Young performers have to feel at ease to deliver their best performance during an audition. But nerves are a fact of life for all actors, no matter what their age, and anxiety can make auditioning a misery. There are techniques that parents can use to help their children settle audition nerves. Repeated rehearsals will give kids confidence that they’re prepared and won’t stumble over lines. Practicing breathing techniques can deliver a feeling of calm just before they walk into the audition. Here are some more tricks that will help settle audition jitters.
Get Ready.
Fear of forgetting lines is probably the Number 1 cause of stage fright at an audition. Help your child eliminate the fear by making sure she has studied the lines and understands the material. Don’t stop at reviewing just her own lines. See if your talent agency can provide a copy of the entire script so that you can help your child understand the context of her role.
Find Out Who Will Attend the Audition
Even the most outgoing children can be intimidated by the prospect of walking into a room full of strangers. Prepare them before the audition by letting them who they are going to meet. Most beginning auditions include just the casting director and their associates. If your child progresses to the next auditions and callbacks, you’ll see the producers or director of the show or film. Your talent agency will let you know who is attending when they tell you that your child has gotten the audition.
Get Set.
Taking steps to calm the body can help steady nerves. Leave plenty of time to get to the appointment so that your child does not feel rushed. Bring along a bottle of water in case your child gets thirsty while waiting for the audition. Before entering the waiting room, go to the bathroom and put finishing touches on hair and clothes. Encourage your child to breathe calmly and deeply.
Stay Busy.
Review the lines with your child one more time before he goes in. Once that’s done, distract the child and keep him busy while waiting for the audition. Bring along a favorite book or headphones so the young performer can listen to soothing music without disturbing other people.
Breathe.
Play a breathing game with your young performer as you wait for the audition to start. Together take a big breath, hold it for as long as you can, and release slowly. Do that again, and then once more. Both parents and children need to feel the calm that flows through the body with deliberate breathing.