Nailing an audition involves more than just being right for a role. Even when you’ve mastered character work and memorized your lines, you never know when you’ll hear those four little words—“Tell me about yourself”—from a casting director. Or, you might be asked to self-tape for a reality series that requires you to show off your improvisational skills. In moments like these, unscripted prep is just as crucial as scripted prep.
Speaking to a casting director is wildly different from reading as a character, and winning them over involves coming off as grounded and secure in your own skin, says on-camera performance coach Michelle Kennedy. With over a decade of coaching experience, Kennedy’s background includes acting, hosting, teaching, broadcast news reporting, and anchoring. The seasoned pro shares tips and techniques on how to prepare for off-script moments at auditions, and how to show up with the kind of confidence that will get you booked for your dream role.
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When a casting director gives you the chance to discuss a project, it’s best to convey warmth and geniality. “Keep a smile on your face, chin up, and ask questions in a friendly and conversational tone,” Kennedy says.
You can also make the most of the exchange by showing them how creative and receptive you are to work with. “Show that you are focused on learning more about what they want for the role. Bring curiosity and ease, and most importantly, do your best to listen to the answers,” Kennedy advises.
Take the focus off yourself and your appearance by taking calming breaths, and be sure to “listen well… so that you can pick up on any follow-up questions you might need to ask.”
You’ll have an edge in the room if you take time to reflect on the role and the world beforehand. “Become that character in your mind, and prepare for and anticipate real stories you can tell that will show your personality, while matching what they are looking for,” advises Kennedy. The expert cites an example of when she booked a print ad for a pharmaceutical company for a character who was dubbed “Outdoor Woman.” “It was an outdoor shoot and all about using a particular medicine to become more comfortable outdoors, allergy-free,” Kennedy explains. Before her audition, she thought about experiences she’d had in her own life.
As it turned out, the casting director asked Kennedy to tell a story about one of her own adventures. Thanks to the prep she’d done beforehand, Kennedy told a story about exploring rivers, fjords, and glaciers in New Zealand, and her face lit up as she was speaking. In that moment, Kennedy says she truly believed she was the “Outdoor Woman,” and all her preparation paid off when she booked the ad.
During your pre-audition prep, make sure to practice how you would answer a prompt like “Tell me about yourself.” When faced with this common yet dauntingly open-ended question, Kennedy advises, “They want you to be you, so don’t fake it. Tell them about your passions, your work, and what makes you happy. Try to show them the person they would get if they hired you for the job, not who you think they want. Everybody wins when the authentic you connects with the casting team. Chin up, shoulders back, smile, and look people in the eye. If your story doesn’t connect, that simply wasn’t the job for you.”
Kennedy stresses the importance of being curious and present: “Trust your gut with your responses and go with vulnerability over performance,” she says, adding that doing so will “pull yourself into the moment and out of your head,” helping you relax into the scene.
Physical prep is just as important as mental prep. When it comes to your body language, Kennedy says actors should focus on being “open, light, and receptive” by keeping their facial expressions neutral and trying not to cross their arms.
Even though you’re auditioning for a character, remember to bring yourself into the room and into your body. “Resist the urge to bring what you think people want, and instead, dig deep and be yourself,” Kennedy says. “You might be quirky or feel weird, but your weird might be exactly what the world needs right now.”
And though it’s easier said than done, try to enjoy the audition process rather than focusing solely on the end result. It’s “not only about whether they will pick you. It’s an opportunity for you to be in the room and ask questions to find out if the part is right for you, as well. That is why it is so important to remember that connection should be a greater focus for you than performance,” says Kennedy. “If you can shift your mindset into more of a collaborative vein, you stand a better chance of experiencing the real give-and-take.”
