Imagine that over the course of this month, you have 10 auditions lined up. Imagine, then, that out of those 10 characters for you to try, only 4 of them are truly aligned with who you are as a person - these are ones that you easily "click" with, or ones that have character descriptions that fit your look perfectly. And out of the remaining 4 characters where you...
- Truly align with the character description.
- Absolutely nail each take.
- Have the right look that casting is going for.
...your agent/manager tells you that they're looking for someone with a "name" for three of them. What does that mean?
Out of those 10 auditions, those 10 shots, you really only have one chance. But how do you know which one it is? How could you know?
The short answer: You can't. There's no way for you to know.
Even if the casting director tells you that you're perfect for the part, and that everything you did was glorious, and that the executives are going to love you - there is still a good chance that someone with a "name" is already in line for the part. The casting director can even be rooting for you, hoping that you're the one who gets chosen, but the executives (the people with the money) go the other way. It happens all the time!
This, by far, can be the toughest pill to swallow for many actors. Which means the only thing that you can do, the only control you have over the industry (starting out anyway), is how well you present yourself in the room. Your performance, your confidence, how you're dressed, how you behave, your body language, your adaptability - your preparedness - these are things that you have control over, things that you can work on. Remember, whether or not you get the part isn't even up to the casting director! (Granted, I'm talking about larger projects - if it's an "under 5," or a part where you have under 5 lines, then executives don't really need to approve talent.)
Talk to someone who's been in the business long enough, and they'll tell you the same thing. Acting is a numbers game. But I think it goes a little deeper than that. It's not just showing up to every audition. It's hitting the nail on the head as often as you can.
Imagine you're at a carnival, and someone hands you a slingshot. And in front of you, upside down, in a line, there are 10 cups. 4 of them you can knock over (the other 6 are glued to the table), but only one of them actually has something in it for you. This is auditioning. Sometimes, when you think you don't have a chance, but your aim is on point, it's a pleasant surprise when you knock the cup over, and there's a shiny golden ticket waiting underneath.
Imagine you have a slingshot. And in front of you, in a line, there are 10 cups. 4 of them you can knock over, but one of them actually has something in it for you. This represents your next 10 auditions. Four of those cups are rumored to have something in them. Only one actually does.
So every single time you prepare for an audition, you should focus on one thing only. "I am going to aim this slingshot the absolute best I can." Why? So you can find out if there's a prize underneath the cup. If there isn't, it's not a big deal. But if there was, you missed out by lack of preparation.
Let's look at the reverse side of this: If your next audition is the one that actually HAS something for you, but you're feeling bad about your chances, and you don't properly memorize/prepare - you're not going to do well, and definitely you won't get the part. This is the equivalent of you going to a carnival, seeing ten cups in front of you, and saying, "This game is rigged!" as you shoot your slingshot into the sky. Never a good idea! (Not to mention you can hurt someone!) So, again, your number one concern is to train yourself to have the best aim you possibly can.
This slingshot represents your skillset. How well you can aim is how well you audition.
Luckily, when auditioning as a younger actor, there is less "name" competition. I rarely hear phrases like "superstar 8 year old" when listening in on conversations as I walk down Hollywood Boulevard. But if you find yourself put up against another actor who has worked before? The cup may be glued to the table. Either way, you need to take your best shot.
Take everything I say with a grain of salt. Sometimes, if you wow them enough, and you outperform some celebrity's child, you'll win. But you have to outperform them. This should always be your starting point.
That's where training comes in. A coach or teacher can give you techniques to make sure that for each audition, your aim is the very best it can be. Whether or not there's something under the cup isn't up to us. It isn't even up to the casting director. It's a mix of how well you can aim, and how many cups are on the table. Next time you walk into the room, think to yourself, "Ready. Aim. FIRE!"
And don't forget: It's a carnival. It's supposed be fun!
Daniel Thrasher | Kids Acting Coach