Drop Your Anxiety & Prepare for Post-Strike Auditions

Fingers crossed that we are almost at the end of the actors strike and ready to get back to the windfalls of work waiting for everyone!

What will that mean? A LOT of auditions! Are you ready to handle a high volume of auditions with professionalism and confidence? Here are some tips to help!

1. Preparation is Key:

Preparation is a big ingredient to being confident! Work your material so you know it as well as possible. Also do your research on the material and the team so you can make the most appropriate choices.

2. Practice Regularly:

If you aren’t working your muscles as an actor regularly, it will be harder to work quickly and efficiently when you need to! Stay in great creative shape by practicing and staying in class.

3. Deep Breathing:

Take deep and slow breaths to help center yourself and keep yourself calm before major auditions.

4. Visualization:

I love this tool for actors! Visualizing success has been proven to help you produce better results in studies around the world for YEARS. Take some time to visualize your audition experience to help you feel prepared and pave your brain for success.

5. Physical Warm-Up:

This is a great way to prepare and it doesn’t need to be intense. A good stretch or a short walk can help you release nervous energy so you can focus on your performance.

6. Positive Self-Talk:

If YOU aren’t speaking positively and thinking positively about your career, you can’t expect people to think positively enough to hire you. Stop taking yourself out of the running before you even get started by telling yourself negative things.

7. Accept Nervousness:

Being nervous means you CARE–and that is awesome! It’s ok to be nervous and it’s nothing to beat yourself up over!

8. Stay Hydrated and Eat Well:

Keep your tools performance ready! You can’t have a healthy body and voice if you aren’t drinking enough water and eating healthy foods. Your body is your most important tool as an actor!

9. Arrive Early:

An old acting teaching of mine used to say “Early is on time and on time is late.” Arrive to any audition early enough to take a minute for yourself. Rushing doesn’t do anyone any favors.

10. Focus on the Character, Not Yourself:

Get out of the trap of “watching yourself” by focusing on your characters and what THEY want, and not about you and what YOU want.

11. Stay Present:

Stay in the moment! Don’t worry about the outcomes. Outcomes are in the future. You need to be in the now.

12. Connect with Other Actors:

Community is key to longevity in this business! Surround yourself with actor friends that understand the lifestyle and support you!

13. Keep Auditioning:

It’s your job as an actor. The more auditions the better! The more you audition, the more you hone your skills.

14. Seek Professional Help:

If you find anxiety particularly paralyzing, look into getting a counselor. They can help you with more focused coping skills.

15. Learn from Rejections:

Rejection is a part of the biz. Learn from them and then LET THEM GO. Dwelling on rejection never booked anyone a gig…

Let’s get ready for a waterfall of opportunities— we can’t wait to hear about all of your bookings as soon as this strike is over!!!

Written by Colleen Kahl, President, ActorsConnection.com

Special thanks to Tim Wildsmith for the featured image… and Tonic for the inset.