5 tips to score that role

When I receive a call from an unknown number, my heart always starts to race. Until recently, the casting agency called from an unknown number, which could mean an audition. ‘Can you come in for an audition tomorrow afternoon? Oh yes, it's four pages of text, can you manage that?’ Why are those auditions always so last-minute? Then I find myself cramming lines late at night, hoping they'll come out somewhat well the next day. But an audition is of course not just about learning lines: good preparation is half the battle. If you ever find yourself about to prepare for an audition, print this list and hang it above your bed. Hopefully, I'll see you on set soon.

• A first impression is everything: a good first impression is already half of your audition. Make sure you walk into the room well-rested and confident (not too much). Try to get those nerves under control, as they will only work against you. Now, this is easier said than done, but when I'm sitting in the waiting room (which is always killer: you often see the competition sitting there), I do a breathing exercise to focus and combat the nerves.
• Know your lines inside and out: many people often fall short during an audition if they don't know their lines well enough. You are not free to try different things because you are only focused on saying the right words. Take enough time to learn your lines.
• Dare to ask questions: you don't always receive the script. If something is unclear in the text or the story: ask questions about it. This way, you can learn more about your character, allowing you to show even more specifically what they are looking for.
• Dress like your character: for an audition, you always receive a character description. Read it carefully and see if you can find out how your character would look. I would, of course, dress a detective differently than a punk from the ’80s (I've auditioned for both).
• Listen carefully to the directions: often a director wants to see in the audition if he/she can work well with you. No matter how good you are, if you can't show a different version of the scene, it will be difficult to direct you on set later. Don't be afraid of getting it wrong, as daring to try is more important than playing the scene perfectly.