We’re about to hit a big surge of auditions! You ready?

Some people walk into their audition and wing it, some stay up all night practicing or worrying about it, and others may just be going through the motions of the cattle call. Whether you think it’s up to fate, skill, luck, or anything in between, there are still many things you can do to better prepare yourself for your next big audition. This is your time, your experience. Don’t leave it up in the air – take charge!

Here are our 10 tips on how to have a winning audition:

1. Don’t be too polished. There’s something to be said for edginess, new approaches, and the unordinary.

2. Make no excuses. Leave your baggage and your insecurities at home.

3. Don’t apologize for anything. You may think it comes off as humble and agreeable, but it really makes you look insecure and unprepared.

4. Keep it simple. Master your movement and know that there’s power in minimal action. Don’t get crazy with props or blocking. And never, ever mime.

5. Make bold, specific, unique choices. Your goal is to stand out and show what you can bring to the character, not be a vanilla carbon copy of what any standard actor would do. Decide what you want to do, then do it.

6. Don’t start over. Did you screw up a line? Fight through it. It probably didn’t go as horribly as you thought. Remain calm, focus on your energy and tone, and make the rest of your audition powerful, precise, intentional.

7.  Own your space. You have complete control of the room when it’s your time. This doesn’t mean move all over the place. Just know that you have complete command — use it. Be grateful, be certain, be ready. Don’t lose that power!

8. Do your homework. Know the director, the tone, the genre, style. Read anything and everything you possibly can on the particular project. Anything to better prepare yourself and nail the tone they’re looking for.

9. Wear neutral clothing and/or makeup unless the role calls for a specific look or vibe. The goal is to be a canvas… that is damn good at acting. Sometimes the wrong outfit or hair/makeup can drastically throw people off and have them receive you differently.

10. Be the 3 Cs: Comfortable, confident, charismatic. Be present and engaged even when you’re not speaking. Don’t be disconnected. Yes, you’re there to act – but also to react. Bring in the right energy, because it drastically makes or breaks how you’re received. Walk in the room with positivity, conviction, calm, and enthusiasm. It will not go unnoticed.