What do I need for a acting audition?

Question:What do i need? My friend and I need to know what we need. We would like it if you told us a place also.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: What do i need? My friend and I need to know what we need. We would like it if you told us a place also.

Hey there...glad to see another person want to get involved in theater!

There is alot of "if"s in your question, so for starters, I am going to give you my Yahoo!Msnger screen name so you can IM me if this question doesn't meet certain guidelines.

You can IM me at Luck64@yahoo.com (and e-mail me too)

If you're going to start auditions, the basics are as such:

1.Headshot(s)
2.Resume
*3.Monologue(s)
*4.Song(s)

*not necessarily needed always, check the audition call to be sure

1. Your headshot is easy. Go to a professional photographer, or go to a friend with a digital camera and a little more experience than it takes to click off 9 MySpace photos a second, and dress nicely; not necessarily suit and tie, but casualy professional (directors do get to keep these photos, so anything you wouldn't want circulating...don't wear). Take a few from different angles, and SMILE haha. Then pick your two or three favorites, save them as black and white photos, and either get a copy of the file on your computer, or have your photographer give you one you can have copied often.

This is your headshot. It will go on the back of your resume, and will provide the director with a face to put to the name AFTER you've auditioned and gone home.

2. Your resume is basically just a list of where you've acted, what shows, what roles, and also any training, special skills, your vocal range (if you want to do musicals) etc, etc, etc. If you're just starting chances are you don't need one yet, but as you build up roles, start making one...if you end up IMing me I can show you mine so you know how to format it, but as for now I won't get into it because its complicated and you have no prior experience. Resumes should always be kept to one side of one-page, as you get into more shows you'll have to start picking and choosing which go on the resume and which don't.

But don't let that discourage you, you stand just as good a chance as anyone.

Before you go to an audition you will print one of these out, and on the back you will print your headshot. They should both me heads-up so that the director doesn't have to keep turning it right-side up or upside-down.

3. Monologues. Start compiling a folder and use monologue books to find monologues from plays. I'd reccomend 2 of each kind. 2 comedy, 2 dramatic that are both contemporary (i.e. Neil Simon), and 2 comedy 2 dramatic that are classical (i.e. Shakespeare). That way you have a variety, and as you do more shows you'll learn more possibilities from the shows you are in.

Typically an audition for a non-musical or "straight show" will be a cold-read. This means you will read pre-selected "sides" or pieces of the script the director chose, and monologues will not be needed. If they are, the director will post it on the audition notice before hand. Typically a good monologue is no less than a minute, and no more than 3.

4. Songs. This sort of goes the same way, except that ANY musical you audition for, will require you to sing at the audition...typically 16-bars of 2 differing types of songs that match the style of the musical. So, start picking your favorite musical numbers that match your voice, pick 16-bars of each song, and add them to your folder along with your headshots, and resumes and monologues.

NEVER, or rather VERY RARELY use a song from the show you are auditioning for as an audition song, its just generally frowned upon by directors...not all, but its sort of a rule of thumb. This also goes for monologues, especially Shakespearean.
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Now when you go to the audition you will have a sheet they'll typically have you fill out. Even if you have a resume, it's good measure to fill it out anyway so the director can organize everyone together.

As for where to start, that all depends on what state you are in. Go to your local playhouse, or community center, look for or ask for audition notices...that should get you going. If you're from the Northeast Ohio are go to www.fredsternfeld.com and sign up for the NEOhioPAL list (North Eastern Ohio Performan Artist List)...if not it won't help you at all.

Also, look out for Equity auditions. You are not equity...at least not yet, so if there are only Equity contracts available, which you may find the case at your local playhouse, unless its a community theater (and they have them sometimes too), you won't be able to audition....yet. Maybe down the road though.

Regardless of all this...just have FUN...if you don't get cast, don't get discouraged...even the best of the best of the best get turned down more than they get accepted. Keep auditioning, its the best audition practice available.

Anyways, again my e-mail is Luck64@yahoo.com if you want to talk more about this with me or see my resume for an example...I also have AIM but you'd have to IM your screen name before we'd be able to chat!

OH!
Almost forgot two other important rules...

1. NEVER, EVER wish a fellow actor "good luck" its "break a leg" or nothing at all

and

2. NEVER, EVER say the words "Macbeth" backstage or onstage, or in the audience, or in your car in the parking lot (lol)...basically anywhere near or in a theater, unless you are doing the play Macbeth. If you have to refer to it, call it "The Scottish Play"

Just two important theater superstitions haha.

Break a leg!
-Justin

depends on what the audition is for.

it also depends on thedirector.

just ask the person who is in charge of auditions and they'll let you know.

Well u normally need a headshot and a resume and its best to bring one even if its not a requirement! Sometimes when u get there they will say "State" that means state your name, age and state and sometimes city. They will have you stand on a mark and then read something from a short script. Its okay if u mess up, as long as u don't be like OMFG!!!!!! Just make something up. Oh and don't lie on your resume, people will find out sooner or later

See if some of the information on this page will help you: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/teen_...