Auditioning is an important skill, not just an extension of acting, it’s a separate skill that can be developed in many acting classes in NYC. Gaining acting experience on stage, film or television is an important way to develop acting skills, but that won’t happen if you don’t audition well. Developing auditioning skills may be up to you as some acting classes NYC don’t cover this thoroughly. Landing a role is luck and timing but, none of that matters if you’re not prepared when the opportunity comes. Acting classes in NYC that teach the Meisner discipline are known for turning out highly professional actors that know how to work. There is a known connection between the Meisner acting technique and professional, inspiring auditioning techniques.
There are several ways you are guaranteed to fail when auditioning. One way to be discounted is to appear overconfident. At the same time you cannot allow yourself to be overly nervous or insecure, unless the role calls for it. Being overly nervous or overconfident is not what will count against you in an audition. Nervousness, overconfidence or any other type of emotional reaction to an audition is an unwanted block to the emotional presentation of the character you are auditioning for.
This is a very bad acting habit, being too closed off and too rehearsed and it’s a poor auditioning technique as well. If you are over thinking it, you jeopardize the chance for something unexpected or thrilling to happen in the moment. The character can’t emerge and deliver that great audition.
The slate may not seem important. Stating your name, your agent, at the beginning of the tape helps them track your audition but, it’s also their first impression of you. It seems like a throwaway moment, just a way for the people conducting the audition to keep track. Here’s a shocking fact. Watching past the slate to see the actual audition is not always the norm. Actors must think about how many hundreds of other actors are also turning in tapes our auditions. When wading through these tapes, anything that helps them to more quickly find the best of the best is necessary. A slate needs to take those few seconds, and let them know you are someone worth watching.
This may seem brutal, it does speed up the process. Whether it seems fair or not, the fact remains you had better learn how to slate well. Teaching auditioning skills is not part of every acting academy’s curriculum. Acting classes in NYC may be able to help you practice your slate. Some institutions that offer acting classes in NYC will even ask for a slated audition tape for entry into their program. It’s something you can do on your own, and do quite well with a little help from a friend. Lights, camera action and give it a go. Practicing slates isn’t easy. Communicating to a “presence” or person rather than the camera is important. Record yourself trying several versions of a slate and then assess them. You can get feedback from people you trust, and keep working at it until you feel like your slate is a natural extension of who you are as an actor.
As for the information they want, it’s most often limited to your name and the agency that represents you. Since the slate is the first impression of you-keep it short. When auditioning for commercials a hint of character might be okay. If you fall short of their expectations they may hit the eject button before the actual tape. The real purpose of the slate is for them to keep track of your tape, so just let them know if a few short seconds who you are. Once the slate is done, move quickly into character and give them the portrayal they could never have anticipated, the character they didn’t even know they wanted. Seek out Meisner acting NYC if you want to know more about how to create character with this technique.
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides meisner acting classes in New York City. For more information about audition techniques visit the studio website where you can get specific answers to any question you have.