I’ve auditioned for well over 100 voice acting jobs (mostly commercial) and have run auditions. So I thought I’d throw out some basic ideas to keep in mind when you audition.
First, and this should be obvious but it 100% is not… FOLLOW THE CASTING DIRECTOR’S INSTRUCTIONS. Most of my professional V.A. auditions have giant red bold lettering telling the actor that if they fail to comply with the (very basic) instructions, their audition will not be listened to. Truly, if you are given instructions on any element of your audition from how many takes, whether to slate, how to label the file, how to submit… PLEASE FOLLOW THEM! Why the extreme demands? It’s not just to make the casting director’s life easy (which you totally want to do!) But simply, if an actor can’t follow the basic instructions for the audition, what chance is there that they will follow direction when they’re hired?
Next, focus on any notes you have been given for the type of character and delivery they’re looking for. Don’t ignore them or do whatever you feel is best. Think of these notes as a vital clue to the puzzle that is the performance they want. Bonus if they give comps of actors or other characters. Definitely look those up to get a feel for what they might be thinking. In an in-person audition, the person running the auditions would be guiding you with this information. You don’t have that luxury alone in the booth. So take in every word and try to mold your performance to that. I’m not saying it’s easy, especially when dealing with advertising people. They love descriptor words that don’t really mesh with performing. “Try to be more cotton than purple.” WHAT. The most important thing is to take it in and then make a solid decision for yourself about what it means. Hey, you may be completely the opposite of what they were thinking, but that’s always part of auditioning. Be confident in your choice and go for it!
In professional auditions, you submit to casting (or production) and you never hear again unless they’ve decided to move forward with you. In audio drama I’ve noticed, with a lot of amateur or first-time actors, they harass casting asking about the status of their audition. DO NOT DO THIS! You need to look at it from the casting side of things. Do you think there’s time to email a thoughtful review of each and every person’s audition? If they want you, you will hear back. Otherwise, the rule of thumb with ANY audition, is this: Your job is to give the best performance you can. Then forget all about it. I was sent a lot of very passive/aggressive, “Well, I haven’t heard, so I GUESS you aren’t going to use me” emails and direct messages. Well, I can tell you this… now I definitely won’t use you. A lot of times casting will hold on to auditions that they might not like for this role, but have in mind for something down the pike. But you start giving casting a hard time because you want validation from your audition? Now you appear needy and require hand-holding. And no one wants to work with an actor like that.
Does that mean I can’t follow up on an audition? Yes. This isn’t a job interview at Shakey’s Pizza. Submit your audition and then be pleasantly surprised if you hear back from them. Do not ask if they received it, do not tell them you can do other takes if they want… NOTHING. It’s uploaded, it’s gone. Move on.
These really are the best of the most basic rules of auditioning. There are tons of suggestions for performance, microphones, recording space, but start with the groundwork of this because so many actors do not do these things, that will show how professional you are.
-Chrisi (aka Madison)
