Casting Director Renee Godbout tells you how to stop anxiety from getting in the way of success

You already know that auditions can be scary. But you’ll be able to relax at auditions if you remember the following tips before you go. The worst thing you can do it get nervous and psych yourself out. Have confidence and just remember...

1. CASTING DIRECTORS WANT TO LIKE YOU.

You may be thinking, “They’re out to get me. I have no shot.” You couldn’t be further from the truth. Casting directors would love to find the star of their next big project as quickly as possible. They want you to succeed. They don’t want to sit around all day and worry if they are ever going to find the right person. You are helping them just as much as they are helping you. Be confident and walk into that room knowing you have something to offer. When they give you instruction, casting directors are helping you reach your potential.

2. MEMORIZE YOUR SIDES AND/OR MONOLOGUE.

Not doing so will throw off your audition. But missing a line isn’t necessarily an audition-killer. What will ruin your audition is if you react poorly to your own mistakes. To avoid this, take time to memorize the sides you are given and practice in front of people. It’s a different situation speaking in front of an audience then alone in your living room.

3. DON'T BE LATE.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to your audition. Lateness is completely unprofessional. Always plan to be at an audition at least 15 minutes in advance. Cutting things close and rushing will only make you more nervous and more likely to make a mistake. Assume there will be horrendous traffic, a late subway, an early train, or a closed-down road. These things happen all the time, but none of those excuses are going to make a difference to the casting director that is late for his or her next appointment because they’re waiting for you. They won’t be waiting and will move on to the next person.

4. DRESS FOR THE PART.

Always thing about WHO you are auditioning for. Make it easy for the casting director to picture you in the role. You’ll stand out later when they are putting all the Polaroid photos up on a bulletin board to look at. If you’re supposed to be portraying a street thug and the only photos they have of you are a smiling headshot and a sweet-looking girl dressed in a pink dress, their imagination will have to work overtime to see you in the role.

5. BRING A PEN AND PHOTO ID.

This may sound silly, but you often need to show identification, especially if you’re going on an interview for background work and expect to get paid your quarter check. At almost every audition I have done, there has been a line of people waiting to borrow someone else’s pen. We never have enough and people always forget to return the pen they are given. If your name is about to be called and you’re still waiting to fill out your information, you won’t be laughing then. It’s all a part of being prepared and keeping stress to a minimum.

Stress affects everybody, and it is the one thing that can always take a good audition and make it bad. But if you remember the tips above, you won’t be ever have to stress out about being unprepared!

Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.

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