Auditioning can be something that some fear, at least for the first time that they do it. I remember the first time I auditioned for an audio adventure and fandubbed series. I was nervous, scared, and unsure of myself. However, with time and a lot of practice, you can do it well.
So what should you do if you audition? What are some things that you’ll want to be sure you learn before auditioning in person or hitting that send button for a virtual audition? We’ll tackle some of that here.
The audition begins when you enter the building or send the email. It’s the impression you make before, during, and after a read that can determine what brings you back. Be confident, be excited, and have fun! We don’t bite đ
What Are We Looking For?
Often times, we’re looking to fill a particular role. Sometimes it can be for a small part, and other times for a larger part across an entire season, or even ongoing.
In the case of Director Doug, and myself, we’ll often give a particular script to different age groups similar to what’s on the Auditions page. Each script gives the dynamics likely to be seen by a particular character. For example, the kids’ audition features Judah and Gracie while the adults and teens will read a dialogue between Zacchaeus and his wife. Each script has a different level of emotional range to see how you portray the role.
What To Do At The Audition
- Prepare!
- Decode and quickly breakdown the Script.
- Figure out the pace, tone, emotion, and bring it to life in your own way.
- If you have questions about the character, ask to get clarification.
- Read the dialogue of the scenes to know how your character relates to the characters opposite you.
- Bring your own ideas to the role. It may have some dialogue but ad-libbing is okay to as long as it sounds natural to you and sticks close to the script.
- Be confident!
- Add physical movement to the role.
- An example is smiling if the character is happy to get that emotion across, or frustrated to move your arms (although don’t bump the mic).
- If it’s a generic script or one from a particular episode, don’t try to copy the original actor. Make it your own and how you would naturally play the part. Pretend no one has ever voiced it before unless the Director gives you that suggestion.
What If I Don’t Land A Role?
Don’t worry. Just because you may not land a role, doesn’t mean you weren’t good. Often times what happens is there is a pool of other actors who are also auditioning. One of them may fit the role better, but that shouldn’t stop you from practicing, learning more, and trying to audition again.
In the case of Discovery Mountain, we often audition people for use as Bible characters first to give them a test run. Then if a role comes along that we need to be filled, we know who could potentially fill that role. It’s not always the case but it does happen.
For more information on Auditioning, check out this blog by professional voice actor, Dee Bradley Baker, and the rest of the information on his free website for voice actors. I hope that helps you get the idea of what to do in an audition situation. Until next time, Producer Steve signing off.
