24.7.12

Audition Skills Define the Serious Actor

By Maggie Flanigan


Acting involves the development of many skills, one of which is auditioning, a skill you can develop in some 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. Landing the right role, is part luck, part good timing but, above all you must be prepared when the opportunity comes to audition. 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 is no such thing as "failing" an audition unless you have fallen into one of these traps. Overconfidence in an audition can be killer. 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. It's actually the block that these types of feelings cause, which inhibits the emergence of an authentic arresting character.

Being "closed off" or self aware is a very bad acting habit, and one that threatens to get in the way of a great audition as well. 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. The many layers of human traits, communicated in a thousand smalls ways is what must shine through, how you feel personally can't inhibit this.

Many preparing for auditions consider the slate unimportant. Remember this will be the first impression you make. What may seem to have little importance, in fact may be the very thing that keeps you from being seen. The harsh reality is this. There is no guarantee ever that a producer or director will watch a tape past the slate. For any given part there are likely hundreds of folks auditioning. They are on the lookout for the best of the best and a so-so slate will indicate that your tape is not worth their while. 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 tips for auditioning some don't. When researching acting classes in NYC, research those that teach about slates and other auditioning skills. Acting classes in NYC in some institutions, may ask for a slate and 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. Set up a camera, a good mic and then give it a try. Practicing slates isn't easy. Communicate to someone, not the camera, which is an art form unto itself. This is something you can record, playback and assess. 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. The shorter the better so they move on to the critical thing, the audition. When auditioning for commercials a hint of character might be okay. You will have to assume what they are looking for in a character and you may not be right. Mainly, the aim is to give a slate that represents you as a person and as an actor. 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. Creating character, building spontaneity into a performance and other essential auditioning skills can be learned by studying Meisner acting NYC.




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