With in-person auditions looking more and more like a relic of the past, knowing how to audition virtually has become a necessary skill for actors’ basic survival. While some actors have had better luck than others transitioning to this new format, auditioning online can still be an intimidating feat for any actor. Here, we check in with a number of actors about their experiences with virtual auditions—and how they used Backstage to land them.
“I really do enjoy the Zoom auditions because I’m in a safe space—I’m in my house—I’m having fun this way, it’s less stress.”
Virtual auditions have made the actor’s life more convenient.
“The last thing I booked through Backstage was an initial casting for a cooking commercial, and it was online only. I’m coming around to it! I feel like initially using Zoom—I’m not really someone [who thrives in] virtual environments, because I’m quite a tactile person and I like feeling the room and the energy; I like meeting someone one-to-one. So, at first it was quite tricky, but now I’m becoming a lot more familiar with it and it’s actually become quite nice, because, just in terms of having to get to so many different auditions and castings in a short space of time, I’ve managed to cut down on my commute, which is great. I can just do it at home. And, also, I’ve found that I’ve been able to use Backstage to fit in more auditions and more castings because I’m at home. That’s also positive.” —Stephen Stallone Thomas
“Virtual auditions are really convenient. It takes away the stress of having to set out a big chunk of time to [travel]. Let’s say, for an in-person audition, I have to drive to the audition [and] figure out how long it’s going to take me to get there. And parking—I mean, I live in Los Angeles, so driving and parking is already a huge stress factor! [Virtual] auditions take all of that in-person stress away, the logistics of figuring it all out, because it’s very convenient. You know, I just set up my laptop. I put up my materials, set up my lights, my background, get my computer ready, get my webcam; I’ve prepped, memorized the lines, worked as much as I can.” —Trystan Colburn
“The latest project I found on Backstage would probably be the film that I did last summer, around the time when COVID first hit. I had to do a Zoom audition and submit a self-tape. I see it as an advantage, because I’m currently a student in college, so getting to auditions is very difficult, especially since the nearest [audition hub] to me would be New York, and going in to New York is pretty difficult. I don’t have a whole lot of time to take out of my day for auditions due to classes and all. So, having Zoom auditions that I can do for five minutes between classes has been really nice. I would tell people to take this as an opportunity. If you are from an area that doesn’t have frequent casting calls or productions, and it’s not a high-traffic area for filming or theater or anything like that, take advantage of the virtual aspects of auditioning. Now, you can audition for something in L.A. and live in New Jersey, which is what I am doing. Just take advantage and audition for more nationwide calls.” —Cailey Merulla
“I just look at this stuff and go, Come on, folks, don’t fret over doing a live audition over Zoom. It ain’t going to be perfect. There’s going to be hitches all along the way. And they won’t all be your fault.”
There’s sure to be some hiccups—just roll with it.
“I really do enjoy the Zoom auditions. I’m naturally shy. I start off very mild-mannered and shy in new situations, but I always like to bring my A-game. So, if I’m at home on Zoom, it’s like, Alright, this is what we’re doing at this time. One time I was on Zoom for maybe an hour, then I had to hop back on later [to] do different auditions with different possible and potential cast members. I just love it! Because I’m in a safe space—I’m in my house—I’m having fun this way; it’s less stress. I get that there are technical difficulties, but just be ready for whatever. When you’re working with other people, you never know what their internet connection is like. I did realize sometimes I’m not going to hear their lines, but I need to be ready no matter what. At the end of the day, it’s about me and landing the role. Just be ready, because you never know what can come up. Just always be on top of things—be 10 steps ahead, thinking ahead.” —Danielle Fiers
“At first, it was rather intimidating because of the whole technology side of it, but now that I’ve been doing it, I really like it. You don’t have to go all out and have a professional studio setup. I use my iPhone and I have a ring light. Whatever is best for you. I don’t think it’s as big a deal as a lot of people tend to make it, because the bottom line is it’s just going to come down to your acting, as long as you’re not standing in something that’s going to be a distraction. Even though you might feel like the connection may not be the same when you’re doing a reading with a live person versus on your computer, I still feel like if you’re really in your moment, if you’re really in your zone, if you’re really doing what you’re supposed to do, it’ll still feel real. It’s still going to connect and they’re still going to see the talent that you have and what you could bring to the role.” —Kelly Fine
“There was a huge gap at the beginning. It seemed like nobody was making it really clear about what was expected, as far as quality was concerned. I mean, still, when I look at things on Facebook or something, people who are coming in trying to get started, they have no idea where to look, it seems, to find out what you’re supposed to do: how you’re supposed to have a setup, what to do if you’re running on a shoestring [budget]. To me, those are things you shouldn’t be afraid of. [For a recent Zoom audition,] the person who was running the thing had their share of technical problems along with all of the actors. So, I just look at this stuff and go, Come on, folks, don’t fret over doing a live audition over Zoom… It ain’t going to be perfect. There are going to be hitches all along the way. And they won’t all be your fault.” —Andrew Pickwood
“Because I’ve done it so much these past few months, I’m really getting used to it and better at it, so that my acting can feel more [natural].”
Still, this is a real audition. Treat it as such.
“One of the things I learned about live in-person auditioning was the first thing that’s going to get you a job is the moment you step into the door. You’re greeting, you’re looking at the people who are there, reading the room a little bit. Do they want to shake your hand? Do they not want to shake your hand? You know, learn a little of those things. It’s the same thing sitting in front of the Zoom camera (even though, of course, you can’t shake their hand). You’ve got to learn to read the room a little bit. But again, you don’t want to sweat it.” —AP
“I auditioned for a recent Shakespeare play through Backstage, and I auditioned using Zoom for another recent project. One of my directors told me that even though you are doing it through Zoom, you have to act almost 10 times more, so that your energy can fill the screen, because, obviously, you’re not in the same room with people. It’s definitely a difficult thing to do, and because I’ve done it so much these past few months, I’m really getting used to it and better at it, so that my acting can feel more [natural]. Sometimes, I’ll ask my mom to help me, and if I don’t have someone, what I do is say the lines myself and record it onto my laptop. That way, as I’m saying my lines, I can just press play and I’m technically speaking back to myself. I think people should take advantage of [Backstage and Zoom auditions] because you can reach out to lots of different people that are outside of your country, even.” —Ziga Poromon
“When I first started my Zoom auditions, I’d always think, Oh, I’ve got so much time, because I’m at home, and that used to put me into a bit of a panic. Now, I treat the audition like I’m in the room. I’ll plan it, make sure I go and log on 15 minutes, 20 minutes beforehand. I think it’s all about just preparation, making sure you’re comfortable and making sure your lighting is set up beforehand, your camera—just little prep things really make a difference.” —SST
Don’t fear inevitable awkward moments (they make for great stories)!
“I mentioned I’m a college student in a dorm, so we have an RA. Last week, I was at an audition for an agency, which is a big deal! I was so prepared and I was sitting in front of my window with the beautiful lighting, I was all done up, and it was a really nice setup; I was proud of it! I had just given a monologue, they had moved on to someone else, but we couldn’t turn our cameras off and they didn’t want us to move or anything. And then I hear this pounding on my door. I’m like, Dear God. And it’s constant pounding. I thought, I cannot get the door right now. Please go. So I’m just sitting there and they’re pounding on the door. But they have a key, so they opened my door and I turned around and said, ‘I am in an audition. I am so sorry. Can you come back in, like, five minutes?’ It was like, Are you kidding me?” —CM
“I have a dog, and my dog loves being around me. I can’t tell you how many times I would be doing a self-tape and practicing over and over and finally getting ready, and the dog runs in the room and sits at my feet or jumps on the bed. Once, she jumped up right next to the camera. You couldn’t really see her, you could just see the top of her ears. So, you have to definitely make sure that you shut your door and don’t have any TVs playing in the background or anything! I did a couple of self-tapes where my dog was sitting right over my feet as I was standing there. And I was just like, If anybody could see what was going on from the waist down, they wouldn’t believe it.” —KF
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