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Master Your Auditions

The audition is the job. It is the only part of this career you get to do every week whether or not anyone hires you, and it is the one thing you can get reliably better at on purpose. This page is everything SAS has on it: the classes, the self-tape kit, the room, finding your own auditions, and several hundred answers straight from the people on the other side of the camera.

Start with the classes Go to the library

If you only do one thing: watch Self Tape Mastery, then fix your set-up against it. More auditions are lost on the technical side of a tape than on the acting.

Start with the classes

The two long classes that cover the whole method, the short one on the room itself, and one on finding auditions when nobody is sending them to you.

JOURNEY 5A | Audition Mastery1

Journey 5A · 1h 31m

Audition Mastery

The complete method. Breaking down sides, making choices, the tape, the room, and what to do afterwards.
JOURNEY 5B | Self Tape Mastery - You Will Book More2

Journey 5B · 1h 51m

Self Tape Mastery - You Will Book More

The self-tape class in full. Set-up, framing, sound, readers, and the edit. Watch this before you tape anything else.
Nail Your In-The-Room Auditions3

Class · 26 min

Nail Your In-The-Room Auditions

What changes when there are people in the room, and how to use that instead of surviving it.
How To Find Your Own Film & TV Opportunities with Kevin E. West4

With Kevin E. West · 1h 07m

How To Find Your Own Film & TV Opportunities with Kevin E. West

Where the auditions actually are, and how to get in front of them without waiting on a rep.

The video library

Grouped by where you are in the process. The how-to pieces come first in each group, the rapid-fire answers after.

Self-tapes · 48 videos

The set-up, the reader, the framing, the file, and how to send it. Most self-tapes are lost on the technical side before the acting is ever judged.

▶Intro To Self Taped Auditions10 min▶Do Real Casting Offices Hold Open Call Auditions?6:37▶Can I Send Unsolicited Audition Self Tapes To Projects I Find Out About? With Blair Hickey & Brian Wold2:45▶What Do I Need To Make A Self Tape Set Up?2:31▶Assess Whether You Need A Better Self-Tape Reader2:19▶Can I Send Unsolicited Audition Self Tapes To Projects I Find Out About?2:16▶What Can I Use For A Self Tape If I Don’t Have A Tripod?1:48▶Do I Need Lights For A Self Tape?1:40
Show the other 40 videos
▶Should I Use Props In A Self Tape?1:35▶How Do I Edit My Self Tape?1:34▶Can Actors Book Off A Self-Tape Alone?0:17▶Can I Pre-record The Reader’s Lines And Use It For My Self-tape?0:27▶Can I Self-tape For Commercials?0:17▶Can I Send Multiple Takes For My Self-Tape?0:33▶Can I Upload My Self-Tapes To Instagram?0:29▶Can I Use Self-Tapes To Submit Myself For Roles Instead Of A Demo Reel?0:53▶Do I Need A Microphone For A Self Tape?0:55▶Do I Need A Tripod For A Self Tape?1:11▶Does The Slate Go At The Beginning Or The End Of My Tape?0:25▶For Video Chat / Call Backs, How Do I Make Sure There Is No Delay?0:29▶How Do I Do A Slate?0:32▶How Do I Know If My Self-tape Will Be Watched?0:25▶How Do I Light The Frame For A Self-Tape?0:37▶How Do I Make Sure My Tape Has Been Seen By Casting?0:35▶How Do I Present Multiple Scenes On Tape?0:14▶If There Is More Than One Person In The Scene, Do I Need More Than One Reader?0:25▶Is Self Taping For Motion Capture Projects Different to Theatrial Auditions?0:43▶Is There Any Point Selftaping For International Agent If I Can't Make CallBacks?0:49▶Should I Pay To Use A Studio For My Self Tape?0:35▶Should I Self Tape Like A Real Scene?1:06▶Should I Send Unsolicited Self Tapes To Casting For Auditions I Find Out About?0:27▶Should My Scene Partner Be Visible In The Self Tape With Me?1:05▶What Are The Pros & Cons Of Selftaping?0:46▶What Equipment Should I Buy To Do An Adequate Self Tape?1:10▶What Is A Self-tape?0:25▶What Is A Slate & Why Do I Need One?0:30▶What Is The Best Method To Send My Tape Direct To Casting?0:12▶What Is The Best Method To Send My Tape To My Agent?0:42▶What Is The Best Way To Send My Self Tape?0:44▶What Is The Preferred Framing For A Self Tape?0:41▶What Kind Of Camera Should I Use For Self Taping?0:39▶What Should I Wear For A Motion Capture Audition Self Tape?0:28▶What Should My Frame Be In A Self Tape?1:26▶What Type Of Background Should I Use In A Self Tape?0:59▶What Type Of Lights Should I Buy For Shooting Self Tapes?1:08▶What Type Of Microphone Should I Buy For My Self Tapes?0:43▶Where Should I Place My Eye Line In My Self-tape?0:19▶Why Is The Casting Director Asking Me To Self-Tape Instead Of Being In The Room?0:30

In the room · 56 videos

Lines, sides, nerves, adjustments, what to do with your hands, and how to leave.

▶How Do You Learn Lines For An Audition?4:53▶How Can I Learn My Lines For An Audition?3:16▶Do I Need To Hold My Sides In My Hand In An Audition?2:08▶What Can I Do To Book More Roles At My Auditions?1:56▶If A Reader Is Far Away From The Camera At The Audition, Can I Cheat To Camera?1:54▶Is It Ok To Ask For Another Take In An Audition?1:54▶What Should I Do If There Is Fighting Or Violence In An Audition Scene?1:52▶How Can I ‘Take Risks’ In My Audition?1:47
Show the other 48 videos
▶How Can An Actor Build Relationships With Casting Directors?1:45▶I Did Not Learn My Lines And It Is Too Late - What Can I Do?1:44▶What Do I Do If The Producers Are On Their Phones At The Start Of An Audition?1:40▶Is It Ok To Ask Someone In The Audition Waiting Room To Run The Scene With Me?1:38▶How Early Should I Arrive Before An Audition?1:38▶What Should I Wear To An Audition?1:38▶I Need To Do A Regional Accent Or Dialect Over Night For An Audition! Help!1:32▶Should I Tell The Casting Director That I’m About To Take A Risk In An Audition?1:30▶Can I Bring A Knife Or Gun To An Audition?1:13▶Can I Come Early For An Audition?1:13▶Can I Go To An Audition For An American Role & Use My Natural Accent?0:45▶Can I Take My Own Reader In For An Audition?0:18▶Co-Star Auditions Are Killing My Love For Acting... Is This Normal?0:51▶Do I Need To Learn All My Lines For An Audition?1:16▶Do You Recommend That Actors Coach For Big Auditions?1:08▶Has A CD Ever Given Negative Feedback About Something An Actor Did In The Room?0:33▶How Can I Get Or Find More Auditions?1:11▶How Can I Stay Focused When I Try To Learn My Lines For An Audition?1:28▶How Much Of The Character Should An Actor Embody When In A Casting Office?1:02▶How Should My Child Dress For An Audition?0:39▶I Audition For Younger Characters, Should I Be Open About My Age At Auditions?1:19▶I Audition For Younger Characters, Should I Be Open About My Age At Auditions? With Kym1:21▶I Feel Like I'm Never Going To Learn My Lines For This Audition. Help!1:28▶I Need To Change The Time Of My Audition - What Should I Do?1:02▶If I Have Guest Star Credits Why Am I Still Auditioning For Co-Stars?0:40▶If I Plan To Use My Natural Accent, Should I Check With My Agent/Manager First?0:41▶In A Chemistry Read Audition Is It OK To Ask Something From A Cast Actor?0:50▶Is It Good To Try A Different Accent If I Get Another Take In An Audition?1:19▶Is It Helpful For Actors To Keep A List Of The Casting Directors They Know?0:56▶Is It Ok To Give The Reader Direction In An Audition?1:06▶My American Accent Is Just OK, Should I Be Auditioning Yet?0:59▶My Nerves Before Auditions Are Paralyzing - What Can I Do?0:35▶Should Actors Use The Character's Accent When Talking Before An Audition?0:55▶Should I Approach Or Network With Directors On Social Media Before My Audition?1:28▶Should I Ask Permission Of Casting To Try Different Accents At My Audition?0:57▶Should I Bring A Gift For The Casting Director At An Audition?1:17▶Should I Follow Up With A Casting Director After I Have An Audition?0:58▶Should I Network With The Other Actors Before Or After My Audition?1:15▶Should I Reveal My Natural Accent After My Audition?0:50▶Should I Say I'm American In Castings - Is Faking An Accent A Disadvantage?1:14▶Should I Shake Hands With The Casting Director At An Audition?0:55▶Should I Wait In The Waiting Room Or Come Into The Audition Room With My Child?0:46▶Should I Wear a Uniform To an Audition?0:46▶The CD Has Asked Me To Use My Natural Accent But I Haven't Practiced! Help!1:29▶What Can An Actor Do In The Audition Room To Make Your Job Easier?1:14▶What Should I Do If I Hear The Person Before Me Auditioning Very Differently?1:29▶What Should I Do If There Is Kissing In An Audition Scene?1:13▶Will The Director Be At My Audition?1:14

Before the audition · 43 videos

Getting off book, breaking down the scene, researching who is casting, and arriving with actual choices.

▶Intro to Audition Preparation7:11▶Learning Your Lines9:33▶The Importance Of Getting Off-Book Immediately6:52▶Prepare Your Pocket Monologues4:36▶Research Filmmakers You're Auditioning For3:54▶Copy A Scene From A Master3:38▶What Do You Do When You First Get An Audition?2:43▶My Nerves Are Paralyzing Me Before Auditions- What Can I Do?2:37
Show the other 35 videos
▶Should I Bring Props To An Audition?2:28▶Self-Tape Your Auditions Before You Go In The Room2:01▶I Feel Uncomfortable With Same Sex Scenes, What Do I Do?1:59▶Is There An Exercise To Help Me Improve My Memory For Learning Lines?1:53▶Why Coaching Before Big Auditions Matters1:50▶What Audition Traps Should I Avoid In Voice Over?1:48▶I Know What I’m Doing Isn’t Working But I’m Too Afraid To Take Risks - Help?1:37▶What Are Some Tips To Learning Lines Quickly During Audition Preparation?1:35▶What Are The Steps For Preparing & Recording A Voice Audition?1:31▶Are There Any Good Apps That Can Help Me Prepare For My Audition?0:18▶Can I Do A Single Session At 21 Accents For One Audition?0:38▶Can I Hold The Script In Hand In My Audition?0:50▶Can I Request The Full Script Or Ask For More Information For My Audition Prep?0:24▶Do I Need To Follow The Exact Actions Described In The Script For My Audition?1:03▶Do I Need To Print Out My Resume & Headshot As Part Of My Audition Preparation?0:52▶Do I Need To Read The Whole Script For My Audition Preparation?0:40▶How Can I Identify The Tone Of A Show When I'm Preparing For My Audition?1:11▶How Can I Prepare For A Commercial Audition If No Script Is Available?0:46▶How Do I Handle The Politics Of The Waiting Room Before My Audition?0:51▶How Do I Stand Out From The Other Auditionees When We All Have The Same Script?1:19▶How Important Is Mindset For Auditions?1:08▶How Should I Dress For A Commercial Audition?1:05▶I Feel Like I Am Wrong For This Role, Should I Bother Going?1:22▶I Feel Like I'm Wrong For This Audition, Should I Cancel?0:37▶I Feel Uncomfortable Kissing Other Actors, What Should I Do?0:46▶I Have A Great Body & Want To Show It In My Audition, How To Do This Tastefully?0:35▶I Haven't Booked Auditions Lately - Help!1:21▶If I Am Unprepared To Audition, Should I Still Go Or Is It Best To Cancel?1:14▶Is It OK To Say No To Auditions?1:08▶Should I Get Coaching As Part Of My Audition Preparation?0:40▶Should I Get Coaching For My Voice Over Audition?1:22▶Should I Go In Full Costume Plus Props To My Audition?1:20▶What Does Acting Resource Guru Offer In The Live Coaching?0:43▶What Should I Avoid Doing At An Audition?1:08▶Without a Script, How Can I Prep For A Commercial Audition?0:56

Finding your own auditions · 32 videos

Self-submission, open calls, and the projects that never reach a breakdown service.

▶Intro to Finding Your Own Auditions4:20▶Send An Email Or DM In Addition To A Self-Submission5:03▶What Are The Differences In The Casting Websites When Finding My Own Auditions?3:50▶How Can I Find My Own Auditions?3:08▶Why Does Casting Keep Auditioning But Not Hiring Me?2:42▶How Do I Get My Agent of Manager To Push Me More For Auditions?2:42▶Research Where Your Local Film Schools Find Talent2:30▶How Can I Find My Own Auditions? With Blair Hickey & Brian Wold2:22
Show the other 24 videos
▶Pitch Yourself For 3 Upcoming Projects2:19▶How Do I Meet / Network With Up & Coming Directors In Order To Find Auditions?2:10▶How Many Submissions Does It Take To Get An Audition?2:03▶I Don't Have Representation - What Can I Do?2:00▶Should I Add Casting Directors Or Directors On Facebook Following My Audition?2:00▶How Much Do The Casting Websites Cost To Join For Finding My Own Auditions?1:53▶When I'm Finding My Own Auditions, What Is My Most Important Tool? With Blair Hickey & Brian Wold1:49▶How Can I Find Extra Or Background Work?1:48▶After Finding An Audition, What Are Some Tips To Stand Out When Self Submitting?1:33▶Can I Find Casting Notices Or Auditions On WeAudition?0:40▶Do I Need An Agent Or Manager To Find Voice Over Work & Auditions?1:06▶Does Casting Hire Non-Union Actors?0:47▶How Can I Find Work Or Get More Auditions For Sitcoms?1:06▶How Can I Use X (formerly Twitter) Or Instagram To Find Acting Work or Auditions?0:46▶How Do I Find My Own Voice Over Auditions?1:14▶If I Hear About An Audition, Is It OK To Ask My Representation To Submit Me?1:27▶Is It Worth Signing Up For A Year To Actors Access To Find My Own Auditions?0:47▶Should I Pay To Do Casting Or Agent/Manager Showcases?1:11▶What Are The Differences In The Casting Websites When Finding My Own Auditions? With Blair Hickey & Brian Wold1:09▶What Is The Difference Between All The Casting Website's Projects?0:59▶What SAG-AFTRA Actors Are Best Catered To On Actors Access?0:50▶When I'm Finding My Own Auditions, What Is My Most Important Tool?1:01▶Where Can I Find Auditions For My Child?0:57▶Where Do I Find Auditions / Acting Jobs?1:28

Commercial auditions · 45 videos

A different job with different rules. Union questions, conflicts, callbacks and bookings.

▶Intro to Commercial Auditions2:15▶Intro to Commercial Representation2:56▶What Are The Downfalls Of Doing Non-Union Commercials?2:13▶Why Are There More Non Union Commercial Auditions Than There Used To Be?2:02▶What Takes Precedence, My Theatrical Auditions Or My Commercial Auditions?1:32▶Should I Sign In/Out Accurately On A Commercial Casting Director's Sign In?1:30▶Am I Required To Take My Clothes Off In A Commercial Audition?0:57▶Are Their Certain Products I Should Avoid Auditioning For Because Of My Image?0:23
Show the other 37 videos
▶Can I Paraphrase In A Commercial Audition? I Only Got The Script When I Arrived!1:06▶Can I Say No To A Commercial Audition?0:41▶Casting Is Seeing So Many People, Should I Just Sneak Into Friends?1:07▶Casting Wants To Change My Hair Colour/Cut! What Should I Do?1:10▶How Are Commercial Auditions Different To Theatrical?1:23▶How Can I Get My Agent To Put Me Up For More Comedic Commercials?1:10▶How Do I Stand Out When The Commercial Audition Is Just Talking About My Life?1:14▶How Important Is Improvisation In Commercial Castings?1:18▶How Important Is The Photo That The Casting Director Takes In My Audition?0:37▶How Important Is The Slate In My Commercial Audition?0:24▶How Is My Resume Important For Commercial Casting?1:07▶How Many Commercials Auditions Should I Expect A Month?1:20▶How Many People Are Seen For A Typical SAG-AFTRA Commercial?0:40▶I Am Going For A Very American Brand - Should I Conceal My Foreign Accent?0:41▶I Am Running Late For My Commercial Audition Who Do I Call?0:31▶I'm Allergic To The Food I Need To Eat In This Commercial, Should I Lie?0:55▶I'm Vegetarian & My Agent Wants Me To Go For A Meat Product TVC, What Do I Do?0:45▶My Agent Called For A Same Day Commercial Audition But I'm Working! Help!0:59▶My Agent Has Asked Me To Bring Friends To My Audition? Help!0:56▶My Agent Has Sent Me In For A Brand I've Already Done A Commercial for...?0:55▶My Commercial Casting Went Really Badly - Should I Tell My Agent?1:10▶Should I Touch The Other Actor In My Commercial Audition?1:14▶Should I Wear The Same Costume I Wore To My First Audition For The Callback?0:49▶The Casting Director Has Asked My Age In An Auditon - What Do I Do?0:35▶The Casting Director Is Being Really Directorial In My Audition, Why?0:45▶The CD Has Asked If I've Done Fast Food Commercials Before, Should I Lie?1:19▶The Wait Time For This Commercial Audition Is An Hour, Is This Normal?0:58▶What Are Some Tips For Doing Direct To Camera Commercial Auditions?1:10▶What Colors & Patterns Should I Avoid Wearing In Commercial Auditions?0:54▶What Do I Do If I'm Partnered With A Bad Scene Partner In A Commercial Audition?0:34▶What Is A Third Call Commercial Audition?0:41▶What Is Required At A Print Campaign Audition?0:37▶Who Is At A Commercial Call Back?0:39▶Why Doesn't The Commercial Casting Director Remember Me?1:07▶Why Is Casting Asking Me To Hold Up My Hands To Camera?0:45▶Will The CD Or Commercial Agent Notice If I Skip This Casting Today?0:52▶Would There Ever Be A Time Where I'm Paid For A Callback?0:38

Voice over auditions · 15 videos

Recording, exporting, deadlines and the traps specific to voice work.

▶How Do I Know My Voice Over Auditions Are Being Heard?3:11▶My Voice Over Auditions Never Have A Timeline/Deadline For Recording. Why?3:03▶What Are The Parameters To Export The Highest Quality Needed For A VO Audition?2:00▶How Do I Record A Voice Over Audition For Commercials?1:53▶I Am Being Asked To Audition For A Child Character. I'm Old! Should I Bother?1:38▶Should I Slate In Character For My Voice Over Auditions?1:32▶All The Animation Seems To Go To Big Names. Is it Worth Auditioning At All?1:13▶Can I Choose Any Accent I Want For My Voice Over Audition?1:24
Show the other 7 videos
▶Can I Include Multiple Takes On My Auditions?0:35▶Do My Voice Over Auditions Need A Watermark?1:10▶How Can I Make My Voice Over Audition Pop?1:01▶How Do I Record A Voice Over Audition For Animation?1:18▶Should I Add Music To My Voice Over Auditions?0:10▶Should I Add Sound Effects To My Voice Over Auditions?0:18▶Why Is Correctly Naming My File Correctly So Important For Voice Over Auditions?1:14

How casting actually works · 22 videos

The process from the inside, and what directors and producers are doing while you are in the room.

▶Intro to How the Casting Process Works12 min▶JOURNEY 1 | How The Film Industry Works1h 29m▶What Is The Process Of Casting A Film, From Start To Finish?4:15▶What Are The Roles & Duties Of The Various Casting Positions In Your Office? With John Frank Levey3:39▶What Is Your Process When Working With International Casting Directors?2:07▶How Many People Would You See For A Co-Star Or Guest role?1:36▶Do You Ask For Headshots & Resumes In Hard Copy?0:06▶Do You Ever Watch Unsolicited Self Tapes?0:19
Show the other 14 videos
▶Do You Like A Second Option For A Self Tape?1:03▶Do You Like Actors To Wear Costumes Or Dress The Part? With Kate Dennis0:19▶How Do Casting Directors See The Submissions On Breakdown Services?0:58▶How Do You Select Which Actors To Audition? With Meg Morman0:59▶How Important Is A Great Self Tape Reader?0:33▶How Important Is It To Be Off Book In An Audition? With Kate Dennis0:33▶How Long Do You Watch A Self Tape Before You Know They're Not Right? With Kate Dennis0:14▶How Much Say Does A Director Get When Casting An Episodic?0:25▶In An Audition, Should I Talk In The Character's Voice Before & After The Scene?0:15▶What Is The Difference Between A Submission & A Pitch?1:08▶What Is The Process For Actor Approval On Episodic TV?0:38▶What Is Your Preferred Delivery Of Self Tapes?0:09▶When, If Ever, Can Actors Improvise Or Paraphrase In Auditions? With Kate Dennis0:30▶Which Backdrop Colors Do You Prefer In A Self Tape?0:11

Casting workshops · 31 videos

Whether they are worth it, how to choose one, and what to do afterwards.

▶Intro to Casting Workshops13 min▶JOURNEY 6A | Network Your Way To Work (Even For Introverts!)1h 41m▶The One-On-One Private List2:54▶Should I Reach Out To A Casting Director After A Casting Workshop?2:53▶Are Casting Workshops Worth It?2:09▶Which Casting Directors Have You Never Met1:49
Show the other 25 videos
▶Aren't Casting Workshops Illegal?0:25▶Can I Ask Advice On My Demo Reel At A Casting Workshop?0:27▶Can I Be Too Experienced To Attend A Casting Workshop?0:43▶Can I Do A General Meeting With A Casting Director Instead Of A Workshop?0:40▶Can I Offer Advice To Other Participants In The Casting Workshop?0:18▶Can I Send My Materials To Casting Before A Casting Workshop?0:33▶Can I Stop & Start Again In The Casting Workshop?0:21▶How Can I Impress The Casting Director In A Casting Workshop?0:34▶How Much Money Does A Casting Workshop Cost?0:23▶How Should I Dress When Attending A Casting Workshop?0:28▶I Already Know The Casting Director In This Workshop, Should I Remind Them?0:24▶I Am A Bad Cold Reader And The Casting Workshops Are Cold Reading! Help!1:11▶I Hate The Script I Was Given In A Workshop, Can I Ask For A Different Scene?0:18▶I Have A Bad Scene Partner In A Casting Workshop! Help!0:38▶I Have A Friend In The Casting Workshop With Me, Can I Ask To Work With Him/Her?0:21▶If I Get to Choose My Own Material For A Casting Workshop, What One Prepare?0:31▶Should I Bring A Present To The Workshop For The Casting Director?0:40▶Should I Pay For A Workshop With A Commercial Casting Director?0:43▶Should I Show Off My Body In A Casting Workshop?0:31▶Should I Show Off Special Skills In A Casting Workshop?0:26▶The Casting Workshop Was A Disaster. What Now...?1:01▶The Casting Workshop Went Really Well! What Now?0:32▶What Questions Should I Avoid In The Q&A At Casting Workshops?0:39▶Why Should I Pay To Meet A Casting Director At A Workshop?1:00▶Why Was I Given This Scene In A Casting Workshop, This Is Not What I Go Out For?0:28

Straight from casting

Four collections of rapid-fire answers from working casting directors. Over 700 videos between them, so treat these as something to search rather than watch end to end.

Casting Directors On Self-Taped Auditions

Collection · 164 videos

Casting Directors On Self-Taped Auditions

Every self-tape question, answered by the people who watch them all day.
Casting Directors On In-Room Auditions

Collection · 174 videos

Casting Directors On In-Room Auditions

What they want to see the moment you walk through the door.
Casting Directors On Booking The Role

Collection · 161 videos

Casting Directors On Booking The Role

What separates the actor who books from the four who were also good.
Casting Directors On Selecting Actors

Collection · 205 videos

Casting Directors On Selecting Actors

How the list gets made, and how you get onto it in the first place.

One more thing. Almost every answer on this page from a casting director comes back to the same two ideas: make a real choice, and be easy to work with. Everything else is technique in service of those. If a video contradicts another one, that is not a mistake in the library - different casting offices genuinely want different things, and knowing that is itself the lesson.