So, how can you be a little bit different in your interpretation of the character from everybody else?

  • In your character choices?
  • Your transitions?
  • The way you side-step an audition trap that other actors (who don’t know any better) fall into?

There are so many ways.

This is the creative part. This is where it gets FUN! (Yup, auditioning should be fun if you're doing it right).

acting tips  Don’t Look For Validation

needy actor

Do you think real acting pros look for validation? Nope.  A real acting pro, just does their thing without the need for validation from the Casting Director, Producer, Director or anyone else.

Here's how looking for validation can show up in your audition…

You finish your scene and then, you look up with big puppy dog eyes and say something like “Was that okay?”  

It's not so much the words as your eyes.  Your energy.  Your need to be told you're okay. You did well. You were good.

That need telegraphs insecurity.  And no Director or Producer wants insecurity running around on set.

Remember, a real pro simply comes in, does their audition, goes with the flow, says thank you and politely leaves.

That energy – That EASE will make you stand out.

acting tips  Connect On A Personal Level With The Casting Director

make a connection

Most actors, when they come in the room with us, are positioning themselves way below the Casting Director in status.

It happens to you automatically when you believe a version of this thought:

“I’m a struggling actor and you, the Casting Director, are the solution to my problem – the answer to my prayers — the most important person in the world — the one who can give me my big break!”

Can you see how uneven your relationship with a Casting Director is when it's based on that?

You've separated yourself from them.

Instead, connect with them on a human, personal level.

They’re a person. You’re a person.

It doesn’t matter what position they hold in the business — Casting Director, Director, Producer, etc.  As long as you continue to hold them up high and position yourself beneath them in status in some way, you can’t connect on a real, personal level.

When you make a real, human, personal connection with a Casting Director, that's memorable.  

That makes us stop and notice you.  We like that.

Casting Directors are human beings too. Connect.

Here are a few simple suggestions you can try:

  • Ask them how they’re doing?
  • Comment on something they’re wearing.
  • Make an observation about what’s going on in the room…
  • Talk to them the same way you would to another actor or a friend.

WARNING:  Make sure you use your intuition and observational skills when you try this.

For example, if they seem rushed and there are 100 actors in the waiting room, that might not be the best time to get chatty.  Take care not to blurt out something out that doesn’t make sense just for the sake of doing this exercise.

It must be appropriate to what’s happening in the moment.  You must find the right timing or sense if it’s appropriate.

Here's an example…

An actor came in to audition for me for a film I was working on at HBO and she noticed some fabric swatches that were sitting on my desk. (I had been doing some remodeling.) We had a lengthy discussion about contractors, decorating. She turned me on to a great app that helps you virtually design your room online. We connected! I even friended her on Facebook.

Oh, and she didn’t book that job, BUT, I brought her back in for something else (several times actually) and she did book a juicy supporting role in a film I worked on.

She was not only extremely talented and had killer audition skills, but she was also memorable to me because we connected in a real, human way.

Here's one more important tip before trying this at an audition.

It’s best to practice this connecting skill in life outside the audition room and get good at it without any pressure.  That way you can do it seamlessly when you’re under pressure in the audition room.

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Click Here To Register For The Free “Audition Control” Webclass

acting tips  Be A Colleague

equals

This requires a little bit of positioning.

Do you remember just a moment ago I talked about that positioning? That thing where you hold the Casting Director up high, on a pedestal and think of yourself as someone who is beneath the Casting Director (in status)?

That kind of positioning will never work in your favor.

To be memorable, you must position yourself on an even playing field with the Casting Director.

This involves a shift in your mindset and belief systems.

Here's how that looks…

In your mind, position yourself as a colleague — where your status is the same as theirs… where neither one of you is “more important” than the other.

In other words… Be an equal.

When you can make that adjustment in your thinking and believe that you are equal with that Casting director, producer, whatever decision-maker is in the room,  you will treat them differently.

And guess what?

They will treat you differently.

They will treat you like an equal and they will start to think of you as an equal (instead of thinking of you as a “needy” actor who desperately wants something from them).

Ask yourself, “How would I treat a colleague?” …Someone you like and respect but don’t revere.

Let me illustrate this for you.

I have a friend named Phil (who is the boyfriend of a colleague of mine). One time we were at a premiere party for an HBO film I worked on. We couldn’t find him all night.

Near the end of the evening, Phil found us.

He pulled us over and introduced us to his new friend “Rick”. It turns out that he’d been hanging out all night with Ricky Gervais.

Yes, that Ricky Gervais! 

Why? Because he didn’t care who his friend “Rick” was. In fact, he didn’t even know!

And Ricky LOVED that because Phil was treating him as a colleague, a friend, an equal.

Rick was just Rick. Phil was just Phil.

And this wasn't an anomaly either.  This happened to Phil at every party we went to. Phil regularly hangs out with Directors, Producers, A-list actors. And Phil isn’t even in the business! Why?

Because Phil really gets this thought process and he practices it all the time.

Can you imagine what Phil’s network is like?

You can have that too.

To stand out and be memorable, you need to position yourself on the same level as the person you want to connect with. People want to be around others who are like them. It’s human nature.

Decide you are equal – because you are. Be a colleague with the Casting Director.

5  Create Confidence

have confidence

Yes, I know. It’s easier said than done.

However, if we're talking about being memorable and standing out, we can't NOT discuss confidence.

It's THAT important.

The good news is you can learn how to cultivate confidence. It is a learned skill.

I’ll give you a quick “shortcut” you can use to help you with this in just a sec…

The truth is, it’s probably more important than any audition technique that you will ever learn (although you need those too).  When you can learn how to step into your own power and confidently swagger into the room, instead of limp in like a nervous wreck, that’s audition gold.

Cultivating confidence can take some time, so here’s what you can do in the meantime.

Here's your “shortcut”.

This should be easy for you because it uses skills you already have as an actor.

Create a character that’s the version of you with confidence. The working actor version of you. Decide how that version of you would walk, talk, enter a room and say hello to a Casting Director and audition.

Try on the confidence THAT version of you would have.

Go to your next audition “in character” and let him or her audition for you. I bet they rock it for you!

Confidence will absolutely make you stand out and be memorable and make Casting Directors stop and think “Ooo, who’s that?”

Confidence is sexy and when you cultivate it, have it and bring it into your auditions (and combine confidence with impeccable audition technique), you cannot help but stand out and be memorable.

In fact, this combination makes you irresistible to Casting Directors.

REMEMBER: Confidence is not only a learned skill but confidence is also a RESULT you can create when you purposely focus on developing impeccable audition technique.

Impeccable audition technique BREEDS confidence.

Especially when that technique is taught to you from an expert who knows exactly how Casting Directors think. When you learn how Casting Directors think, what they want, what they expect, then you can deliver it to them on a silver platter like a pro.

So grab these tips and this training and run with it! It's your time to shine.

And I can't wait to see what happens for you and your acting career when you do.

Your turn! Which one of these 5 tips helped you the most?  Tell me about it in the comments below… :-)

 

You DESERVE The Red Carpet!
~Amy
P.S.  In my upcoming free “Audition Control” webclass, I’ll take you even deeper inside the secret thoughts of Casting Directors. You’ll discover what they really think and see during your audition (and how you can use that information to your advantage — that’s the FUN part).

Reserve your complimentary spot now:

Did this blog on 5 Ways To Standout & Be Memorable To Casting Directors help you? If so, I would greatly appreciate if you commented below and shared on Facebook

Amy Jo Berman - Acting Coach
Amy Jo Berman's Tips On Acting & Auditioning Blog
Email: Asst@AmyJoBerman.com

“I show actors how to be better, book more jobs and live The Red Carpet life!”

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67 Responses

  1. Angela says:

    So great! I love these tips, it just makes so much sense! Thank you

  2. Christine Eliza says:

    I really like that you said you can comment on their clothing and things like that while in audition, cause I am like that in real life normally and was hoping it was ok to talk to them. Like I would anybody. So knowing that. Makes me way more confident!😁

  3. sakshi says:

    hello! your tips were amazing and one more thing is that i need a help . So, can we talk personally imean not much personally like we can talk through facebook or e-mail . Please , it’s a humble request.
    And once again thanks for these amazing tips

  4. Elaine Hill says:

    The tips are great and motivational, I am excited about the webinar class this evening.

  5. Ajay Patel says:

    Amazing tips. Thanks for this audition tips for movies. Keep sharing.

  6. Marloné says:

    Thank you Amy!! Just be myself stand out, and be confident. Auditions start once you enter the building….

  7. Noah A. Solomon says:

    A combination of “Connect on a Personal Level with a Casting Director” and “Be A Colleague”. Once the job has been landed, I always make it a point to be everyone’s colleague, even the director. But: before the job has been landed, the train of thought is to be the interviewee and the Director the interviewer. It never clicked for me to try to be their colleague *during* the audition/interview. I should also stop calling it an interview :P But, connecting the moment I enter the room, or even the building, is key to not only having a successful audition, but also general advice for life too!

  8. Thanks Amy. I loved them all, but going in to the CD “in character” really rocked it for me. I have a self-taped audition to submit this weekend where it might not work given the shooting parameters, but I have an EPA on Monday where I will DEFINITELY use it! Very excited about this approach.

  9. Wilson Bell says:

    Thanks Amy,

    As many have said, I like the note about positioning and seeing the Casting Director as equal. So often in the distant past (as I have been on hiatus for over a dozen years) I saw the Casting Director as boss and me as employee coming in for an assignment. While in some way that is very true, there is something about just that thought that is intimidating. It’s helpful to think about relating on a human to human level and on a business colleague to business colleague level. It makes the encounter more comfortable.

  10. mayur bansiwal says:

    Thanks Amy for motivating with tips. In India firstly to get a audition for a primary character is extremely difficult, since here those roles are often goes out to established actors or friends and acquaintances. By the time any roles that are auditioned will be for a day or 2 with or without dialogues. So in such a scenario when an actor get a audition call for a major role, an unexperienced actor may end up trying to impress the casting rather than playing that character.
    Still,yes, your tips do apply here also and something I’ll remember, though I do most of the things you suggested Few of the casting directors have become friends with me knowing me for few years now.

    Also I’ll look other articles if you have posted for actors not living in US but want to audition for a role or get an assignment in Hollywood.

    Regards

  11. I think it is really awesome that you mention that an actor must be equal with the casting director or producer so that they can see they need what the actor has as well as the other way around. Personally, I think this would show that the actor is there to make the best production possible. I’ll have to look for theatrical actors to hire with this kind of attitude.

  12. thanks for sharing this articles

  13. thanks for the information

  14. Sithandiwe says:

    Sawubona Amy. Thanks for the insight. I would say my best would be being different , confidence and seeing them as equals. I’ll start working on this for my next Audition. Thank you.

  15. Rogelio says:

    What really helped me was the part about treating and talking to others as equals, as humans like Phil did with Ricky G. I will be in moving to LA during pilot season and this helps remind of the importance of networking. Thank you Amy Jo!

  16. Heather says:

    That bit about positioning is ballsy and I would never have thought of it that way! Thank you! That is super helpful!

  17. Shelby Wynne says:

    Wow! These are some great tips Amy. Thanks for sharing. I never thought about positioning myself on an even playing field, so to speak, with the Casting Directors. You are absolutely right when you say they are human too. And I know I tend to think of them in a higher level and therefore may come across a little nervous. Connecting with them and removing the formalities provide for a more comfortable audition. Thanks again!

    Sincerely,

    Shelby Wynne

  18. Tim Wilson says:

    These 5 tips are very helpful. I think putting yourself on the same level with tbe casting directors and building confidence were the most helpful. Thank you for sharing!!

    Sincerely,
    Tim Wilson

  19. This some really good information about standing out as an actor. I liked that you pointed out that remembering that you are equal to the casting director does seem like a good thing to do. I know that I wouldn’t want to hire someone who seems really desperate.

  20. Angel says:

    I really enjoyed your tips and I hope that they can make me an wonderful actor someday, also I love your work and your teaching they make me stronger everyday thanks to you.

    • Connect On A Personal Level With The Casting Director – that’s just so great in my opinion. I don’t know why are you doing this to all of us, but thank you very much. I hope to see you at work :-)

  21. Thank you Amy. You shared a mouthful when you spoke about balancing the scales and the added piece on confidence. I can say from past experiences that the majority of my successful auditions (that led to booking the job) was when I just being me – in character of course. I am a natural “people person”, so thanks a bunch for that kick in the brain pan. I trust your guidance, knowledge and have nothing to lose in my new quest of following you like your shadow. (Hugs)

  22. Shante CookieLyon Willis says:

    i love this lady! the most beautiful personality she keeps it real as well as give you confidence and doesnt want all of your money. its like she realy wants to see you make it!

  23. Penny Franklin Burt says:

    Hi Amy! I love these tips from a CD point of view. My acting instructor gives great advice and yours is a plus. I really found that your tip about connecting on a person level helpful. It would not only break the ice but as you mentioned leave a memorable connection that may or may not have anything to do with the business but create a friendship. I also found the tip bout not looking for validation helpful. This goes hand in hand with confidence. If I’m confident enough to show my best, then mission accomplished. Whether or not the CD thought it was good or expressed that would be up to them. I shouldn’t expect or wait for it!

  24. Elizabeth Hole says:

    This was great Amy, thank you for your guidance and I look forward to working with you in the future.

  25. Almayvonne Dixon says:

    These are really good tips.

  26. Donna Magnani-Convertino says:

    I think you are very generous person Amy to give these well oiled tips so freely and graciously. I am an actor coming back after 20 years of raising a daughter and directing many many musicals while also teaching a million classes, I appreciate hearing the truth from a pro-it’s always valuable to be reminded of the simple and effective ways of doing these correctly. It’s clear YOU want actors to be successful. Thank you.

  27. Hal Conley says:

    Hal Conley For some of my work, Google– Hal Conley Actor As an actor with 30 yrs of stage, extra work & a commercial in Shanghai in ’99, your advice & suggestions has helped me. I’ve had heart.& back surgery & a stroke within the last 3yrs. So my confidence has gone down drastically, along with my memorizing!
    So, what you said has brought me back! I have always been able to interpret a role in my own way. But, now, with an audition coming up & not having been on the stage since 2012, I’m more nervous than my 1st play!
    So, thank you for your advice!

  28. Kevin Williams says:

    Funny thing is I have literally expressed these methods to actor friends starting out or at a crossroad. This has been a huge result for myself in this business from the beginning to present. All that is left, the timing of it all. But like all the greats and actor mentors I’ve met and befriended, they all say the same thing, “See you on the inside!”. I am what I’m going after and for that, I’ll get there…again. Thanks for this…icing on my cake:)!

  29. Robin Shaw says:

    No head higher than my own. No one is better than me, and I am no better than anyone else. End of story.

  30. Ken Wharton says:

    “Treating a CD as a colleague..” Love that! You actually validated what I thought was almost common sense. I am entering this industry later in life, 50+.. Very well trained, and I keep training… And I audition in NYC monthly.. I am highly respectful; however, I DO find kindness, humanity.. Important! I want the CD to know they can trust the man they may be putting on their set! :-) I sometimes worry I am not “distant enough..” But thank you for validating my gut feeling! And yes, the same CD’s bring me back in.. And yes, they treat me so kindly. ;-) Ken/NYC

  31. Andrew Creightney says:

    Confidence has definitely been something I struggle with when entering that room. I know the person(s) across from me are human and go through the same everyday human things I go through. Something inside of me, like you said, puts them higher than me. It’s true they can sense those things and that is why I haven’t really been back in the room. Your article really put things in perspective and when I do get back in the room, along with hard work and training, I will walk in an out of that room the same way.

    Thank you

  32. Jeremy Oliver says:

    “Positioning” is probably one of the best tips I have ever heard. I have always tended to be in awe of CD’s, thanks for putting it into perspective.

  33. Mac McCord says:

    Excellent advice…the one about connecting person to person spoke volumes to me, as an ‘older’ actor entering the business. And of, course, the one about confidence was gold. Thank you!

  34. Gary Bland says:

    I am in the UK, London, and the same advice works very well here.

    The people on the casting panel want you to be stunning in the audition and stunning in your part. They also want you to extremely personable, because no one wants to work with a pain in the butt. In fact, the panel are our best friends.

    As our best friends we should have a real desire to help them achieve their goals and to do this we should be at our best – open, honest, prepared and professional.

    I like this article a great deal – common-sense!

    Thank you

    Gary

  35. AngelaPeters says:

    Great article and so true. The confidence, and treating people as equals is so important.

  36. gurucat says:

    Excellent.

  37. Traci Asaurus says:

    The slate is always the most difficult part for me. The day of our senior internship audition previews (where we do it for a few of our faculty before all the casting people to get feedback) I came up with the “playing a character” idea for my slate and it gave me a ton of confidence and I absolutely rocked it. Best audition ever…
    Then my audition teacher told me awesome job on the pieces but don’t “try to seduce the audience with my slate”. The next day I scrapped it and f-ed up my audition so badly i forgot my lines (to a monologue i know backwards and forwards) twice! That’s the day i learned (slightly too late) not to listen to everything my teachers had to say.

  38. D joneZ says:

    I EspeciAlLy like “creating a character” to audition with & just stay in chAracter! Clever!! Im a singer as well and I WILL try that! Lol…thx

  39. Steve R. says:

    Most of this stuff is common sense. Actually all of it is, just be you regardless of who likes it, DO NOT try to impress someone simply because they got a better job, or is an actor, just be YOU & confidence will naturally take over. Just something I can’t explain into words. EVERYONE I meet, I can EASILY connect with EVEN if I have absolutely nothing in common with them. We’re all human beings, that is enough of a level playing field. Just connect & be your authentic self!!!

  40. Bj Wieland-Doucet says:

    What are the different tips for taped auditions where you don’t get the same chances to interact with the CD?

    • Alexander Stine says:

      This is a great question. As someone who has worked in an agency for over 6 years and who owns a self taping service in NYC, I think I can be of service.
      Your slate is the time to be the confident working actor person described above, and shine through. Think of it as the energy you bring into the room. Keep it short and sweet, and don’t pontificate unless the slate instructions ask you to. Otherwise you may come off as showy, needy, inexperienced, or desperate.
      One of the biggest things with self tapes is people getting in their own way, and a lot of that is technical. For instance, keep the camera stationary, have good lighting and sound, blank solid backdrop, and shoot in landscape (horizontally). Place your reader (preferably another actor) off camera and try to frame from the shoulders up. Keep the pace snappy and connect to the other person/people in the scene.
      I stress being as off book as possible for self tapes, simply because you have the option of doing as many takes as you want, unlike an appointment w/ a CD. Be the most awesome actor you can. If you half ass it, there is going to be someone else who didn’t, and that will be the person to book the role.
      Be respectful of the material by emailing your video as a downloadable link. Producers and networks are very sensitive about leaked material, and you don’t want to be known as the person who spoiled a big reveal on a hit show by posting your tape to YouTube.
      If you get a positive response, then there you have yourself an opportunity to further your connection.
      Hope that helped!

  41. Laura Ferreira says:

    My favorite tip was to make yourself equal to the casting director. These tips really helped! Thank you :)

  42. Stephanie Richards-Cason says:

    Hey Amy!
    I am a Drama teacher for 6th-12th grades and I found great material for my classes in just the tips you gave in this article. I am going to register for the training so I can improve as a teacher and as an actor. Thank-you for sharing your insight and experience.
    -Stephanie Cason

  43. Taylor Brengle says:

    This came in perfect timing and the advice I needed!!! Thanks, Amy!

  44. Sloane Roberts-Balkwill says:

    All good advice!!! I really connected with the info about connecting on a personal level and just being normal and yourself!!! Don’t overthink it just relax and have fun!

  45. Steve Kosinski says:

    Excellent blog, thanks! Especially #5, as we ALL lose confidence if we fail to book a few jobs in a row. Years ago as a NY actor, I studied musical theatre audition technique with Albert Hague. Albert taught is to enter an audition as if you were a doctor, and the casting director or director or whoever was a patient with a particular ailment. Your perspective on your audition would be to have the confidence of a doctor who is offering a cure for the ailment. If the patient accepts your diagnosis/cure, great. If not, wish them luck and on to the next patient.

  46. Ernest Pierce says:

    Good stuff Amy. Thanks for the tips.

  47. Love this! Posted on FB in a group of young theatre actors, to see if they can incorporate some of these techniques as they continue their journey. Very good information. Thanks!

  48. Nicole says:

    Hi Amy! Thank you for making this blog so accessible and informative! My favorite tip was #4: Be A Colleague. As an actor, I think we’re taught from Day 1 to hold the casting directors up high on a platform because they can cause such a drastic impact in our careers. But after reading your advice, it makes a lot of sense that a casting director would like to hire someone they respect as an equal as opposed to someone they view as needy. Again, thank you and I’ll definitely make sure to stay plugged in to read more of your tips and advice!

  49. Kathygirl says:

    Thanks Amy! I always learn so much from your posts and trainings. All 5 tips are very important. I think the one that stands out the most for me is making a personal connection with the casting director. I think making that personal connection with another person is very powerful and you will probably be remembered and called in more often. Thanks again for another great post.

  50. Stanley Ash Ejimofor says:

    Thank you very much Amy! Your tips on acting are so useful! All of the ‘5 Things That Make You Stand Out And Be Memorable’ are valuable. I especially like the part where you talk about positioning yourself on an even playing field.

  51. CWT says:

    I always enjoy reading your writings and tips and pass them on to my daughter Tory Taranova (Stage name) in LA. My wife Bond G was an actress in the 70’s/80s in Hollywood 9n Y&R and Operation Petticoat and repeatedly has said how important it is to treat everyone from the assistants to the crew to the makeup people to the director and producers like people rather than be afraid of them or act like you are in church. There a ton of gorgeous people in LA…even many of the homeless people are beautiful. Treat everyone with respect but understand they are people, Any everyone wants to be acknowledged as a person not as someone to be used to get a job.

  52. Ray W says:

    Thanks, Amy!

  53. Marvin Fernandez says:

    Thanks for the great advice as always Amy :) Great blog for the new year and a nice read. I liked the part where you talk about connecting with the casting directors on a personal level with the right timing :))

  54. Joelle M. Cruz says:

    God bless ya love!!! I find you to be an extremely generous, savvy and awe-inspiring human being! It’s so refreshing (yet very difficult ) to find people such as yourself that still manage to maintain and incorporate their sense of humanity and dignity for those less fortunate as their livelihood. I just began my acting career at age 55 after being a mail carrier for 27 years and I am hoping to capitalize on what everyone has been telling me my entire life–“you are so funny and dramatic, you should be on stage”. (If I had a dollar for each time that happened) and ” there’s something about you, I have a feeling your’e gonna make it” blah, blah. I never ever believed any of them until now that I’m retired (i.e., practically broke)and my parents are gone. I am at a huge crossroad in my life. I did forge ahead and get my AA in Drama in December 2015. I’m older, overweight (fat), Latina, below-average in looks, alone, scare ****less–so I figure, I don’t have anything to lose! The advice you gave about not being afraid to be “different” and/or act upon one’s natural acting impulses and be unafraid to execute them–was stellar information that I am going to employ next time I walk in and go limp and act terrified and go speechless in front of casting people because I look around me at the other candidates and they all act calm, cool and collected, poised, polished and confident. I freak and crumble, thinking the casting people will take one look at me and say to themselves, “:How did this one slip in here? Poor thing, look at her floundering around….she doesn’t have a chance in hell….too outrageous…..over-the-top……insane, where’s her medication?……..Well I guess she could be the Spanish version of Kathy Bates….she’s brave, I’ll give her that……and so on. They never get to see the REAL ME. Because of YOU, I’m going to “nut up” and “shut up”. If I make it, I make it on my terms, imperfections and all. This particular tip stood out for me and I totally appreciate how much information you share with all of us. Unfortunately, I do have the acting bug and will be attempting to see what comes of it despite my family laughing AT ME and not being supportive at all. It’s persons such as yourself that help persons such as myself who are scared to death but willing to commit to their hunches.. Will keep you reading your offerings of advice and thank you once again. Best Regards, Joelle M. Cruz

    • Diane says:

      Joelle, i have no doubt you can “make it” as an actor. You sound like just the right amount of intellect, sass, and determination. But after reading what you write here, I’m sure you could also be a very good writer. Heck, you clearly already are! Go kill it!

      And the best tip for me here is #1. In most auditions, it seems clear that it should be played a certain way, and we all go with that. You worry that going in another direction with the read will make yo tans out in a bad way, as if you don’t understand the scene or the character. So, this is what I’ll be chewing on for a while.

      Thanks for these tips!!!

  55. Ryan says:

    Thank you Amy!!!

  56. Ron says:

    Thank you for this Amy! Great advice as I prepare for my audition in the next hour. I will confidently go in and meet my peer, talk to them, and rock this audition! Then I will leave not needing, any validation for my awesome audition.

  57. Pepi Streiff says:

    This was so timely, I’ve a call back on Tuesday. I am going to walk into the casting office in a character I will create. She will be me, but taller and more successful and confident in every aspect of her life.

  58. Nonso says:

    “seeing the casting director(s) as equal”…wow that’s a great way to put me at ease and boost my confidence..thanks Amy

  59. Don Keaton says:

    Awesome analysis and teaching Amy Jo.! b.t.w…having an awesome being in the moment
    creative experience on the set of “478”

  60. david nathan schwartz says:

    “Your working actor version of you” what a great way to think about it and put your head straight on thx!

    • I agree with Amy M. when she states that the “positioning” (a GREAT word, by the way) helped alot. It did for me, as well. Because when making a commercial, show, film it ‘takes a village’ right? So, we’re all villagers, in a sense, making it all happen!
      Thanks AJB for your constant enlightenments (not such a great word! ; )!

  61. Amy M says:

    The point on positioning helped a lot. I tend to get intimidated and it can then block me from my best performance.

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