Auditions & Self-Tapes
Preparation gives you something solid to stand on.
Every audition is an opportunity to tell a story about who you are as a performer. Whether you're in the room or on camera, thoughtful preparation allows you to focus less on worrying and more on doing what you love.
Before You Begin
A few simple things that can help you prepare with confidence.
Know what's
being asked
Prepare
your material
Plan the
practical stuff
Read the brief carefully. Check what you need to prepare, what to bring (if attending in person) and whether there are any specific requirements for the audition or self-tape.
Know your material well enough to make choices, respond to direction and stay connected to what you're doing
and how you're doing it.
Plan ahead. Whether you're travelling to an audition or filming a self-tape, think about everything you'll need in advance. Removing avoidable stress leaves more room for the work.
Nerves or Excitement?
We can recognise and use how we are feeling to our advantage.
That fluttery stomach, racing heart, nausea or rush of adrenaline doesn't always have to mean something is wrong. The physical feelings we associate with nerves can also be the feelings of excitement and anticipation.
Inetad of trying to get rid of those feelings, try recognising them for what they are:
a sign that something matters to you.
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You don't need to be fearless to give a strong audition.Â
You simply need to be prepared, present and willing to tell your story.
Notice it. Name it. Reframe it.
When It's Time to Perform
You don't need to get rid of the nerves.
Feeling nervous doesn't mean you're unprepared. Give yourself time, warm up in a way that works for you, and try not to use the waiting room to measure yourself against everybody else.
When you go into the room, your job isn't to guess what they want. Listen, connect with the material and make the choices you've prepared. If you're redirected, take it as an opportunity to show that you can respond and adapt.
Be prepared. Be present. Then let yourself perform.
Working With the CameraÂ
Let the camera capture the performance — whether you're speaking or singing.
A self-tape is still a performance, but the camera brings the audience much closer.Â
Whether you're working with a scene or a song, you don't need to push the performance towards the lens. Trust the preparation you've done and allow the camera to capture it.
For singers, think beyond simply producing the best vocal sound you can.Â
The song still needs intention, connection and storytelling.Â
Know who you are singing to, what you want and why you're singing these words now.
Let the vocal technique support the performance rather than becoming the performance.
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Be aware of framing too. Unless the brief tells you otherwise, make sure casting can see enough of you to experience the performance naturally. Don't become so concerned with staying perfectly still or perfectly positioned that you stop communicating.
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For acting material, keep your eyeline consistent and allow your reader to give you something to respond to. You don't need to demonstrate every thought or reaction.Â
Listen, think and trust that the camera will pick up more than you realise.
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And for both, don't be frightened of stillness.
Connection doesn't require constant movement. Sometimes the most compelling moment is simply allowing the thought, lyric or emotion to land.
Don't perform at the camera. Let the camera capture the work.
Frame yourself well
Follow any framing instructions in the brief first. If none are given, make sure your face can be seen clearly and leave enough space for natural movement. For singing, avoid framing yourself so tightly that every breathe or movement feels exaggerated and unnatural.
Know where
you're looking
Unless you've been specifically asked to sing directly to camera, please don't stare into the lens. Choose a clear eyeline and let it become the person you are singing to. If the song changes who you are addressing, those changes can be reflected naturally, but avoid constantly shifting your eyes around the room.
Let yourself perform
A self-tape needs connection, intention and storytelling. Don't make everything smaller simply because there's a camera in front of you. Equally, you don't need to demonstrate every emotion.
Trust the song and the lyrics,
trust the preparation and let the camera pick up the detail.Â
Sing to someone, not at a camera.
Don't Watch Yourself
It's incredibly tempting to watch yourself on the screen
while you're recording. Try not to.
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The moment you start checking how you look,
whether your mouth is doing something odd
or whether your hair is behaving,
part of your attention has left the performance.
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Choose your framing, check it before you begin,
and then forget about yourself on the screen.Â
Put your attention on the person you're singing or speaking to
and what you are trying to commincate.
Connect with the person, not your reflection.
After You've Performed
Leave the room without taking the audition with you.
Once it's done, it's done. There will always be things you might have done differently, but replaying every moment rarely tells you how the people in the room experienced your work.
Acknowledge
the win
Reflect,
don't criticise
Then let
it go
You showed up, prepared your work and put yourself in the room. Whatever the outcome, that matters.
If there's something useful to learn, make a note of it. Reflection helps us grow, picking ourselves apart doesn't.
The outcome may depend on dozens of things you cannot control. Your job was to prepare, perform and connect. Once you've done that, allow yourself to move on.
Do the work. Enter the room. Let the rest go.
Send It and Let It Go
Once you've checked it, trust the work you've done.
Make sure you've uploaded the correct files, followed the naming instructions and
included everything the casting team has asked for.
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Then send it.
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Try not to spend the next three hours going back over the tape, analysing every second or wondering whether Take 4 would secretly have changed your life.
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You prepared.
You performed.
You sent the work.
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The rest is no longer yours to control.
Prepare it. Record it. Send it. Let it go.
If You're Represented By The Noteworthy Approach
Once you're completed your audition or we've submitted your self-tape, we'll take it from there.
We'll confirm receipt where appropriate, submit your materials professionally and keep you updated whenever we receive news.
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Waiting can be one of the hardest parts of this industry, but it's also one of the most common experiences performers face. Silence doesn't usually mean something has gone wrong—it often simply means decisions are still being made.
You've done your job. Now let us do ours.
It's also worth remembering that the industry doesn't always provide closure.
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For many auditions and self-tapes, you may not receive feedback or be told that you haven't been successful. More often than not, you simply won't hear anything further.
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This isn't a reflection of your talent or the quality of your work.Â
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It's simply the reality of a busy industry.
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If we receive an update from casting, we'll always pass it on.Â
If we don't hear anything, please don't assume you've done something wrong.
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The most valuable thing you can do is prepare well, perform honestly, submit your work and then focus your energy on the next opportunity.
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You prepared.
You performed.
You sent the work.
The rest is no longer yours to control.