What Is Audition Feedback
Constructive Audition Feedback
“Audition feedback” typically refers to comments or evaluations provided to performers who audition. After an audition, casting directors may offer feedback to the performers to help them understand their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Feedback from auditions can cover various aspects, including:
- Performance Skills: Comments on the performer’s acting skills. This could include aspects like expression, technique, and timing.
- Presence: Evaluation of how well the performer connects with the audience, conveys emotions, and maintains a strong presence.
- Interpretation of the Material: For actors, feedback might focus on how well the performer interpreted and conveyed the intended emotions or message of the material they presented.
Constructive audition feedback is valuable for performers as it helps them grow and develop their skills. It can provide insights into areas that need improvement and highlight strengths that can be further emphasized.
Not-so-constructive Feedback
Feedback for actors that is not constructive can be unhelpful, discouraging, or even detrimental to the actor’s development. Non-constructive feedback may lack specificity, fail to offer actionable insights or be delivered in a manner that undermines the actor’s confidence. Here are some examples of non-constructive audition feedback:
- Vague or General Statements such as, “Your performance was just not right.”
- Negative Tone Without Explanation like, “That’s not what we are looking for.”
- Personal Attacks like, “You’re not cut out for this. Maybe acting isn’t your thing.”
Most Actors Expect Audition Feedback
Audition feedback gives the idea of actionable insights into how you can improve. According to a study by the University of London, almost 80 percent of the time, actors believe that the kind of feedback they get directly affects how well they perform in their next audition. However:
- audition feedback can be difficult to interpret;
- asking for feedback can end up hurting you,
- when you expect feedback, you are asking casting to think of something “wrong” about your performance.
[Read also: 8 Awesome Tips For Your Virtual Audition Callback]
Auditioning is a nerve-wracking process that comes with a lot of uncertainties. You make your best effort, yet you never quite know what the results of your performance will be. And the Casting Director tells you – or not – about why you didn’t book.
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Audition Feedback In The Room
[Read also: 3 Amazing Ways Casting Directors Help Actors]
Until only a few years ago, most auditions happened in a Casting Director’s office. Back then, receiving audition feedback on the spot was not uncommon. In some cases, the feedback given in the room was part of the audition process. You would slate for the camera and perform your scene. Depending on how much time the casting director had, they could re-direct your scene and get another take.
In between takes, you could “sense the temperature” of the room, and take note of how casting was reacting. Moreover, a re-direction was always a sign that casting liked you as an actor and wanted to make sure to get your best delivery on tape.
Nevertheless, sometimes they would just want you in and out of their office to keep things moving. It could be for lack of time or simply because they felt they only needed one take from you. That could make you feel your take was either perfect or awful. The need for validation begs us to ask for feedback. From “What do you think,” to “Should I change anything,” actors humbly asked casting to tell them whether or not their performance was good.
For more seasoned actors, audition feedback would sometimes come from their agent. Depending on how strong their relationship with casting was, they would ask for feedback on your behalf, and get it. It would be up to your rep to tell you what the feedback was verbatim, or to sugarcoat it, in case it was not good.
[Online Course: How To Get An Agent]
Feedback On Self-Tapes
[Read also: 6 Reasons to Never Pay to Be in a Talent Showcase]
With self-tapes as the first audition form these days, casting can see a lot more actors than they used to. In the past, they would schedule auditions for business hours, and fit only as many actors as those hours allowed. Requesting tapes, on the other hand, allows them to review auditions outside of business hours. That means there will be no time for redirection or feedback.
Unless your agent personally sent your tape and pitched you for a role, they probably will not have much luck in getting feedback either. Actors who got used to feedback find themselves a little lost. From wondering whether or not to send two takes to what the expectations are for the performance, it may feel like it would be nice to get to ask if we are “doing it right.”
3 Reasons Why Audition Feedback Can Hurt
[Read also: The Most Common Misconceptions About Casting]
Reason #1 – Casting Director’s Limited Time
Casting has limited time to provide individual feedback. You don’t want to be the actor taking up more time than they had planned for your audition. That would likely make you come off as insecure.
Reason #2 – It Conveys Insecurity
Feedback for an audition means you think there are expectations to meet and wonder whether or not you have met them. It implies you can’t make choices without being directed. Keep in mind that the audition is the opportunity to show how YOU see the character. Expecting feedback as a form of validation makes it look like you can’t make artistic choices without guidance.
Reason # 3 – Confidence Makes You Memorable
When you do NOT ask for audition feedback, you walk away with a confident energy. As a result, the casting director trusts in you as well. Leaving the room confident in your performance choices makes you more memorable – and that is always positive.
Why You Should NOT Ask For Audition Feedback
What actors who expect audition feedback fail to realize is that feedback can hurt, even when the audition is great. First, the need for validation shows insecurity. Coming off as “green” is the last thing you need. Secondly, requesting notes from casting slows down their process. Some casting directors may straight up refuse to give you feedback. Finally, ask yourself what audition feedback is really good for. When our auditions are less than great, we probably know. The choice to keep working on your craft and feeling more confident at auditioning is all we need.
In asking for audition feedback, you are inviting casting to “think” versus simply “feel” what you delivered with your performance. When “thinking,” there is more room for criticism and judgment. Casting Directors are already judging us. Why make them dive deeper when you can leave them with a feeling about your performance?
Moreover, if casting has to go back and re-watch a tape or review any notes, they will find a logical reason why you did not get the job. Is that what you want them to remember you for? You are probably much better off not being remembered at all if your audition was less than stellar. Or, ideally, being remembered for being amazing but unfortunately not cast this time.
In a nutshell…
- Audition feedback perceived as negative can lead to demoralization and blow to the actor’s confidence. It may create self-doubt and insecurity. Moreover, it may simply undermine you because it conveys insecurity about your own performance choices.
- Ineffective feedback may be vague or lack specificity, leaving the actor unsure about what aspects of their performance need improvement. Clear and specific feedback is crucial for actors to understand where they can enhance their skills.
- Constantly receiving feedback without guidance on improvement may discourage actors from pursuing their passion.
- Additionally, when actors ask for audition feedback, it puts the casting director in a challenging position to remember specific details about each audition, looking for what was “wrong” with the performance.
Conclusion: What To Do Instead
[Read also: 4 Ways Actors Feel Unsupported]
Taking ownership of your process and mindset can make all the difference when it comes to getting the most out of your audition experience. When you audition, that is possibly the only time when you get to play a character from your perspective. You get to make your own creative choices. And that is what casting wants from you. They do not need to see tens or hundreds of auditions where actors do what is expected of them. They want to be surprised, wowed, and amazed by your incredible talent. Being fearful of not meeting expectations is your enemy. Trusting your process is your friend.
So, make clear and bold choices. Make yourself noted. Entertain! Don’t be predictable. Especially, do not be boring [We have a whole article about that here]. Give your gift to casting when you audition for them. And leave it at that. They will take your gift and that is what must satisfy you. Forget about audition feedback. Just like when you give someone a gift, don’t expect them to tell you how they liked it. Trust that you chose what you felt was best and let them enjoy that.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou
[Read also: 5 Reasons Why Talent Clips are Better Than Acting Reels]
At Teacup of Wisdom, we share knowledge and insights about the entertainment industry from the actor’s point of view to inspire and empower your acting journey.
