The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective LA Acting Studio
The Auditioning Mindset
Empower Yourself
The power dynamics of the audition process is the first thing the actor must work to overcome. Even the official definition of “audition” is synonymous with trial or test. This can immediately trigger our worst childhood memories: not feeling good enough to be picked for the team, the pressure of not getting a good grade on our report card, or the fear of being judged by our peers when we try something new. By conquering our mindset and the way that we approach the audition process, we can tip the power scale in our favor.
Perspective
The first thing we must do is transform our perspective about auditioning. Many successful actors have shared their discoveries about this. For example, Michael Keaton said that early on in his approach, he knew that his mindset wasn’t serving him - as soon as he shifted his attitude away from it being an “audition” and instead reframed it as an opportunity to work: “I’m going to work today,” he told himself. This approach filled him with power and excitement. Brian Cranston, another great actor with years of auditioning experience, shared a similar discovery: take the need to get the job off the table, and go into the audition only with the purpose of sharing your work and your take on the character, and leave. He said that as soon as he made that shift in his mindset, his auditions improved, and he started to see results.
Take Control
Put yourselves in the shoes of a Casting Director, or Director. Imagine that they sit in the audition room, and see two actors with two very different mindsets enter: one feels powerless, apologetic and full of fear; the other feels empowered, excited, confident. Which actor do you think they will be more open to? Of course we want the job! But getting the job is out of our control. Changing our mindset begins with focusing on what we can control, which is to love and enjoy the opportunity to share our craft and establish a positive relationship with the Casting Director or Director. If you remind yourself that the audition is the job - it won’t feel like a test or like you’re being put on trial - your true self will come with you. Not only will you notice better results, you might even learn to like auditioning.
