Five Tips For Your Online Audition
Online auditions are a relatively new way for people looking for musicians and bands, or holding acting tryouts to find talent. Broadband penetration, streaming video and Web 2.0 have combined to let people demonstrate what they can do across a talent network quickly and easily. This has fueled the growth of new social niche sites like findmesignme.com to cater to a mix of talented people, fans and agencies looking to fill jobs, for actors, dancers, bands, extreme athletes and even audience members or extras.
Traditional auditions have well-known protocols, but people are still feeling their way through online auditions. FindMeSignMe.com recommends the following for anyone considering an online audition.
Dress and Prepare Your Look as If Coming In Person
Even though you may be auditioning from home you should prepare your clothes and makeup just as if you’re auditioning in an actual venue. Preparing this way tells the casting agent that you’ll be a professional in person and that you don’t need to be told how to prepare your appearance for a performance. This projects the sense that you’re responsible and take the opportunity seriously.
Keep a Clean Performance Space
One of the biggest turnoffs for a casting agent looking for talent online is the feeling that you’re just hanging out in a messy bedroom. Keep your laundry, television and bed out of sight. The agent is trying to visualize how you would look at the performance venue, so taking him out of that mental space into the feeling that this is just a video of somebody’s room is a mistake. Also, a “clean space” means that anybody who isn’t involved in the audition isn’t visible or audible. Don’t let family members interrupt you or walk through the shot and keep your pets out of sight.
Mind Your Lighting
In a performance venue the director or lighting tech can set things up according to exact specifications, but at home you’ll have to improvise. Never do your audition in a darkened space, even if it looks cool to you; your camera sees things differently. Find a white light source; yellowish light (such as from typical indoor light bulbs) doesn’t make you look good. Use full spectrum light (including outdoor light) whenever possible and get a good look at what the camera sees before you begin.
Have Several Pieces Ready
Just as for a face-to-face audition you should have several audition pieces ready. These should demonstrate the full range of your talent in any field you’re auditioning for. Actors should have comedy and drama ready. Musicians should have multiple pieces available for viewing and listening.
Have Follow Up Media Prepared
Your online audition should never sit in isolation. Upload other examples of your talent as soon as possible. Make one piece a broad introduction to what you can do, and use subsequent files to break things down by field, genre or any other category that applies to your talents.
If you use these five tips you’ll be ahead of the game compared to the vast majority of online auditions. Use them, take your best shot and always have fun. People don’t just want your talent – they want your enthusiasm, too.
About the Author
Find Me Sign Me (http://www.findmesignme.com) is an online talent network that serves as a leader in connecting casting agents with online auditions for acting tryouts, venues looking for bands, dancers’ jobs and more.
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