When auditioning, be ready for anything

The Words of Wisdom this week are 'When auditioning, be ready for anything.' An audition should not be seen as a contest between the auditioner and the auditionee. Rather, it should be seen as a chance to meet someone who may be interested or interesting. The caster has the problem of finding someone most suitable for a part, the actor has the problem of finding a part that is most suitable: the audition is an opportunity for the two to meet and solve these problems together.

As an actor you will find that directors and casting directors are usually professional and considerate, but nevertheless there are a thousand ways that things can go wrong for you in an audition, so: expect the unexpected. Here are examples of some of the things that might throw you, if you allow them to do so.

You might be seen by just one person or a whole team of people. You may have a lengthy interview or just be asked to perform a piece and receive no comment. You may just have a chat with the director over a cup of coffee. You may be in a tiny office or in a large theatre or rehearsal room. It might be boiling hot or it might be freezing cold. It might be a camera test (in which case you'll probably have to sit on a chair in a fixed position.) You may be required to sing (your agent forgot to tell you you were supposed to prepare a song.) You are very likely to be kept waiting, so be prepared for this, relax and read your newspaper quietly. You may find yourself face to face with a Very Famous Director or being seen by an assistant who appears to have been given the task of screening out the no-hopers. In either case they are humans just like you are so behave normally.

Usually, if you are going to do some pages from a script, it will have been faxed or e-mailed to you, but it might be thrust into your hand when you arrive, ten minutes before your audition is due to begin. In the audition you may be stopped early on and sent away: admittedly this is not a great sign but if you show good humour about it they just might remember you favourably - you can console yourself that maybe you were too tall for the part. If you are stopped and redirected you might think this is a bad sign and that you have done something wrong but, on the contrary, it is a clear sign that they are interested in you. Sometimes, they will be friendly, at other times they may seem cold - neither has very much bearing on whether you are going to get the part.

You may make a mistake. Don't let it faze you, nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. One particular mistake is very easy to make. You are asked the innocent question 'What have you been doing lately' and your mind goes blank: well what have I been doing lately? Always have your answer to this one prepared, complete with names and titles.

There are two possible successful outcomes to an audition. The first, obviously, is that you get the part. The second, less obviously, is that you are remembered, and remembered favourably. Surprisingly often, you or your agent may receive a call months later, enquiring as to your availability. They remembered you.

One final word of advice, Never, repeat never, make excuses. So many auditioning actors claim that their performance in the audition will be hampered by a cold or a cough that I think there should be a syndrome called 'Actor's Throat.' Others will want to describe how dramatically terrible their journey from home to audition venue has been. Consider: few directors will want to employ people with serious health issues who cannot get from A to B on the transport system without fuss. So, no excuses, ever, and, when auditioning, be ready for anything.