By: Kristina Anderson, Barbizon International

So you have a big audition coming up… You might feel overwhelmed and butterflies start to fill your stomach. Guess what? That’s ok. You’re not alone. Many new actors / models and even established actors and celebrities get nervous before auditions and performances. We have a few things you can try to help combat your audition nerves to help you shake it off and land the role.

Be Prepared
Know your role inside and out. Do as much research on the project as you can and focus on more than just memorizing your lines so that you start to understand the character. Being as prepared as you can be for an audition is the best way to keep nerves at bay because you will be able to walk into the audition knowing that you are ready and being confident in your ability to perform the role.

Leave Early
Running late is extremely stressful. If you need to take an extra five minutes at the house to change your outfit or if you get stuck in traffic, it will cause you to run into your audition with your nerves running in overdrive and can even cause you to set a bad first impression if you are late. Plan on being at the audition 10 to 15 minutes early to keep this from happening to you.

Keep Busy
You will probably have to sit in a waiting room for a little while before you are able to audition. If you find that your mind tends to wander and sitting around idly increases your nervousness, you will want to bring something small and quiet to focus on, like a book or a pad of paper for writing or doodling. You may also want to review your script / role requirements once or twice before your audition, but try not to fall into a last minute cramming session which might just make you even more nervous.

Be Rested
Get a good night’s sleep the night before your audition and be sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. If you find yourself getting anxious at the audition take a few deep breaths and try to focus on something else.

Be Positive
If you are prepared, you need to be positive. Casting agents want to work with someone who is confident in the way they can portray the role. If you are prepared and positive the confidence will follow. This can help open many doors for you and also keep any lingering nerves at bay.

Ready to schedule an audition for Barbizon’s modeling and acting program? Let us know!