Right this is a tricky issue- always has been, always will be. You’ll hear over and over again that casting directors make assumptions and decisions about you based on your first five seconds in the audition room. That’s one heck of a first impression. So obviously, what you choose to wear for your short audition slot is vital to how you’ll be perceived. It’s the very first thing that the people who decide whether you’ve got the job or you haven’t will see. Here’s what I’ve gleaned over my years in and out of auditions, both having landed jobs and not!
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- Be comfortable. This is so important. Auditions can be nerve-wracking enough as it is, and you want to feel like the best version of yourself you possibly can be. This starts with feeling comfortable in your own skin, so whatever you decide to wear, make sure you feel GOOD in it. This is not the time to debut a tricky new fashion fad; this is a time to wear your tried and tested feel-good threads.
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- Lean towards what you’re auditioning for. By this, I do not mean go in full costume, but if you’re auditioning for a classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical, maybe don’t turn up in high-tops and a crop-top. If you’re up for In The Heights don’t go in a full 1950’s frock. Catch my drift? An essence of the show or play is all you need.
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- Don’t wear all black. This may have been the drill at drama school, but in the real world it looks drab and dull.
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- Use colour and style to help yourself stand out in a crowd. I often employ some eye-catching shoes or accessories that in my head will help people easily remember me in a sea of people, e.g. “Wasn’t she the girl with the sparkly high-tops/blue chunky necklace/flowery headband?” Don’t be forgettable.
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- If it’s a dance call, wear something that shows the lines of your body. Choreographers will want to clearly see the way you move.
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- Take your dance shoes with you. You never know what’s going to happen, and you’ll be kicking yourself if suddenly the choreographer wants to see who can tap and you’ve only got your jazz trainers with you. Just pack them, better safe than sorry!
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- BEWARE OF HEELS. I’m just not comfortable in massive spindly heels. Therefore, I don’t wear them. I have a couple of pairs of mid-block heels that I can work if I feel like an audition really really needs it, but more often than not, I rock an ankle boot or a jazzy flat. I find that I don’t walk well in heels and if I’m very nervous, my legs shake a bit which when I’m in heels, makes me feel like I’m about to topple over. It does not make for a successful audition, trust me.
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- Have a look at what works on-screen. Patterns don’t tend to work for screen auditions, and certain colours and necklines often tend to be more flattering than others. Do a little bit of home-filming to see what suits you on-screen.
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- Be yourself. ABOVE ALL THIS IS CRUCIAL. I’ve been in auditions before wearing something that just isn’t my style and it makes me feel like I’m a giant faker. These days in auditions, I choose something from my wardrobe that I love and that feels like my own style.
Happy auditioning!
Article by Katie Brennan
www.bloodyhellbrennan.com
@katie_brennan
