The Importance of ‘Next’ in the Actor’s Mindset

AJ Donnelly

8th March 2022

AJ Donnelly - Actor - Favourite Memes

I’ve seen a lot of people, not least of all myself, stress about an upcoming audition, especially when they are about to walk into the room of a big opportunity. But that tension, that fear, that worry, it all stops the real you showing through, stops your true potential from shining. And no matter what character you’re auditioning for, you still want to show who you really are at an audition, because that’s a huge part of what a casting director is looking for, not just how well you can act, but who you are as well.

This is definitely good advice, on so many levels. Reposted from @actorskit on Instagram.

 

As Libby Goldstein, casting director extraordinary, explains, any audition isn’t simply about being in the room for that one casting op, it’s about working your ass off, training, studying, honing your craft, so that when a casting team meets you, they don’t just think “OK, they’d be good for this role”, they think “Holy crap, this actor is fantastic! We have to remember them for XYZ that we have in the pipeline!” If you aren’t working day in, day out, to be the very best performer you can be, if you allow worry and self doubt to cloud your focus, not only are you potentially sabotaging this one opportunity, but also every other opportunity that can come from it! Whatever opportunity they might have for you NEXT!

Of course, and this is just as vital as preparing well and being the best you can be, have no expectations! An audition is just a step, not the end of a journey! And as it’s just one step in a road of thousands upon thousands of steps, once it’s taken, forget about it! When you leave that room, that job is done. You have so many more important things to think about than how you did, or if you’ll get a callback or not. You have the next thing to think about, whether that is your next audition, your next class, the next content you should create (because you 100% should be doing that!), so many things. The audition is done, so no matter how it went, simply get on to whatever is NEXT!

At the end of the day, if you prepare well, know what you need to do, and give it 100% when you are in the moment, there is no failing, in any situation. Worst case scenario, you don’t get cast, but you gain valuable experience (that you can use in whatever comes NEXT!), put yourself in front of important decision-making people who could remember you in the future, and have fun. Best case scenario of course, you shine like the sun that you are (or glow like the moon, if that’s your thing!), get a standing ovation and get cast on the spot. But let’s be practical about such things! 😁

Basically, do whatever you need to do to be the best you can be, each and every day, whatever that day may bring. Because one day, and one day soon, that door will open and you have to be ready to walk through! And you definitely can’t do that if you’re stressing about what happened yesterday, or what will happen tomorrow.Β 

Acting is living in the moment. So where do you choose to be right now? And what are you going to do NEXT to prepare?! πŸ€“

Published On: February 3rd, 2022 / Categories: General, Movies, The Acting Industry /

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