Some actors love auditioning, while others would rather be eaten by a lion than go into an audition room. Having some nerves before an audition is completely normal, even the most seasoned professionals experience them. But when nerves feel all-consuming - or at least distracting enough to keep you from being present during your audition - it’s time to tackle those audition nerves and find some strategies to help keep them at bay. Below are some tips to help identify and curb those pesky nerves.
1. What are you worried about?
Whether this is your first audition in a while, or it’s a really big one (or maybe it’s for a job you’re not even sure you want), there’s usually a deeper reason why you’re so worried. Finding the root cause of the nerves can help you to form a plan of attack on how to treat them. Usually, it comes down to feeling unsure about how well you’re going to perform in the room. Stress can cause us to feel like all of our technique and preparation goes out the window. Doubting your skills may or may not get in the way of your actual performance, but it certainly will get in the way of you enjoying the process. When you feel the nerves coming on, it can be helpful to write down everything you’re thinking about - allow yourself to reflect on the thoughts and find out what you’re really afraid of.
2. Do your prep work
Nerves have a way of creeping up on us if we feel like we didn’t do enough prep. Making sure you prepare for an audition as best you can will help to keep nerves at a minimum. Before the audition, give yourself enough time to review your materials and do a warmup to get yourself into a good mindset. Sometimes it’s impossible to feel like you’ve had enough time to go over the material - maybe you’re bringing in a new monologue/song or been given sides on short notice. Remind yourself of the work you’ve done and be confident in your abilities. You’ve got this!
For more tips on cracking the code of last minute sides auditions, check out our blog post!
3. Prepare for the journey
Traveling can add so much stress to your day, especially if there’s delays or traffic. While you can’t control the transit, you can make sure you minimize other stressful aspects of your travel. Map out where you’re going the night before and try to arrive at least 15 minutes early (especially if the audition is in an unfamiliar location), so you have time to find exactly where you’re going. Any nerves you have will definitely be amplified if you’re running in late, sweating, and out of breath. Packing your audition bag the night before and laying out your audition outfit can also help to reduce stress in the morning. It’s a good idea to check the weather as well to make sure you won’t be caught in the rain after spending the time getting your hair ✨audition ready✨.
Check out our blog post for more tips on what might come in handy.
4. Make a plan for the waiting room
The waiting room can be the place where the nerves start to hit the hardest. For some actors, engaging in small-talk in the waiting room is a great distraction, while others just want to focus on their material before going in. It might take a few auditions for you to discover what you need to do just before entering the room. A pre-audition meditation or audition playlist to get you into the right headspace can be game-changing. Visualizing yourself having a successful audition can also be a great tool to calm the mind. Breathing exercises or finding a corner to do some movement (spinal rolls, shaking out, etc.) to connect with your body can also help keep yourself from spiraling into nervous thoughts. Positive self-talk can also be a powerful tool - remind yourself of how amazing you are and focus on all the incredible things you bring to the table.
5. Know that the panel wants you to do well
If your nerves are coming from wanting to impress the panel or being seen as “talented enough”, I’ve got good news for you - you’ve already impressed them! The panel wouldn’t have invited you into the room if they didn’t think you were good enough. You don’t need to try and guess what the panel wants to see; they just want to see you excel. Auditions are a space for you to show off your skills, but it’s also a place to practice what you love. Sometimes shifting the nervous energy from focusing on impressing the panel to being excited to show them material that you enjoy, can be enough to keep the nerves at bay.
6. Post-audition self care
No matter what happened in the room, it’s important to do some post-audition self care. It’s so easy to be hyper-critical or to over analyze your performance, but the best thing to do after an audition is to let it go.
There are so many factors that go into casting a show that are completely out of your hands. You gave it your best shot and now it’s time to treat yourself for putting yourself out there! Whether you go to your favorite bakery, take a bath, or head to the cinema, it’s nice to find something you can do after an audition as a reward (or something to take your mind off of it) - you deserve it.
7. Do it more often
Now this might be easier said than done - not all of us are lucky enough to be auditioning on a weekly (or even monthly) basis. But the more often you put yourself in high-pressure performance situations, the easier it becomes. Local open mics, masterclasses, concerts, scratch nights, or even posting yourself performing on social media are all great ways to practice your craft with higher stakes than performing for yourself in your bedroom. The more you expose yourself to these high-pressure performance experiences, you will discover what works best to help keep your nerves in check while also developing more confidence in your performance skills.
It’s totally normal to feel nervous before an audition, but with these tips, you can arm yourself with strategies to feel more confident at your next audition. Remember that you are bringing your unique set of skills and personality into the room - no one else is able to do exactly what you do. This is an opportunity for you to show all of these wonderful skills and do something you love. Take a deep breath and jump in!
Do you have any tips that have helped you tackle your audition nerves? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Last Updated: October 24, 2024
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.