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Welcome to TheResumeManual.com. This video module is focused on the technique of perfecting
your perspectives.
Perfecting your perspectives refers to the technique of putting yourself in someone elseÕs
frame of mind and anticipating and understanding their frame of thought. This technique is
powerfully important for your performance career. By understanding and anticipating
the thoughts and actions of directors and casting agents you will be able to gain the
competitive edge in the audition and in your performance career.
While this might be an easy concept to understand, many performers find it difficult to put this
into practice. In regards to auditions, performers are often too concerned with dance routines,
audition music, or worried about how the audition is going to play out. Instead, place the focus
on controlling what is in your power to control. Perfecting your perspectives in an audition
setting requires these 4 Key Steps:
One, be prepared. Two, know your History. Three, switch it up. Four, unconscious control.
1. Be Prepared: While this is the BoyScouts motto, it should also belong to every performer.
Before you can even begin ÒPerfecting Your PerspectivesÓ you must be completely, and
totally prepared. The audition doesnÕt begin when you walk through those theatre doors,
or as go on stageÑit begins long before that. As a professional performer, you need to be
prepared long before the day of the audition. Examples of this, would be having a list of
multiple audition songs completely memorized, you should have multiple audition clothes,
shoes and audition clothes prepared and ready with you, you should have already visited
the audition location if you havenÕt been there before, and you should be warmed up
both vocally and physically. In conclusion, you want to account for every detail and be
so utterly prepared that you do not have to think, worry, or distract your self at the
audition by worrying about any of these details.
2. Know Your History: Once you know that you are prepared, you need to get into the mindset
of the directors and casting agents that will be auditioning for the current show or production.
To successfully do this, you need to do your research. Most productions will post who will
be auditioning. Try to find out who the individuals are. If you already have worked with the directors
and casting agents then this step will very simple. However, if they are new to you, then
you need to begin finding out as much information as you can. Try to see what productions they
have auditioned in the past. See if they have already produced this same show. Also, research
the production itself to see how the show has been cast in the past. Look on the internet
and do your research. It is important that completely understand what roles are being
auditioned, who has played them before, what direction those roles were given, and use
this information to influence your audition so that you take all the strengths and weaknesses
that you found throughout your research, and use this to your advantage. This step is one
of the hardest to master.
3. Switch it Up: This is the most important aspect of ÒPerfecting Your Perspectives.Ó
This step is the final culmination of your practice, research, and mental preparations.
At the audition use this information to your advantage. For example, if you get to the
audition and the other people auditioning are wearing the same style or color outfit,
use one of your extras to stand out. If you are at a singing audition, and then someone
sings the same style of song or same type, recognize this as an opportunity and take
advantage of it. Use one of your other audition songs so switch it up, and grab the directors
or casting agents attention. Also, if they have you reading for a particular part in
the production, your research will be able to give you direction and allow you gain crucial
insights into how the role should be played and what the director or casting agent is
expecting.
4. Unconscious Control: Finally, remember that as much as possible, you should try to
make all of these thoughts unconscious. This takes practice and preparation. The key point
to remember is that at the audition you need to remain in the moment at all times. Get
out of your head, and be fully at the audition. While you are currently auditioning, you do
not want to be anticipating what the director might be thinking, or consciously assessing
your competition. You need to be focused solely on the audition and be in the moment. The
only way to accomplish this, is to make everything we have presented become unconsciously controlled.
There is no magic or mystery to this. Learn how to read a room full of people, learn how
to be fully in the moment, and learn how to keep all of these skills under unconscious
control so that you can gain the competitive edge.
In conclusion, remember to use this advice to leverage your experience, training and
preparation to ace the next audition. Perfect your perspectives so that you gain the competitive
advantage. And lastly, remember that once all is said is done and you have finished
the audition, assess the entire process and critique yourself so that each time you get
better, and better, and better. Mistakes happen, but they can also be avoided. DonÕt be afraid
to make mistakes. But recognize when you have made them, and make sure they donÕt happen
a second time.
Thank you once again for your time and consideration. Break a Leg