So, last week, I tried to help Matthew Jensen with some strategies for dealing with “the audition choke.” Silly me! I never once thought to mention something that I just assumed was a GIVEN. Luckily, several awesome readers brought to my attention that I left out the key to relaxed, natural, anxiety-free preread experiences: keeping your sides in hand.
Heck, here’s one of the great emails I received on this subject.
Hey Bon!
Just read your response to the Matthew Jensen, who freaked out just a bit at his daytime audition. I also would have said to him to always, always keep the sides in your hands. When that happens (which it has to the best of us) it only takes a half second to go down, find your place again, and keep your composure.
I could be wrong but it sounded like he didn’t have his sides (when he mentioned that the CD offered to give him a copy when he went up on his lines). Anyway, maybe you could slip him that advice as well, no need to be off-book with no net at the preread.
And here’s another!
Bonnie,
Quick thought, note, and addendum to Matthew in response to his confession of a horrid reading: This is why we always carry our sides. No matter how well you know the lines, isn’t it better to have them in hand? Then the actor relaxes, the CD relaxes, and if you’re good, it looks like you never even look at the pages.
And by the way, let Matthew know that an actor can suck any time. My most horrendous audition was a couple years ago (for Nan Dutton) after almost two decades as a working actor. I simply could not get two lines right — with the sides in my hand. I had the weirdest inability to say the line and could not correct. Was funny in the end, because she eventually forgave me and had me back, but for a long time I’m sure that she thought I was incompetent.
Thanks for all your generosity to actors,
Roxanne Beckford
Duh! Of course! I know this and so completely expected that “everyone knows to keep sides in hand” that I totally glossed past the part of Matthews email in which he talked about being offered the sides by the casting director, after he blanked.
Yes. Always keep sides in hand for prereads. You’re not impressing us by being off-book when you’ve had little time to prepare. All we’re looking for at prereads is your fit to the role and your abilities as an actor. We trust that you’ll be able to get off-book by callbacks (and certainly by the time you’re hired to do the job). Even if you are off-book, hang onto those sides so you have something to “go to” if you need it. Exactly like both these fine ladies shared: No need to fly without a net.
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000986.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.