How to Have Good Audition Etiquette

On behalf of tvlesson.com, my name is Joseph Adler and I'm producing artistic director
of Gablestage in Coral Gables, Florida.

Let me talk a little bit about audition etiquette. First and primary, get there early. I think
that is essential. I also think it’s important to sit in that space and be willing to take the
time to look over the lines that you’ve been given.

Whether you’ve given them at the audition or whether you’ve been emailed them ahead
of time, take the time, cycle down, get relaxed, concentrate on those lines and don’t
spend all the energy and time socializing with the other actors. I see that happening so
often. It dissipates the energy. You can be polite. You can have conversation but keep
that energy focused on the material.

I think it’s also essential to be certain when you arrive there that your head is in the right
place. I really believe that you can will yourself just as when you arrive there, you can
concentrate on finding a good parking space. I really believe you can concentrate on
knowing that this audition is going to go well. And this may sound terribly spiritual but I
think it has an impact. It really does.

And the most important thing of all is actors have the face constant rejection. So take
your best shot. And when you leave, feel good about it because whatever happens, the
only attitude to take if you don’t get the role is they made a mistake.

Remember one other thing, if you're nervous, they’re probably as nervous as you are.
They are afraid they might not pick the right person. So as an acting teacher used to say
to me one time or many times, “Whatever it is, you can find a way to use it. If you're
nervous, use it. Put it into the monologue. Put it into the work.”

And by the way, don’t ever let people make you read cold. I don’t mean read after you
have a five minutes look over the script. I mean walk in, get handed a script and be told
to read. If you don’t get the time, ask for it.

On behalf of tvlesson.com, I'm Joseph Adler, thank you for watching.