Actor coach Aaron Marcus says the biggest mistake in TV commercial auditions is trying to sell the product. In lifestyle spots, casting directors want to see your personality and let viewers connect with you, not a pitch. Save the sales talk for spokesperson roles only.
Hey, I'm Aaron Marcus, and I want to share with you the biggest mistake actors make that kill their chances of booking a TV commercial. And here's what it is, and it's kind of counterintuitive because you're thinking, well, a TV commercial, what's the actor supposed to do? Well, they're supposed to sell the product. That's their job. Well, here's the key, and the biggest mistake that people make is Don't sell. When you're doing the audition, don't sell the product. Now, yes, there is an exception. If you are a spokesperson, then yes, you are selling the product. You know, you might be holding the product in your hand and talking about it. But most of the commercials that you see are called lifestyle commercials, and essentially people get a chance to see your life and they want to understand who you are. And because they're liking you and it's— you're interesting, then they're going to want the product. So don't sell it and just allow people to enter your life. So anyhow, that is the key and the number one reason why most people are not booking their TV spot. Don't sell.
