7 Tips on How to Improve Your Audition
With Anna Kennedy, casting director on The Pirate Queen
Anna Kennedy, Casting Director on The Pirate Queen, has worked in TV, Film, Theatre and commercials, from HBO documentaries to dramas such as 'Amulet' starring Imelda Staunton. Here are her key tips for improving your audition:
1. Plan your route!
You should aim to get to the casting location around 10-15 minutes before your scheduled time. Plan your route the night before so you feel relaxed and in control of the next day. You’ll feel so much better if you arrive early with time to get ‘in the zone’.
2. Do your homework
Research is always good - read the script (if you’ve had time to do so), research the world of the play, find out about the creative team… putting in the work beforehand will set you up for a really good meeting. On that note - questions are always welcome. If there is anything you’re not sure of, always ask!
3. Be prepared (but willing to play)
As a general rule, try to be off book for screen auditions and able to get your eyes off the page for a theatre audition. We would not expect you to be off book if your audition came through with less than 24 hours’ notice. Also, if asked to prepare your own material, pick two contrasting pieces that show off your range! Feeling prepared will always help you to relax and play in the room, but don’t be so over-prepared that you can’t handle redirection.
4. We are rooting for you
There is nothing more exciting than an actor nailing their audition (and it makes us look good too…!). We have invited you to meet because we think you’re good enough to be in the room, so be confident in the knowledge that we are there to champion you!
5. Be kind to yourself
Being an actor isn’t easy! Make sure you have other things to fulfill you - pick up a hobby, read for pleasure, head out into nature. Give yourself time to switch off from ‘professional stuff’ and enjoy the opportunity to just be yourself - self-care will make you a stronger, more resilient actor in the long run.
6. We love to see you move!
A headshot alone is a good first indicator of whether or not we think you are right for a role, but there is nothing better than seeing some footage on your professional page (Spotlight, etc) of you in action. Keep showreels short and sweet and don’t feel like you have to fork out to have a professional showreel made for you - grab a good quality camera, a blank background and a killer monologue and film yourself. You’ll be surprised how successful it could be…
7. Let us know what you’re up to
A big (and exciting) part of our job is meeting new actors. We are always happy to hear from you if you have a show you’d like us to come to or a new episode on TV that we can make a note to watch. An email simply introducing yourself is unlikely to stick in our mind, so best to hold off until you have something exciting to share.
Anna Kennedy
Anna has built an exciting and varied resume as a Casting Director, working on Film, TV, Theatre and Commercials. She prides herself in scouring the country and across the globe to cast the perfect person for every role. Anna has an extensive knowledge of talent and a broad network of contacts within the industry.