Acting : Worst Audition Experience by Suzanne Bronson

What is your worst audition (or pitch experience) and what did it teach you?

Hey Suzanne Bronson - this is such a great question. I'm not an actor myself, but I have produced several feature films and short films. I do have one casting audition that was incredibly memorable - the actor came into a role that was meant for a tough, gruff, curmudgeon character and when he started he was doe-eyed and scared...he completely started reading the wrong part. He had spent so much time preparing the other character that we didn't stop him, but we were shocked he made it that far not realizing that he was reading the wrong character!

Thanks Amanda Toney that is definitely something to be aware of. Always, make sure you have the correct part.

Suzanne Bronson The worst audition I had was one for a big, prestigious acting school...they stopped me mid-monologue, telling me they had seen enough, and then dismissed me without wanting to see the song or other monologue I had prepared. It taught me to really, truly take every single moment...in my own hands...and thank those people for showing me who they really were, so when I got into my Tisch program, I understood....no one give you a voice, or gives you your passion. You just gotta keep going : )

I can't believe they interrupted you Juliana. That's the worst thing you can do to an actor is interrupt without telling you before you start. How unprofessional.

Suzanne Bronson I'm actually so happy they did that, they showed me how parts of the acting world are: agenda driven, prejudiced, but more importantly, places I am happy to be away from. And...everything is working out for me : ) The best thing to happen, was that no. So, the worst audition, could be the best thing to happen to anyone.

I would so love to hear from others about their worst audition experience and what it taught them.

While not a "horrible" experience, an early audition that taught me something was for the TV movie Wool Cap with William H. Macy. The local Casting Director called me for in for a small role that had a few pages, and I had been taught by my "old school" acting teacher to always carry the script.

Unfortunately, that had created a bad habit of expecting to have the paper in my hand. And even if you're memorized, if you've not gotten the reps in putting the paper down, then it becomes a safety blanket.

Sure enough, right before we started, the CD says "you don't need your script, do you?" I hesitantly replied, "No", as I put down the script (grabbing my first couple lines one last time).

I was terrified as I started the read. Needless to say, I learned my lesson.

And the overall lesson was that if you've only had one acting teacher, don't take their ideas as gospel. ESPECIALLY if they are not still currently auditioning. My teacher had been out of the daily grind for almost a decade, and so his advice in class was completely outdated.

Thank you for sharing that Matthew Cornwell I was taught the same thing, not expected to be completely off book for an audition, use the script, follow along with your thumb. I also come from the theater, where it is usually a cold read from the script or a memorized monologue. Now, for film and tv, you are expected to be off book for an in person audition if you received the sides beforehand.

Suzanne Bronson 'enjoying' reading this thread and everyone's experiences. My worst one was auditioning with a monologue from the Crucible - had little time to prep it and, frankly, understood very little of that character - I've never felt worse speaking lines, specifically because that was basically all I was doing: speaking the lines. That was the first (and the LAST) time I went to an audition unprepared. Auditioning opportunities are so few, and I had just wasted one.