8 ways to prepare for a virtual audition:
Edwin giving a great audition from home!
The goal is the same in every audition, no matter the audition - book the gig. There are some helpful steps to ensure you give your best audition each and every time through Aura Casting, a San Francisco talent casting company. In this blog, i’ll go over the best ways to prep for an audition, and the next blog I’ll go over the best ways tips/tricks during the “Auradition.”
1st and foremost: Consider the extra time you have!
→ Are you giving yourself enough time? Before the audition, think of all the extra minutes you have since you are not BARTing, driving, or walking to the studio. So don’t let that time go to waste, instead capitalize on it, try to have a general understanding of what you’ll be asked to do in the audition. What I like to do is set a stopwatch and see what I can accomplish in any given time frame. (In fact, that’s what I am doing now as I write this blog post)
→ Have you memorized your sides? If you have sides, try your best to memorize them. That being said, do not carry a stiffness to your memorization. In other words, if the director asks you for an adjustment, be sure you are able to provide it without getting lost in your mind about the exact words of the script.
→ Does your character have a specific look or fashion sense? And if so, is there anything in your closet you can find that resembles that? Why not wear it! Make a choice, that will distinguish you from the group.
→ Are your lights set up? Make sure you are very well lit! One of the worst things in an Aura audition is that there is dim light and it is challenging to see the actor.
→ Where is your camera and why is it there? Most people use the built-in camera from their laptop/desktop for Aura auditions, but maybe you have another method. Regardless, try to think about how the end product will look when it’s airing on YouTube or Hulu. If you are kicking a soccer ball around, it seems like the frame will be on your body. If you are reading a eulogy it might be a closeup on your face. You get the idea. This kind of thinking gets your head in the game and shows the directors you are taking this job seriously. Remember: your camera isn’t static, you can move it to accompany to your performance.
→ Is your audio set up? If you have lines and we cannot hear you, or you sound too tinny, then there is a problem! We not only need to hear you, but hear you well with timbre and bass! A lot of people rely on their laptop/desktop built-in microphone, and often that works really well. Can you do a test with a friend to make sure your audio works well before the audition? The last thing we want to do is spend time helping you on setup, when we just want the performance...
→ What about your internet connection? We always recommended 100 megabits up/down to ensure a lag-less performance. If you have a choppy internet connection that will detract from the quality of your performance, so please consider upgrading your connection.
→ What does your background look like? A Lot of people audition in their bedrooms, and this is totally acceptable, with the understanding that the background is not overly distracting. If it pulls the attention away from your performance, then we have an issue. YOU are the person we want to cast, not your bedroom.. Make sure it looks neat, clean, and organized.
So that’s it! Just follow these 8 steps to ensure you get your audition off on the right foot. Don’t forget about all the time it takes to commute and channel that time into focusing on your home setup so that you have a killer audition. Remember, sign up on Aura Casting, a San Francisco commercial casting company, to be considered for upcoming projects1