Aaron Marcus breaks down why actors lose auditions: trying to make scenes about yourself when they're centered on other characters. Instead, identify who the scene is really about and let your scene partners have their moment. Focus on giving a good read and accept that booking often depends on factors outside your control.
Hey, in this video I'm going to be sharing with you a common audition trap that lots of actors fall into. So watch this video until the end and you're going to learn how to avoid this and give a much better audition. Okay, let's get going. So look, I was at an audition and this was a little while ago. I was reading for, uh, the role of a, uh, this guy and I still can't really give out information about it because of the NDA, but the 2 stars of this particular show, and I was delivering some sad information and it was hurtful for them to hear. These people felt bad. And look, when I was initially reading it, it made sense that I would also be affected by this, although it really didn't hit me like it did the 2 other characters. But, you know, it was sad information. But as I was reading it, you know, I'm starting to feel sad. I feel bad for these people. But here's something that I knew, and this isn't something that I knew at the beginning of my career. I wish I did because it would have allowed me to give much better auditions. And hey, by the way, and let me just let you know, there's nothing that anybody that can teach you that will get you to book more jobs. Look, look, you can learn how to be a more skilled actor. You can learn how to audition better, smarter, give better performances at your audition. But ultimately, just to be very honest with you, the decision-making of who gets booked, who gets the role is completely out of our control. We have full control over our audition. We have full control over what we decide that we want to do at the audition, but after that, it's out of our hands. And, and so one thing you also need to know is that the person who gets booked doesn't— it's not necessarily the person who gives the best read. There are just so many factors that go into booking a job and not booking a job. That quite often has nothing to do with the audition. Look, when I go to an audition or submit an audition, I'm assuming pretty much everybody who is going to be reading for the role is giving a great audition. So, so then it comes down to other factors that there's nothing we can do about. Are you too tall? Are you too short? Are you too good-looking? Are you not good-looking enough? Are you too thin? Are you not thin enough? Do you remind the director of, you know, his ex-girlfriend and doesn't want to be reminded of her. Who knows why? But certainly being prepared and giving the best read that you possibly can, you know, will certainly be in your best interest. And if nothing else, it will allow you to at least feel so much better at the end of your audition. And that's why, you know, if you don't book it, don't kick yourself. Don't feel Well, look, if you want to feel bad, that's fine. But, but the goal is to try and enjoy yourself for those couple of minutes while you are auditioning. That's the fun part. That's the part, like I said before, that you have complete control over. So here's the trap that a lot of actors fall into, and this is a way to avoid this mistake. After, after, you know, you've read over the lines— and look, there are lots of things to be said about preparation, and that's not what this video is about— but one of the key questions, one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself is this: who is this scene about? That is crucial, crucial information that you need to be able to answer. Don't let your ego get in the way. If the scene is not about you, don't try to make it about you because you're not going to get the job. If you are— and I don't know if you guys follow basketball— but if you are a point guard and you are dribbling up court and your job, you know, for this particular play is to pass the ball to a center for them to grab it and dunk it It's not about you. So in that situation, make the lob to the center or the forward and have them dunk the ball. So if the scene is really about— like in my situation, it was about the 2 other stars of this particular show. It wasn't about me, it's about them. I am sure that as I was delivering the lines to them, the camera is pulling in to to them, getting close-ups of their reaction. So when you keep that in mind, don't try to make the focus on you. And, and by the way, once again, another little side note here, you know, even if you don't book the audition, if you do give a read that is interesting, that is believable, that is the best way to get another audition with this casting director, whether, whether it's with This project or some project in the future. And that happens to me all the time where I might not book the job. Matter of fact, most of the time I don't book the job, to be perfectly honest with you. Most actors don't book the job that they're auditioning for. But if they give an interesting read, then that will give them a greater opportunity to get called back for either another role for that show or maybe something completely different because the casting director liked what you did. So what I made sure that I did in the scene was, yeah, I was feeling a little emotional, but, you know, I knew that it was really— it was about other people. And I made sure that I made that pass so that the 2 stars of the show could grab it and dunk it because it was about them. So anyhow, I just wanted to share that information with you. It is crucial. Remember, who is this scene about? And if it's not about you, do not try to make it about you. Okay, I hope this was helpful. Don't forget, if you haven't subscribed, click the subscribe button, click the notification bell. If you like it, please give it a thumbs up. And also, if you have ever been in a situation where you've auditioned for something and if you, you know, if it wasn't about you but you tried to make it about you, Well, you know, share a comment. Or if you audition and you knew it wasn't about you and that's how you read it, let's share it, you know, so we can all learn from each other. That's why I have this channel. It's a place where actors can go to, to help each other. So please share the link with your actor friends, help them, and let's continue to build a great community of people helping each other. I'm Aaron Marcus, and I can't wait to talk with you again soon. See ya.
