Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Problem With Being Over Rehearsed - Common Audition Mistakes

By Maggie Flanigan


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. Working actors know that gaining experience is critical, and that won't happen if you tend not to audition well. If you are considering acting classes in NYC, look for an institution that helps its students build auditioning skills. Being prepared, with a deep set of auditioning skills is necessary if you expect to exploit every opportunity to audition that comes your way. Acting classes in NYC that specialize in Meisner acting, offer one of the most respected acting disciplines in the business. Meisner acting techniques are strongly connected to powerful auditioning skills.

There are one or two ways that are common reasons actors "fail" to turn in arresting auditions. 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. The real problem is when you are nervous, and you attempt to hide it, an attempt which in turn makes you wonder if you are showing it, and before long you are completely shut down emotionally.

An overconfident or overly nervous auditioned is usually closed off to far more important emotions, those of the character they are creating in the moment. In essence, "you" and whatever you are feeling needs to disappear, and make way for a fascinating, exciting character to emerge. The character can't emerge and deliver that great audition.

The slate, as it is called, may not seem important at first. 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. It seems like a throwaway moment, just a way for the people conducting the audition to keep track. The bad news is this. Many times, directors and producers never even get past the slate. With hundreds, perhaps thousands to see for a role, it's an overwhelming process. If a slate is poor, or overdone they may not even get past it. 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. Learning to slate well is one way to get an advantage over some of the actors you go up against. Some acting classes teach excellent auditioning skills knowing how important they are. 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. Have a friend set up a camera, some lights and give it a go. If you do practice slates here is more to consider. Looking into the camera and truly communicating to a presence beyond the camera is an art form in and of itself. Record and play back several versions of the slate and see how it plays. 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.

The information you include need not be lengthy, they really just want your name and possibly your agent. First impressions should be short and sweet. It won't hurt in commercial auditions to put a hint of the character in your slate but avoid going over the top. If you fall short of their expectations they may hit the eject button before the actual tape. The aim of the slate is to give them a sense of who you are as an actor and a person. Slate and then, give them a brilliantly original, fresh fascinating character that will make their project soar. Classes that offer Meisner acting NYC are a great place to develop the skills that can be used to build excellent auditioning skills.




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