Imagine this (seriously - just imagine because this is a hypothetical situation I dream of everyday!!): You did it!! You just landed an audition for the spot of your dreams in a HUGE animated series show for a major network!!! You're freaking out and you're SO excited you can hardly stand it - especially since you're not allowed to talk about it to anyone... NDA!!! This is what you've been waiting for and dreaming of your entire VO career and now you have the chance to prove yourself - so no pressure, but you seriously cannot screw this up!

What's your plan of action now!? You have a script, they didn't give you a sketch of the character because they want to see what you can do first with just a short description. So what are you going to do to prep for this audition? What's your audition preparation process? Do you have one? You absolutely should! Here are some tips:

1) Remember, you don't have a lot of time to impress the casting director or producer, so you need to think quickly and make strong choices, but also be able to follow direction. So don't over practice. Give them your version of what you think they will want based on the info they've given you, and then if they direct you to do otherwise, take the direction and give them what they want. Taking direction is super key to landing the actual job!

2) Get in the moment and stay there! GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD!!! You've had and are still taking Improv classes - presumably! Use that training to help you! If this is an animation audition, give them ALL of your energy! Take it to the absolute top of your performance level! You can always bring it down - but they have to see that you can take your performance to 150% so they know where to bring you down to if necessary!!

3) Don't let outside things going on in your life affect what you do in your audition - unless they're going to enhance your performance. A coach once told me, "nobody cares if you're having a bad day." A little harsh? Maybe. But what they meant - I think - was that people DO care - but there's a time and a place for that - and the place to complain about your bad day is NOT at your super duper, awesome, once in a lifetime shot at nailing this audition! So push that bad day aside because you're about to nail the role of a lifetime and if that doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will!!

4) You may be freaking out on the inside, about to cry with excitement. You cannot believe your shot is finally here. Go into the audition calm, cool and collected!! Give the BEST performance of your life - and give them the energy they want. It's ok to let them know you're excited, but don't be a total spaz about it! Thank them for the opportunity and for their time. You want them to like you. Be sweet or badass or whatever it is they're asking you to do! Put your acting skills to the test - this is your profession after all! You can't be a voice actor without the stellar ACTING ability to go with it!!

5) When the audition is over, as "Elsa" from "Frozen" would say, "Let it go!!!" Don't dwell on it! If you get the part and book the job - fantastic! If you don't, there will be another one. You have to forget about it and hope for the best!

You will probably have a ton of auditions in your lifetime as a voice actor! There will probably be a lot of rejection - especially at first. Take it with a grain of salt. Think about the people in your life that inspire you and also think about the reasons why you chose to be in this industry. You had to have known up front that it would not be overnight success. For most, it's not! Surround yourself with people that you want to work with, that you admire, that you can learn from. Go to networking events - like #MAVO2015! You have the chance at epic events like this to meet some of the most successful people in the industry. Don't miss out on those chances. These are people who can open doors for you. Sometimes, you just have to make those opportunities happen! Don't waste time, you only live once!! Now get out there and market yourself so you can reach those goals that you have set for yourself! Make this the best week ever and nail absolutely every audition!! Break a lip!!!!!!!!! :)

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