Mission: Skype Audition

More and more auditions are happening on Skype. The gorgeous and tremendously talented actress Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for her Oscar-winning role in Silver Linings Playbook via Skype. And look where she’s now!

Certainly, there are a couple of real downsides: it’s hard to develop a relationship with the casting director over a video call, and almost inevitable technical breakdowns can also make the experience unsatisfying for all. However, it reduces travel expenses and gives the opportunity of watching the person on a screen straight away. Just as in any audition, you want to be completely open to creativity and notes from whoever is watching you. With Skype auditions, it’s important for the actors to remember that it is still about your performance so whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable, do it before the opportunity arises.

Next time a Skype audition comes up, follow a few simple rules, and you will be more prepared because you’ll know what to expect and how to deliver; as they say, practice makes perfect.

1. Make sure you’re not going to be disturbed. If your kids are running around in the background, both you and the casting people won’t be able to concentrate on your acting.
2. Put your phone on silent, as you would in any regular audition.
3. If possible take your computer to a place where the background is neutral.
4. Don’t forget to check the wi-fi signal. If possible, don’t just go to Starbucks — you can’t trust the signal in a public place, and it’s bad taste to disrespect casting people with an inappropriate environment. Also, the surroundings are usually pretty loud, and you just can’t ask other customers to keep it down while you read your lines.
5. Make sure you dress for the occasion so that your stripes don’t clash with the dots behind you or vice versa — the same applies for wearing white, we would vigorously suggest to avoid it, as it tends to ghost your face on webcams. Avoid busy patterns or crazy logos or messages on your clothing. Same as in a regular audition, dress to suggest.
6. Make sure your equipment is up and running before you Skype — the last thing you want is to try to make Skype work while they’re waiting for you to audition. Consider doing a mock Skype audition with a friend to become aware of any problems or opportunities when auditioning.
7. When you’re reading normally, you’re looking at the actor you’re working with, but when there’s technology involved you want to do the opposite and just look at the camera on the computer instead of the reader. Casting director will want to see your eyes.
8. Don’t forget the light source in the room, don’t sit in front of a window; you will be invisible, a silhouette.
9. If you’re just reading, try to keep the script off camera, work out how you’re going to hold it in advance.

A Skype audition is just the same as an in-person audition, so you want to act professional and be prepared. Come with a list of prepared questions — the casting director will be impressed you did your homework. You never know who else might be listening in or where this opportunity could lead you. This is your chance to shine! You may only get a few minutes; so make sure that you stand out and let them know you’re the best fit for the role. You might not have to put on shoes, but a charming smile can go a long way!

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