What makes an audition fun for the person auditioning?

[DanIzzo]

I am having auditions for my director's series show and am wondering what makes the audition process more enjoyable for the people auditioning.

Any thoughts?

(Free Mason Jar! -- Auditions July 21st 2:30 to 5:30 at the Playground -- reserve an audition time by emailing directorsseries@hotmail.com or by calling Megan Pedersen at (773) 832-4602.)

 

[funnyerik9]

Some things to think about...

Having auditioned many people and having been an auditionee, here's my advice, for what it's worth:

1. Make the actor comfortable. Realize they're incredibly nervous and are worried that you'll hate them. A perfectly normal reaction. It's your job to make them feel relaxed. I've had them off the top of their heads tell jokes, or tell my what the last movie they saw was. That way it gets them out of their heads. You can also do this as a group exercise just to get them to relax and realize you won't shoot them into a bloody mess.

2. For yourself, enjoy the process. Don't be a stern stuffed shirt behind a desk. Use this as an opportunity to meet people and see their talents. That friendliness will go a long way to easing the actor's nervousness. They'll be thinking "Oh, look, I'm not on trial here. I'm just here to have some fun". Your attitude will serve theirs.

3. Allow them to show you what they got. If you think they're doing a bad job because of nervousness or whatever, let them improv or at least do something so they can go away thinking "He saw what I had to offer".

I know I spoke a lot about nervouness, but from my experience that's the #1 killer of an actor in an audition. I hope this helps.

-Erik:up:

 

[Angie]

every year my favorite audition is...

Comedy Sports, I look forward to it, i enjoy the supportiveness of the other actors we all want each other to do well so that when we are up they they hope the same for us, and you feel like you are doing a show and have an audience to play off of, every year I have done it (only 2) I have told everyone when you leave it doesn't matter if you got the part or not you feel like you were just at a party. my .$02

 

[benorbeen]

The behind-the-scenes prepwork is a critical ingredient to an actor's having a fun audition.

If you give off an impression of being organized, on top of things, respectful of the actor's time, abilities, effort, etc., and keeping your auditions running smoothly and pretty much on schedule, with a monitor who can keep track of things outside the audition, you set yourself up for great auditions.

For when you lack the energy to dedicate toward such "pre-audition" stuff, you can really set your performers back. I tend to rely on first-impressions, based on past experience ... If the audition is run poorly, likely the production won't live past that standard, or the work situation will leave much to be desired.

I suppose this feeds into the "make the actor comfortable." This is one way you can make the actor comfortable: Do your homework.

 

[icouldbewrong]

The hardest thing for performers, I think, is the waiting period after the audition. So if you can give them a window of "this is when we'll be contacting those we're calling back/hiring" that's great.
That's how they just did it at the UCB auditions and it was enormously helpful.
Otherwise, a performer will audition at 22 and at 82 still be checking to see if he/she is getting a callback! (Or maybe that's just me....)

 

[Shaun]

Krispy Kreme makes me happy at Auditoins.

Oh, and not having to do 3 through the door.
S

 

[funnyerik9]

I think what everyone's saying is to respect the actors as fellow artists. You're all joining together to create something great. It's a wonderful thing.

-Erik:up: