How To Make The Best Self-Tape Audition For Young Actors

If you're an aspiring young actor, chances are you've had to do a self-tape audition before…

And if you haven't...you will. 

Self-tape auditions are becoming increasingly common in the industry, and for good reason.

They give casting directors the ability to see more actors than ever before, without having to leave their offices. 

Plus, they're a great way for young actors to showcase their talent and versatility. 

In this blog post, we'll be breaking down how to make the most of your self-tape audition so you can book more gigs.

Stay tuned!

When it comes to self-tape auditions, there are a few things you can do to set yourself apart from the rest. 

Four Secrets To Making Your Best Self-Tape Audition

First and foremost, make sure you have a clear understanding of the character and the scene you're auditioning for.  Okay, this may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many actors don't take the time to really break down the material. 

Second, find a way to make the character your own. This is your opportunity to show off your acting chops, so don't be afraid to experiment and put your own spin on things.

And remember that a self-tape audition is just like any other audition, so make sure you dress for the part and give it your very best. 

Now that we've gone over a few tips, let's take a look at some of the most common mistakes actors make when doing self-tape auditions.

One of the biggest mistakes is not using proper lighting. This might seem like a small detail, but it can make or break your audition. 

Make sure to film in a well-lit room, with the light source in front of you. 

Another common mistake is not being prepared. This means having your lines memorized and being off-book before you even start filming. If you're fumbling your lines or reading from the script, it's going to be very obvious to the casting director.

Thirdly, make sure you're in a quiet space with no background noise, which can be anything from cars racing by outside your window to the hum of the refrigerator.

Finally, make sure you have a focal point when you are delivering your lines.

The Importance Of Focal Points For Self Tape Auditions

What are focal points?

We recently saw a self-tape from an actor who was auditioning for a role in Stranger Things that he booked.

We believe the main reason he booked the gig was that he was so clear about his point of focus when he was speaking his lines. He was so clear about who he was interacting with and where there were in the room that you could “see” them. 

His acting was spot-on because it really felt like he had a connection with his imaginary scene partner. 

We call this having a strong focal point.

How can you do this? 

Pretend you have a dog cone around your neck. And that collar sets the direction of your focal points. 

Try and keep your image of who you are speaking to in front of you and within a 180-degree radius.If you turn too far away from the camera, it will distract the audience. Watch Kurt in the video below for a full explanation of this technique

Conclusion

So having clear focal points and really connecting with your scene partner is really important for self-taping. Having clear focal points will really help you to stand out from the crowd of other young actors submitting their self-tapes.

That's it for now! We hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any questions or would like more information about self-tape auditions, feel free to reach out to us. And be sure to stay tuned for more blog posts from our team of experts! Thanks for reading!

If you're an aspiring young actor, chances are you've had to do a self-tape audition before.

And if you haven't...you will!

Self-tape auditions are becoming increasingly common in the industry, and for good reason.

They give casting directors the ability to see more actors than ever before, without having to leave their office.

Plus, they're a great way for young actors to showcase their talent and versatility.

So how do you stand out from the crowd of other young actors who are all submitting their self-tapes?

Kurt recently saw a self-tape from an actor who was auditioning for a role in Stranger Things that he booked.

We believe the main reason he booked the gig was that he used this one simple technique that really grounded his performance and made us feel

like he had a connection with his imaginary scene partner....

3 Secrets to Finding the Best Broadway Auditions for Kids (For Musicals and Beyond!)

Looking for a great opportunity to get your child started in the Broadway world….

But you're not sure how to get started?

All job hunting can be exhausting, especially if you are looking for work in a competitive industry. And as we all know, the competition on Broadway is fierce!

Luckily, Kurt recently created a video (In the heart of the Broadway theatre district!) on the three sources he feels are the best places right now to find auditions for young people. 

To stay on top of the game and get an advantage over your competition, it's important for you to use all three resources consistently. These are great ways that will help keep yourself informed so when opportunities arise they won't be a surprise!

By the way, If you'd like to actually watch the short video, you can find it at the end of this post. 

Hi, Kurt, Domoney from Broadway kids auditions here in New York City.

Today I'm here to tell you where you can find Broadway auditions for kids for free.

The Three Best Resources for Finding Broadway Musical Auditions for Children

Here are three of my favorite resources right now where you can find auditions for young people:

1.  Playbill is a great resource for all kinds of Broadway audition information. This free website is a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in the theater industry. From New York shows to regional and international stages, this site will keep you up on all things theatrical!  If you go into the jobs listing section, you'll see a bunch of current auditions. You can even filter into young performers to make it easier to see all the current auditions in one place. 

2. Actors Access is the ultimate resource for actors who want to be discovered. With more than 43,000 projects posted annually by Casting Directors and 1 million+ database entries already compiled during its 15-year history as an online membership site; there has never been a better time or way to find your next big thing! Actor's Access is actually the most important website to focus your efforts on. It's a great resource for all kinds of acting and theatre news. You can create a free profile on the site which can link to your agent and manager if you have one.  And there are literally tons of auditions, especially for young performers. Actors Access is the only site that allows actors to submit directly to casting directors' projects!  So get your Actors Access profile set up as soon as possible.

3. .Backstage is an established go-to for any and all things theater. It has jobs to keep you busy, events that are worth attending (and catching), plus an online job board with free listings! Plus if you are interested in applying through their subscription service then don't worry - it only costs a few dollars per month. You can search for auditions and filter by age range, and you'll see a ton of different options come up. 

And that's really it! Just get started with these three resources and you will be well on your way to finding your next amazing Broadway audition.

So go out there, start searching, and good luck!