Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Acting Tips on What To Wear & Not Wear At Auditions

SInce this site is more than just brilliant reviews and insights, here is a great article for those of you wanting to break into acting. It's written by Stephen Reynolds.
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This is an extremely important part of auditioning. You should always dress for auditions, according to the “type” or "character" being cast. Know what you have been type cast for and wear appropriate clothing to match. This information should be clearly stated in the information provided by your talent agent or within the casting call brief.

If the character brief asks for a “sexy, attractive, young lady”, be sure you wear some figure hugging clothes and a skirt that will show of your legs, as opposed to trousers, jeans or a smock dress. If the brief is for a business man, then be sure to wear a business suit and tie as opposed to jeans and a T-shirt. If you don’t own a suit, then borrow or rent a good one.

Choose shirts or tops with collars or a “V” neck as they will be the most flattering to the camera. Do be sure to dress neatly. Make a good first impression. Remember, how you look will be the first impression you make to the decision makers.

Possibly more important than knowing what to wear to an audition is knowing what you should NOT wear. Here are some tips for you to consider when dressing for an audition.

Don’t wear black tops, shirts, jackets, sweaters or jerseys etc., unless specifically requested to do so. Black will absorb a great deal of light and will possibly make you look unhealthy.

Don’t wear white or light pastel tops, blouses, shirts, jackets, sweaters or jerseys etc., unless specifically requested to do so. White will absorb light and make you look blurred.

Don’t wear turtlenecks unless specifically requested to do so. They do not flatter you and people may wonder what you could be hiding under there.

Don’t wear an excessive amount of jewelry unless the role requires you to do so. A large number of bracelets or bangles will only distract the decision makers (and make lots of noise). As will large earrings and every finger covered in rings. Less is best!

Don’t wear sandals or flip flops. Although it may be a hot summer’s day and they feel comfortable, it is not a good idea. Be sure to wear some closed toe shoes that are suitable to the role being cast.

Don’t wear clothes with crazy designs or patterns on them. This will just be another distraction to the viewers (those deciding on whether to cast you or not).

Don’t wear visible logos or clothing with visible writing or branding. The brand you are wearing could be a competitor to the advertiser and you will lose their interest quickly.

Don’t wear clothing with branding for the company you are auditioning for. Although, it sounds like a good idea, it will come across as trying too hard.

Don’t arrive in full costume unless specifically requested to do so. There should be enough costume at the audition. One or two items of costume clothing that may set you apart from the competition is OK, just don’t be excessive.

• Always remember, too many distractions will take the focus away from YOU!

If you are ever unsure what to wear then go as conservative as possible. However, you should always consider carrying an extra bag or suitcase in your car with different outfits you can quickly change into if required to do so. You may find that at an audition, the outfit you have chosen is not appropriate and therefore you can quickly remedy that with an outift change. Carrying extra clothing with you is also good practice for situations where you may be requested by the casting director to audition for a different role. Finally, having extra clothes at your immediate disposal is most advantageous when you find you have spilled that cup of coffee all over your audition outfit.

Good luck with your auditions and remember Action = Success!

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