Beating Audition Nerves

So, you get a HUGE audition. You prepare the materials days in advance, carefully go through your script breakdown, and even work with an audition coach. You rest, drink water, and walk into the audition room ready to go. But as you enter the door, the nerves kick in—sweaty palms, short breath, tightening chest. Maybe you flub a line or feel like you just can’t get into character. You know you can perform better, so what happened?

If this has happened to you before, you’re not alone. Almost every actor has struggled with audition nerves (and we’ll let you in on a secret… some of the most famous actors still do). What matters is what you do with those anxious feelings. How do you deliver the performance you know you can when the audition nerves set in?

Embrace It.

Start by acknowledging the anxiety and don’t try to fight it. Anxiety is our body’s way of trying to keep us safe. The more you try to shut it out, the more it demands to be heard. Instead, allow your anxiety to be present. Know that, though it sometimes feels scary, your anxiety can’t hurt you. And yes, you can still deliver a fantastic performance, even if you’re feeling nervous! 

You can even try to channel your feelings into your work, if the scene calls for it. If your character is feeling stressed about a difficult conversation or nervous for a new job opportunity, you've already got the physical sensations to fuel those given circumstances.

Reframe.
Changing the way you see your anxiety is key in not letting it overwhelm you. For example, feelings of excitement present themselves in the body in a very similar way to anxiety—increased heart rate, high adrenaline, and shortness of breath. Reframing your audition nerves as excitement versus anxiety can give you the extra boost you need to succeed. Say to yourself, “My body is feeling anxious, but that’s because I’m so excited for the opportunity to perform.” Thinking about all the parts of the audition you’re looking forward to helps you find the positive and frees up your brain space to play once you get into the room.

Visualize.
In the same vein as reframing, visualization is a powerful tool for manifesting the success you want to see. Imagine the best possible outcome, down to what you wear, how you walk in the room, and what you say when you leave. Mental visualization not your thing? Journaling about your ideal audition is just as effective. Write down positive affirmations that reinforce your confidence and all the hard work you’ve done. Yes, you’ve already done all the hard work! Now you just need to walk into the room and have fun performing. You’ve got this!

Practice the right way.

Have you ever practiced for an audition SO MUCH you couldn’t have possibly done more and STILL had audition nerves get the best of you? That might be because you didn’t practice in the right environment. It’s important to practice your materials while experiencing anxiety, better preparing you for the adrenaline your body will experience in the room. Actorsite classes incorporate mock auditions into our curriculum for this exact reason. Our Audition Technique classes (YOUTH AUDITION TECH - ADULT AUDITION TECH) are an excellent place to practice… you guessed it… auditions! You’ll learn how to deliver material while anxious and get real-time redirects from our coaches.

If you want to practice outside of class, try the material in front of friends or family who haven’t seen you act before. Another tip: do a quick exercise, like running around the block, right before you practice the scene Exercise gets your heart rate up, mimicking anxiety symptoms like quickened heart rate and shortness of breath that you might experience in an audition.

Ground yourself.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean deep breathing. Everyone finds calm in different ways. That could be listening to your favorite song or doing a quick stretch. Maybe it is doing a deep breathing or meditation exercise. Some actors like to sit quietly and “get in the zone”. But that doesn’t work for everybody! Plenty of actors prefer to distract themselves beforehand, with a book or conversation, so they can forget about the audition and along with that, ease of the nerves they’re experiencing. Try things out and find what works for your body. 

Remember, audition nerves are totally normal. Oftentimes, we experience audition anxiety because we are so passionate about acting and the possibility of sharing our crafting with a broader audience. Battling audition anxiety isn’t about getting rid of the feeling; it’s about learning to work through it, so you can show your best work every time. 

Want to check out our Audition Technique class to practice those mock auditions and learn how to approach every audition with ease? Click for more info on Kids/Teens and Adults classes.