Acting Auditions 101

Lesson 3: APPLYING THE TWELVE GUIDEPOSTS.

Resources Needed:

• TEXTBOOK Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part, by Michael Shurtleff

• NOTEBOOK

Please note: Books are recommended but not mandatory.

In the two previous lessons you began several important steps toward successful auditions: both steps fall individually under practical knowledge and discipline.

By faithfully applying these steps, your "toddler leg strength" will increase. You soon will find yourself "running" successfully towards auditions in both skill and knowledge.

Yet have you defined for yourself what a successful audition means? If not, do so now. Write down the following:

I think a successful audition means: ________________.

Defining Success.

I daresay that if I had asked you that at the beginning of the class you would have confidently written your answer in bold ink at the top of your first page. But I didn’t ask you the question at the beginning of Lesson One. I waited until the beginning of Lesson Three. Why do you think that is?

Well, probably for many reasons. But by now, you’ve had a chance to manifest daily discipline with your new skills of relaxation and vocal exercises. You’ve also perused a good variety of websites introduced in Lesson Two to broaden your knowledge of audition approaches and audition tips.

Now then, let me ask you the question again: What does a successful audition mean to you? (For once, don't write anything yet!)

Without thinking it through, I think most of us would normally respond that a successful audition is: “Landing the part!” And yes, that is a successful feeling and a necessary step to a long and illustrious acting career.

But there may be a deeper significance to a successful audition. Seriously contemplate the following for just a moment:

Imagine you are lying on your bed, ready to pass from this life. You are surrounded by a few loved ones, individuals who have great meaning in your life. Will that moment become more poignant because you “landed the part” a few extra times?

Seriously, would the final words be from your lips, “Ah, I landed every part I auditioned for!” And then you croak? Somehow I don’t think so.

It is at moments as portentious as death that life suddenly swings into greater focus. So with that in mind, what is my reason for deliberating this?

It is simply this: You have skills, talents and abilities that no-one else has. Perhaps others have not yet noticed these, but you have them. I know, because all human beings have abilities unique to them. Maybe your specific talents and skills have not had a chance to shine, but your talents are there. And by giving them the proper practical knowledge joined with discipline, your special abilities will shine.

So just what is a successful audition? Continue to the next section to find out.

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