Auditioning is a critical skill you can develop, much like scene study or emotional prep, and it’s an acting skill you can learn in acting classes in NYC. Becoming a working actor is essential to gaining experience, and becoming a working actor can’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. Meisner acting classes in NYC that teach the Meisner technique are known for producing disciplined actors. Meisner acting techniques are suitable for improving your auditioning ability also.
There are several ways you are guaranteed to fail when auditioning. One way to be discounted is to appear overconfident. The second is if you are overly insecure or nervous. Directors and producers are used to seeing overly confident or insecure actors and this is not what will count against you. Being nervous or confident projects a sense of “self awareness” which can kill a great acting performance.
An overconfident actor may come across as being too rehearsed, without enough room for spontaneity to emerge during the audition. Too nervous, and it’s too distracting to you and the auditors and you run the risk of not being open to the performance and the emerging character. Many layers of human traits must be there, along with the one or two that are at the core of the characters being in the story.
Many preparing for auditions consider the slate unimportant. But, as you state your name into the camera for the auditors to keep track of your tape, you are already communicating a lot about who you are. This is not a throwaway moment, it’s an opportunity. This is the bad news. Watching past the slate to see the actual audition is not always the norm. With hundreds, perhaps thousands to see for a role, it’s an overwhelming process. When wading through these tapes, anything that helps them to more quickly find the best of the best is necessary. They need any excuse to move through the auditions as quickly as possible.
This is challenging for the actor, but challenging is what spurs growth. 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 are a great resource for learning about slates. Acting classes in NYC in some institutions, may ask for a slate and audition tape for entry into their program. This skill can be practiced much like any other. Set up a camera, a good mic and then give it a try. Here are some things to consider when practicing slates. Communicating to a “presence” or person rather than the camera is important. By recording several versions and playing them back you can begin to get a feel for you how you are presenting yourself. Feedback from people you trust is also important, the slate should communicate who you are.
As for the information they want, it’s most often limited to your name and the agency that represents you. The shorter the better so they move on to the critical thing, the audition. For a commercial audition maybe a hint of character is okay but avoid going overboard, it’s risky. You could be wrong in your assumption about what they are looking for, and lose them before they even view your real work. The aim of the slate is to give them a sense of who you are as an actor and a person. 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. if you want to know more, look into Meisner acting NYC, for tips on how to create character, emotional preparation and scene study for auditioning.
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides meisner acting training in New York City. For more information about acting classes nyc visit the studio website where you can get specific answers to any question you have.