Walking into an audition can feel like stepping under a spotlight long before the camera rolls. You worry about what to wear, what to say, and how not to mess it up. In this guide, you’ll learn clear, practical audition tips and simple etiquette you can use for every type of casting call, so you walk in calmly, prepared, and ready to be remembered for the right reasons.​

 

Why Audition Etiquette Matters

When you understand audition etiquette, you instantly separate yourself from actors who only focus on the scene and ignore everything else. Casting teams remember the people who are easy to work with, show up prepared, and respect the room.​

Good etiquette doesn’t mean being fake or perfect. It means knowing how to behave before, during, and after the audition so your professionalism supports your work instead of distracting from it.​

 

Core Audition Tips You Can Use Anywhere

Here are foundation-level audition tips you can bring into any room, whether it’s in person, on Zoom, or self-taped:​

• Arrive early, but not overly early; 10–15 minutes is usually enough.
• Bring everything listed in the casting call requirements: sides, headshot, resume, ID, or forms.
• Treat everyone—from security to the assistant—as part of the team hiring you.
• Keep your phone silent and put away; don’t scroll in the room or near the door.
• Listen carefully to instructions and ask brief, focused questions only when needed.

If you want a deeper, customized system, you can explore Greg’s unique PATH approach, where he breaks down how to turn pressure into presence.​

 

Reading and Respecting Casting Call Requirements

One of the simplest ways to look professional is to actually follow the casting call requirements. Many actors skim the notice and then show up missing details that casting specifically asked for.​

When you receive a breakdown, slow down and look for:

• Format: self-tape, Zoom, in-person, callback, chemistry read.
• Wardrobe guidelines: “on-camera casual,” “no logos,” “business look,” etc.
• Technical details: file naming, frame size, deadline, and submission platform.
• Special notes: accents, improv moments, or props you’re allowed (or not allowed) to use.

Reading and following every instruction is one of the most underrated audition tips for actors, and it builds trust with casting immediately.​

 

How to Prepare for an Audition Without Overthinking

If you keep asking yourself how to prepare for an audition, you’re not alone. Preparation can either ground you or send you into perfectionism. The key is building a repeatable process.​

Here’s a simple structure you can follow:

1. Know your material. Learn your lines, rote, with no inflection.  This way you’ll be able to truly act in the moment and not get stuck in pre-planned line readings

2. Understand what your character is literally doing. What is the character literally doing in the scene?  Is the character a detective attempting to get someone to confess?  A husband apologizing and explaining himself to his wife?  In a very objective manner, you need to understand what the character is literally doing

 

1. Choose an action you will play. This is what you are really going to do in the scene – not pretend to do, but actually do!  So if my character is the detective trying to get someone to confess, I might play the action of “Get someone to do the right thing”.

 

1. Create an As-If. This is where you make the action very personal to you.  So if my action were to “Get someone to do the right thing” then my As-If might be, “It’s as if my best friend is thinking of cheating on his wife and I’m attempting to get him to do the right thing and call off the affair”.

If you’d like personalized, scene-by-scene guidance, sessions like Greg’s personal audition coaching can help you build a preparation routine that fits the way you naturally work.​

 

In-Person Audition Etiquette

In-person auditions give casting a full, 360° impression of you—from the waiting room to the walk out the door.​

Key audition etiquette points to keep in mind:

• Check in calmly and clearly state your name and role.
• Keep conversations with other actors light and short; you’re there to work, not to compare.
• When you enter the room, wait for direction: don’t launch into your slate or scene before they’re ready.
• Make eye contact, give a simple greeting, and move to your mark without fuss.
• Have an Action that you are actually playing with the Casting Director before the Action that you play in your actual audition.  A great action to play when engaging with the Casting Director is “Let them know they are in good hands”.  This gives you something to do instead of attempting to manage your feelings and thoughts!

When you finish, hold your last moment, play your scene action well into the silence,  then gently return to neutral. If they give notes, listen fully, apply them, and avoid defending your first choice. A simple “Thank you” on the way out goes a long way, while still letting them know they are in good hands.

 

Online & Zoom Audition Etiquette

Virtual auditions are now standard, and knowing the etiquette here is just as critical as knowing your lines.​

Here are focused audition tips for actors auditioning online:

• Test your tech (camera, mic, Wi‑Fi, platform) at least 30 minutes before.
• Frame yourself from about mid-chest up with clear, even lighting and a neutral background.
• Label your display name clearly (First + Last Name) and log in a few minutes early.
• Stay present on screen—don’t eat, text, or constantly adjust your hair or clothes.

Mute yourself when appropriate, but be ready to unmute quickly when called. Speak clearly, look near the camera (not at your own image), and follow any submission or file guidelines that were listed in the casting call requirements.​

Again, have the action to play when you are not actually acting – “I am letting them know they are in good hands”.  Or “Show them I’m a grounded and humble pro and team player”.

 

Self-Tape Etiquette and Audition Tips

Self-tapes give you more control, but they also ask for more responsibility. The goal is a clean, focused tape that lets your work shine.​

Key self-tape audition tips include:

• Keep the focus on you, not your backdrop; use a simple wall or screen.
• Avoid loud patterns, logos, or distracting jewelry in your wardrobe.
• Use a reliable reader with a grounded, low-key delivery.
• Double-check file name, format, and length exactly as described in the casting call requirements.

Always watch your tape once before sending. You’re not chasing perfection; you’re checking sound, framing, and overall clarity to be sure you’re delivering your best version of the moment.​

 

Professionalism in the Waiting Room and On Set

Your audition etiquette doesn’t end when the scene is over. How you behave before and after can affect whether people want to bring you back.​

A few important reminders:

• Keep complaints (about traffic, parking, the script, or your agents) to yourself.
• Don’t coach or critique other actors unless they clearly ask and you genuinely have time.
• Avoid sharing confidential sides or stories from other jobs you’ve done.
• If you’re given a hold or avail, treat it professionally even if it doesn’t turn into a booking.

This ongoing professionalism is exactly the kind of habit that systems like PATH are designed to build, supporting your confidence and mindset over the long haul.​

 

Mindset: Handling Nerves, Rejection, and “Did I Mess That Up?”

Even with the best audition tips, nerves will show up. What matters is how you relate to them. Acting coaches like Greg focus heavily on mindset so that fear becomes fuel instead of friction.​

One of the biggest blocks in audition psychology is the old belief that “this job could change everything and if I don’t get it I’m doomed!” or some close version of that.  When every audition feels like a career-defining moment, your nervous system goes into survival mode.

The great thing about these old beliefs we have is that they are not actually true, they are delusions.

It can be very helpful to actually write out what the delusion is that is coming up, and then write out what deep down you know to be actually true.  Per the above stated old belief, we might write something like “Whether or not I get this job has no real bearing on any thing of real and actual value in my life.  As long as I imperfectly practice my ever-expanding values, I am never doomed and I will experience ever deepening meaning and true joy no matter what the result”. 

By reminding yourself of what is actually true you will allow yourself to better work with all the various emotions that arise.

If you struggle with this part, exploring confidence-focused coaching, like the programs described on PATH, can give you grounded tools for staying emotionally steady through the ups and downs.​

 

Turning Audition Tips into Your Own Repeatable System

Reading audition tips for actors is useful, but your real power comes from turning them into a consistent routine you trust. Once you know how to prepare for an audition in a way that suits your personality, the process becomes less mysterious and much less overwhelming.​

You might create a simple checklist that includes:

• Read and highlight every line of the casting call requirements.
• Break down the scene and identify your objective/Action and the As-If that you will use.
• Run at least three full, uninterrupted takes.
• Confirm all technical and submission details before sending.

If you want guidance building and refining that system, 1-on-1 support like Greg’s personal audition coaching can help you customize everything—from scene work to mindset—around your unique strengths and goals.​

 

Conclusion: Your Audition, Your Space to Shine

Audition rooms can feel intimidating, but once you understand basic audition etiquette and build your own set of reliable audition tips, they become places where you know exactly how to deliver. By reading requirements carefully, preparing with intention, and showing up with steady professionalism, you give casting a clear message: you’re someone they can trust.​

Use these tools as a living system, not a rigid checklist. As you grow, adjust your process, learn from every experience, and keep showing up—ready, grounded, and fully yourself in every casting call you enter.​