Turning Debilitating Nervous Energy into Empowering Strength

It’s completely normal to feel nervous when auditioning for a role. After all, you want that role, and when something matters to you, all kinds of physiological triggers can kick in. Your heart might start racing, or your palms may sweat. The worst-case scenario is your mind starts working against you, causing self-doubt that can be debilitating to your creativity.

It’s time to change your way of thinking and approach your audition from a position of power.

What You’ll Find in This Article

Know That Everyone is Rooting for You

Stop Second-guessing What “the Powers That Be” Want

Choosing the Right Take to Submit

Reduce Pressure By Shifting Perspective

Avoid Misery While Waiting for Results

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Know That Everyone is Rooting for You

The casting director who invited you is only as good as the actors they end up presenting to their client. They definitely want you to do a great job.

The director and anyone else involved in the decision-making process are looking for strong choices. Every audition they click to watch, they view with an open mind and positive expectations. Your agent and/or manager also certainly wants you to succeed.

Stop Second-guessing What “the Powers That Be” Want

They often don’t know exactly what they want until they see it. Recognize that the door is open for you to create. Interpret the material and give it your best shot.

Choosing the Right Take to Submit

When you’ve self taped several auditions, you have to decide which one to send.

The truth is, you’ll never know for sure which one is “right.” No one does. Even high-level celebrity coaches have to make that call based on gut instinct.

Don’t let nervous self-doubt cause you to play it safe. Create a performance with depth and complexity.

If you’re invited to submit two takes, make them different. The second take can be a bit more toned down or slightly ramped up, but never send two versions that are essentially the same. Doing so can hurt your chances.

Reduce Pressure By Shifting Perspective

If the expectations of casting, your agent, and manager are causing you to feel more pressure, pause. Take a breath. Remember, you were invited to create! Build confidence by studying acting consistently so you are continually developing your strengths. Work with a coach you trust and enjoy, and whose skills you feel confident in.

Avoid Misery While Waiting for Results

Don’t let the waiting period consume you. Stay busy with other auditions, attend acting classes and focus on your growth.

Remember, life experience often feeds your craft in unexpected ways. Start that book you’ve been meaning to read, take an exercise class or make a list of activities that will strengthen you physically and mentally, and start doing them.

Finally, it is imperative to maintain a healthy mental attitude and feel physically well to keep your momentum going.

Seek out inspirational materials to watch or read. I love watching celebrity clips where they share stories of past struggles, moments of almost giving up and the breakthroughs they’ve experienced along the way. I value them so much that every Friday, my office re-posts one as a feel-good reminder.

I’ll close by asking you to remember that when a role is released, casting and production need to fill it. You are invited to audition, and you have total control over what you will create and submit.

Final Takeaways

Audition nerves are completely normal, but they don’t have to hold you back. Shift your mindset from anxiety to empowerment by remembering that casting wants you to succeed and you have creative freedom in each audition. Here are some practical steps to help you own your process and keep growing as an actor:

Remind yourself that casting directors and your team want to see your best work, not perfection.

Stop guessing what casting “wants” and focus on making strong, authentic choices that bring your unique interpretation to the material.

When submitting self tapes, trust your instincts and choose takes that offer different vibes.

Manage pressure by breathing and remember that you were invited to create.

Use the waiting period wisely by staying busy with classes, auditions and activities that nourish your body and mind to keep your momentum going.

Remember, every audition is an opportunity to show who you are creatively. Own that power and keep moving forward.