Suitcase Studio

You’ve finally booked that much needed vacation. Auditions have been on the lighter side, so you feel like the coast is clear. You’ve just settled onto your flight and are putting your phone in airplane mode when you get an email. For a major audition. Due ASAP. 

The running joke amongst actors is that as soon as you book a vacation, you’ll suddenly get the audition of a lifetime. With self-tapes as the new industry standard, you can audition without missing out on your travel plans. Even though you’re away from your home studio, you can still get in a quality tape- though it might mean losing a couple hours of tanning on the beach or holiday shopping. Here are a few items you can bring on every vacation to create your “Suitcase Studio.” Because you never know when that next big audition will roll into your inbox.

Camera Setup: Let’s start with the basics. To record a self-tape, you need a camera. Luckily, most of us have a perfectly good one conveniently located on the back of our phones. It’s smart to have a small phone tripod on hand whenever you travel to make set up easy. There are several collapsible tripods available on Amazon or at your local electronic store that will do the trick. In a pinch, propping your phone up on a desk or shelf will do. Though the front camera on phones tends to be lower quality, if you’re traveling alone, it can make it much easier to ensure you’re in frame. Keep the bottom of your frame at mid-chest level and the top just above your head, so the casting team can see your facial expressions clearly. Remember, casting isn’t expecting a fully produced professional video; that’s what the film crew is for. They just want to see your acting up-close in a focused environment.

Bonus: If you are someone who runs out of phone storage quickly (all those audition videos add up!) look into an external hard drive that is compatible with your phone. Some come in traditional USB hard drive shapes, but other options like magnetic hard drives can stick to the back of your phone, making it super easy to carry around and transfer data! The last thing you want to see when you’re trying to meet an audition deadline are the words “Not Enough Storage”.

Background: The next big question… Where should you film? If you get lucky, you’ll have a blank hotel room wall perfectly positioned in front of a well lit window. But if not, don’t fret. While a backdrop is nice and often an integral part of an actor’s at-home self-tape set-up, it’s not necessary. What matters most is that the background isn’t distracting from your performance.

Audio: Having a quiet room without an echo so you can be clearly heard is important- and sometimes difficult to find when you’re on the go. If you’re at a hotel and your own room isn’t an option, ask staff if there are any empty conference rooms available. If you want to invest in better audio equipment, consider getting a lavalier microphone compatible with your phone. Lavalier mics clip onto your shirt or article of clothing, and can ease background noise or particularly echo-y spaces by making the audio more concentrated on your voice. And since they’re small, they’re very easy to travel with!

Lighting: Again, if you luck out, you’ll find a beautiful window with natural indirect sunlight that you can tape in front of. Some actors pack a small 10” inch light ring in their suitcase, but a small portable selfie light you stick on your smartphone can do the trick. Some come on tripods, while others can clip to your phone. They won’t give you the same amount of light that a lighting set-up at home might, but they’re easy to travel with and get the job done!

Reader: Facetiming a friend on a separate device works just in a pinch; just make sure it’s loud enough that your phone or mic can pick it up, but not so loud that it distracts from your work. There are AI line reading apps that you can look into like Cold Read, which detects when you’ve finished speaking and “reads” your partner’s lines for you. Websites like WeAudition allow you to find a reader online to read with you. Both line reading apps and reader websites require some type of membership or monthly/yearly fee. Worst case scenario, you can record your own voice and play it on a separate device, leaving space for the lines in the audition. However, this method requires timing out all the lines, making it trickier to play with the pace of the scene.

Ultimately, all you need for a self-tape is a phone camera, and a quiet, clean room. Extra items can level up your suitcase studio, like a tripod, external hard drive, lavalier microphone, and selfie light. AI line reading apps or on-demand reader websites can help you find someone to act as your scene partner if you’re on a solo trip. If your set-up isn’t perfect, that’s okay. Submitting an audition with an imperfect set-up is better than not submitting at all! What matters most for any audition is your acting. A full self-tape studio is a nice bonus, but won’t be what books you the job.

If you’re looking to sharpen your audition skills and command attention on tape, check out our Audition Technique class, offered to both KIDS/TEENS and ADULTS. Taught by industry-experienced coaches, you’ll work on TV/Film scripts, get real-time personalized feedback, receive self-tape guidance and suggestions to make your audition tapes more technically competitive and learn how to leave a lasting impression on the casting team!