"You suck... She's prettier... You suck... You're not talented": The Destructive Inner Dialogue of an Actor

Em London

Over the last year, I've auditioned for at least ten projects. Out of all those auditions, I booked half, an unusually good ratio for me, but then again, I'm not in a super competitive area like NYC. No matter what city you're in though, auditions where you don't get the part start to take a toll on your self-esteem. Your thoughts begin to turn for the worst, and sound something like this: "You were terrible. Of course they didn't give you a callback (part, auditions, etc.)! You'll never make it in this field. Dad was right... I should take advantage of my English degree." And it goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on. You're killing your chances with your negative BS, and I'm here to tell you why you probably didn't get the part:

(1) Lack of Experience

Darling, you're just not ready yet. Whether it's because you're auditioning for a lead at a professional theater, and your resume only lists school credits, or because you just don't understand Shakespeare, you don't have the experience to take on that role. They're going to give it someone they know they can rely on. Take classes, meet your fellow creatives, connect with directors... Then you'll be ready when it counts.

(2) They Had *That Other Actor* in Mind

You know what I mean. The one who they cast in everything, who is an excellent actor, but you just wish you could have a chance! They know they can rely on them, and you? Er... not so much. Get your name out there!!!

(3) You Didn't Fit the Role

Your technique was great, but maybe your approach wasn't going in the right direction... or maybe that director had some other type in mind, and while your audition was technically *flawless*, you didn't fit the bill. That's ok. It's the director's vision, and you can't change it. They hired him, not you.

(4) You Didn't Give It Your All

We all have those days where things just don't seem right, or you can't connect with a scene. For actors, it's our worst nightmare to have this happen during a performance or audition. Nevertheless, life can get you down. Maybe you didn't have time to prepare, or couldn't connect. Either way, life happens, and you'll just come bouncing back at your next chance!

Have a funny audition story where nothing seemed to go right? Leave a comment!

Based in Richmond VA, Em London spends most of her her time acting, blogging, and forcing her disgruntled cat to sit with her through musical theater-y movies. You can see more of her work on littlebutfierceactress.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter @LBFActress.