Approaching Your First Casting Call

For voiceover actors and actresses, there are jobs that will not involve a true casting call.  Talent demos or talent audition demos are used to gauge the ability of the voiceover professional, and there may be a telephone interview that serves as an opportunity for the casting director to get a good feel for who you are as a person.  However, that is not always the case.  You may be asked to come in for a casting call or studio audition, especially when working for local brands, shows, or series.  It can be a very intimidating, nerve-racking experience for anyone.  However, if you enter the room in the right mindset, you will have a leg up on the competition, so to speak.

The first thing that you should know is that much of the vetting of candidates happens before the casting call.  The information that you were required to provide in order to apply for the spot is used.  They look (and listen) through that material for many candidates and weed out all of those who simply won’t suit for the job.  Therefore, if you’ve received a casting call, then you already have a much greater chance of receiving the part.  Casting directors and their teams don’t want to sit in a stuffy room, meeting with people, and listening to the same lines over and over again, if they don’t have to.  Therefore, a casting call is usually only issued to those candidates that are extremely likely to fit the role. This goes for voice acting audition sessions as well.

When you go in, you can present a much more professional image if you are well equipped.  That is to say that you should dress to impress, carry a resume of past experience, and maybe your demo CD with you.  It is essential that these materials appropriately represent you and your talents.  If you cannot reproduce the voice (tone, pitch, etc.) used on the demo, then it shouldn’t be on that demo.  When you have received a casting call it is because something on that demo appealed to the casting director.  If you cannot live up to what is on the recording, then you aren’t likely to get the job, and you could also leave a bad impression upon that casting director, potentially ruining your future chances. This happens a lot, according to casting directors/directors and it really irritates them since time is money and auditions are gruelling enough already for everyone involved.

The most important thing is that you are prepared, confident, and relaxed when you walk in.  Enjoy the opportunity, the experience, and don’t worry about what comes next.  Treat the casting director and others to a show, so they can see just how much you love what you do. In other words, treat it as another chance to perform and not something you should dread.