“I just did what I consider to be one of the most difficult things to do in my profession of acting, which is to walk as yourself.” —Helen Mirren
Walking and greeting people are actions that most of us take for granted in our daily lives. Because really, how much thought is necessary for such simple matters? But when you’re an auditioning actor, entering and exiting the audition room takes on a new level of importance. Professional observers are studying your every move. Award-winning audition instructor, Craig Wallace from The Wallace Audition Technique understands the pressure performers feel. Yet he insists how you enter and exit an audition is indeed vital, arguing, “That’s fifty percent of your audition.”
Entering the Audition Room
Wallace explains, “Everything goes back to your preparation.” An unprepared actor is more likely to experience nervous thoughts upon entry and not be focused during the moment of first impressions. This lack of preparation is evident to the casting professionals, and can immediately start to work against the talent.
“If you have prepared the piece, and you know what you want and how you feel, and your choices are really strong for you, and you’re really committed, and you are in control, and you actually can’t wait to get in that room because what you’ve done is just so exciting to you and interesting to you, you will open the door and walk in that room so present that you’ll know exactly what to do,” Wallace explains. In other words, casting will sense just how confident and prepared you are.
Exiting the Room
Okay, so the audition is coming to a close, and the casting professionals are thanking you for your time or your performance. How hard could it possibly be to exit the room? Well, according to Wallace, this can be another opportunity for an awkward moment.
“People tend to bolt out of rooms. And it is so disconcerting, especially if what they’ve done was pretty good. Then we don’t know what to think,” he says. So what’s an actor to do? “You need to hold your space,” Wallace asserts.
What not to do: Mutter a quiet “thank you” while rushing to exit. Instead, take command of that last moment. He advises actors to say, “Thank you. It was great to be here,” then turn around and exit the room. This helps the audition feel finished. After all, as Wallace says, “If you feel strongly about what you’re doing in that room, you will stay there and support it. You will not run out on it.”
Prepare Yourself
Prepare yourself for the role, and take command of your presence from the moment the audition begins till the moment it ends. This will help you shine like a professional. It also helps increase your chances of booking the job. If you’re interested in more insights from Craig Wallace, you can check out his book about auditioning titled The Best of You, Winning Auditions Your Way, or visit his website at The Wallace Audition Technique.
Want to get your acting career started? Sign up or login to Casting Frontier and start auditioning today!
Related articles:
Hollywood Greats Discuss Misconceptions about Acting
Flexibility: How It Can Affect Your Career in Many Positive Ways!
‘United States vs. Billie Holiday’ Star Andra Day Receives Two Golden Globe Nods
