No matter where you are in your acting career, the thought of an audition is almost always bound to be stressful. Whether it’s for a bit part or a series lead, an upcoming audition often leads to some combination of anxiety, sleeplessness, stuttering, loss of words...maybe even a cold sweat. But why? Why is this the case for so many actors who audition on a regular basis?
The answer is fear, the number one culprit. And while that may seem like a simple answer to a complex question, it’s actually deeper than it appears. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
F: Failing
E: Every
A: Audition
R: Repeatedly
What’s so crazy about this is that it only takes one bad audition for this concept to be the driving force within your career every time you step into the room. It’s become an enormous problem across the globe for all performers.
But rather than focus on the problem, I’d rather find a solution that means you’ll never have to deal with this issue, instead becoming the fearless, swagger-filled performer you’ve always wanted to be.
The key to an absolutely amazing audition is to not care so much about what other people think of you. Once you’re worried about what someone else is thinking of you—whether it’s a producer, casting director or producer—you’ve lost.
The truth is, you have to learn how to not care so much. You have to know that you’re still a phenomenal performer even if you have a bad audition. Even if someone says you’re not that good. Even if someone dares to challenge your inner greatness, you have to not care!
READ: Booking the Job in 3 Simple Steps
When I first started writing and coaching actors, I worked with an individual who challenged everything that I taught, opposing every single thing I proposed, even if 1,000 other people benefited from what I was teaching. Even when the universe came to my defense through an established acting coach telling him that everything he was saying was false and fabricated, he still opposed me. This frustrated me to no end until I realized something so very important: I had to stop caring what he thought about me or my work.
The second I made that decision, I began to see humor in his antics. So much so that it opened up another realization that has helped my ability to audition on a high level: I can’t change who anyone is or what they think of me, I can only be the best version of myself. My interpretation of me is pure joy and unconditional self-love in all of my actions.
This truth enables me to be free even if I was to step in front of Spielberg or any other person of great importance. It releases the fear and opens you to the freedom to be who you can be best: you! Once you’re here, you can be confident and loose to make bold, creative choices that will elevate your performance.
When we walk into the casting room without simply “trying to get the job,” we are already winning. You need to know that you are designed to win. That is the ultimate truth of any actor who has made this profession their life.
And when you embody that winning attitude, you develop a swagger that is contagious and undeniable. You begin to enable people to believe in themselves through your energy alone. This is your destiny. It’s why you became a performer: you want your swag to inspire others to live their very best lives.
Believe in yourself, refuse to give a damn about anything that doesn’t resonate with your highest potential or highest self, and claim the success that is rightfully yours.
Shaun Grant is a dynamic “entreperformer” who is a recognized authority in personal performance and transformation. He is the author of “Prosperity Secrets: How to Live the Life of Your Dreams.” He is also the creator of The Vibrational Actor and hosts his own podcast called “The Actor’s Area.” Shaun has been acting, writing, and coaching for the past 10 years. He teaches the concept of vibrational acting and vibrational consciousness to performers around the world. His soul purpose is to inspire, uplift, and motivate actors through cutting-edge mental and spiritual practices. He’s at his happiest when his students experience successful breakthroughs in mind, body, and spirit as it relates to their acting careers. Shaun has acted in over 40 projects, working alongside some of Hollywood’s brightest stars, and has written and produced his own projects as well. When Shaun isn’t acting, writing, or coaching, he enjoys engaging in his love of travel and creating life-changing content through his blogs.
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and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
