Ask an actor what their least favorite part of performing is, and many of them will probably say “auditions.”

While auditions can be frightening and challenging, they don’t necessarily have to be! Approaching with the correct mindset and materials is key for a less harrowing experience.

Here are 20 miscellaneous tips to help make the process a little less rough!

1. DO… be honest

It can be tempting to stretch the truth in auditions. Adding some less-than-honest lines to your resume or telling some white lies in the audition room can seem like a good way to bolster your confidence and make you seem like a better candidate for the role. Lying generally to more problems later, though: honesty is always the best policy. Tell the truth when talking to the production staff, and when filling out any paperwork.

If you’re wondering whether you should be honest when you say you’re willing to accept any role, the answer is yes!

2. DON’T… be arrogant

One of the easiest ways to shoot yourself in the foot in an audition is to give the impression that you feel entitled.

I have a director friend who always advocates putting a “reliable spy” in the waiting room to keep an eye on the actors coming in to audition. One time, the “spy” relayed that two actors had been particularly full of themselves coming out of the audition, dismissing the work the other actors did and acting like they had it in the bag. As it happens, their auditions weren’t that great, anyway, so the director ended up cutting them quite happily.

Don’t read this and assume you have to be down on yourself, though– self-deprecating humor in the audition room puts the audition panel in a weird spot. Aim for humble and respectful.

3. DO… ask questions

You always hear this one when looking for job interview advice: “Make sure you have a question or two to ask the interviewer.” It’s almost inevitable that you will eventually be asked, “do you have any questions?” When this happens, it can be helpful to have a question or two in your pocket– it makes you look interested, and it gives you a chance to get some more information. It can also help avoid some awkwardness. It’s not a bad idea to have one picked out ahead of time so you don’t have to come up with it on the fly.

You’ll want to ask the right kind of question. Asking “how should I read this scene?” would be the wrong kind of question, for example. It makes the director do your job for you. You’re the actor, you’re the expert! Gravitate towards questions about practical matters, or for clarification about the script or the director’s vision if you struggle to come up with one of these.

4. DON’T… make them take care of you

I touched on this idea in the last few points. In the audition room, get accustomed to acting like the expert in the room. This isn’t to say that you should enter with a big head! But you should definitely enter with confidence and resist the urge to make your nerves the production staff’s problem.

Auditioning is a nerve-wracking experience. I think the best directors remember this when they hold auditions. That said, if an actor spends the audition being a nervous wreck, the production staff might get the idea that this actor can’t handle the demands of the production.

Think of it this way: you wouldn’t want a surgeon who is super nervous about performing a procedure. If your waiter was super nervous about taking your order, you might get anxious that they would mess up your food. The folks you’re auditioning for want to know that you’ll take the role you’re given and execute it wonderfully.

Putting aside nerves is a big challenge. Start by simply being more mindful about the image you present in the audition room.

5. DO… take your time

I’ve often joked that I go into an audition and black out until I exit. Auditions can go very quick and often feel like a blur after the fact. Nerves don’t help, either, and generally make you want to move even quicker. Try to remind yourself to slow down– it will help you both feel and appear less nervous. Furthermore, it will give you space to assess your surroundings and your choices more thoroughly. Instead of making a so-so choice because you’re in a rush, don’t be afraid to take some time to reflect on a better one!

6. DON’T… waste their time

While you should take your time, you certainly shouldn’t waste their time. This means be on time (be early!) and be ready to work. Know your material. Be prepared!

7. DO… read the audition notice closely

This is part of being prepared. Absolutely make sure you have everything you need by double and triple checking the audition notice. Review it several times, if you must! Everything you bring to the audition must fit with what the audition notice asks for.

Not reading the notice closely enough and showing up unprepared as a result can make you seem lazy or thoughtless, which is an easy way to make a bad impression!

8. DON’T… prepare things you won’t need

It is important to complete an appropriate level of professional homework before you audition. For a standard audition, I encourage actors to be familiar with the show (if it’s a pre-existing work) and possibly the source material, if it’s available. I’ve recently learned, though, that doing too much homework is definitely possible. Try to fight the urge to overprepare. Memorizing every word of the script and learning every word of the score isn’t necessary for an audition, and the amount of energy these require can make you more nervous about the audition itself– if you invest so much time, only to not get cast, it would feel like a huge waste.

If you’ve got a lot of nervous energy before an audition and are looking for something to do, work on updating your resume or audition book! These are materials you can re-use for many shows in the future, so it won’t be wasted strife if you don’t get cast this time.

9. DO… be professional

Like I mentioned before, you never know who may be a hidden spy in the waiting room! From the minute you enter the building your audition is taking place– or maybe even as early as you exit your car at the location– treat everyone with professional kindness.

Professionalism means being friendly, but it also means maintaining a level of decorum. Don’t be so friendly with the other people in the waiting room that you begin causing a ruckus!

10. DON’T… be temperamental

Auditions are scary. We all understand this. Some people show their nerves by being snappy or short-tempered. Do absolutely everything you can to manage your nerves so this doesn’t happen. I have seen auditions where actors snap at or get moody with the production staff– it’s never worked in their favor.

11. DO… make sure you know where you’re going

If you’re auditioning somewhere you’ve never been before, it can be helpful to scout out the address. Put it into your GPS and try traveling to the location. It can be helpful to note things like parking and traffic expectations so that you know exactly what to do and how long it will take you to get there on the day of the audition. If your audition is inside a performance space, I find it very reassuring to make the time to see a performance at the venue before the audition. This way, I know where I’m going, and simply having spent some time inside the space where I’ll be auditioning can help reduce a lot of nerves. Fear of the unknown is real!

12. DON’T… blame or make excuses

I think this is generally common knowledge, but do avoid making excuses. Making mistakes is okay– you don’t have to explain away all of them! Instead of saying, “oops, I messed up this song because I only decided I was auditioning this morning,” or “my agent didn’t send me these sides until an hour ago,” just keep going. Ask for a second chance if you must, but stopping generally only draws more attention to errors that sometimes escape everyone’s notice but your own.

13. DO… remember they want to see you succeed

It can help with anxiety to remember that the director and the rest of the staff want to see you do well. They want to cast their show! They aren’t looking for you to fail, they are genuinely excited to see what talents you can offer.

14. DON’T… bring the wrong materials

I mentioned before the importance of reading over the audition notice to make sure you’re bringing the requested materials. Choosing appropriate materials for the situation is also important. If you’re auditioning for The Sound of Music, and all you have in your audition book is songs from Hamilton, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.

Make sure your audition book is filled with diverse rep so that you have something to use for any show! If you don’t have an audition book, you should definitely work on putting one together– but for now, just make sure the songs or monologues you’re bringing are stylistically appropriate for the show you’re trying out for. Think about range, musical style and genre, and general tone or mood.

15. DO… rehearse your materials thoroughly

As the old adage goes, “Don’t just practice until you can get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Realistically, mistakes are unavoidable, so don’t let this maxim make you a perfectionist! The idea of the saying is to stress the importance of thorough rehearsal.

There’s enough to be worried about in an audition. You don’t want to also be nervous about remembering the correct words or notes. Make sure you know your materials like the back of your hand! This gives you one less thing to be afriad of, and helps you keep your nerves in check.

16. DON’T… forget to act

When you’re anxious, it’s easy to “shut down” and start going through the motions instead of being in the moment. Remember, you’re there to act! The production staff wants to cast fabulous performers who can act (and sing and dance, if it’s a musical).

Appreciate the audition as just another chance to show off what you can do. Do the damn thing!

17. DO… have some fun

Lighten it up a little! It’s crucial to be prepared and professional… but it’s also good to note that personality is important in auditions, too. Production staffs want to cast people who seem friendly and fun to work with. And besides, you’ve worked hard to prepare for the audition… it would be a shame to let it slip right past without enjoying it at all!

18. DON’T… let others distract you

Don’t be intimidated by others’ talents or clever choices. Remember to stay true to yourself in the audition room! You’ve got your own unique talents, and the production staff wants to see those.

19. DO… plan post-audition activities to keep your mind occupied

You don’t want to be distracted during the audition… but some distraction after the audition is welcome!

If you’ve ever been to an audition, you probably understand that the waiting before the audition is nothing compared to the waiting for the cast list after auditions. Making plans to do fun, brain-occupying activities in the hours/days following auditions can do WONDERS for your anxiety/excitement/fear/impatience while the production staff is deliberating.

20. DON’T… freak out

As long as you’ve thoroughly practiced your materials and done your homework, then you’ve done all you can do! Auditions have a lot to do with luck, timing, and other abstract issues that have nothing to do with any individual actor. This can be discouraging at times, but I think it’s also beneficial to remember that auditions are weird and random! Therefore, you shouldn’t feel too bad, no matter how they go. Doing the best you can do is the important part.

Looking for more resources for auditions? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Auditioning!