Auditions are tough and nerve-wracking as it is. When you have on-camera auditions, that’s always added pressure to bring your A-game and not make any mistakes.

The thing about on-camera auditions is that you can’t just “wing it” – or at least we don’t really recommend you do that. When a camera is involved, you have to factor it into your performance and the physical elements of your audition. There’s a lot to consider, so make sure you’re prepared!

Our friends at Backstage published a fantastic article detailing 5 Tips for Improving Your On-Camera Audition, and here are 2 of our favorite tips – ones we feel are most crucial to your success:

Find the eyes.
Find and look at the reader in the eyes the moment you walk in the room. Don’t stare her/him down, but just make a mental note to catch the reader in the eyes as you walk in and say hello. You walk in and say hello, but if you don’t look the casting director or reader in the eyes, you don’t mentally prepare yourself to see that casting director looking right at you when the scene starts, which can throw you off for a beat or two.

Find your mark quickly.
Find your mark immediately after you have introduced yourself. You are looking for where, on the opposite side of the camera, you will take the majority of your scene if you plan to create another relationship. Think of the camera as Mickey Mouse with two big ears. You want to focus on one ear, which will be the reader or casting director, and then you want the mark on the wall or somewhere in the room that is near enough to the camera to be the other ear. This will help you to not get lost when your adrenaline is up during your audition.

Ultimately, the camera should always be considered when it comes to your audition. It’s all about staying connected, being aware of your space and your eye-lines, and maintaining consistent focus so that the camera works in your favor. Best of luck!