Do you ever get the last-minute audition call from your "we're-not-quite-signing-you-yet" commerical agent, requesting that you leave your job/school/place of residence and book it to an audition within half an hour? Or, are you one of the lucky actors who receive the call in advance, and actually get to plan out your book-the-national attire?
Regardless, many actors [whether new, veteran, or otherwise] often stress to the point of absurdity over factors that influence the process other than the actual acting. And beyond the standard "should I improv?!", wardrobe is often a cause for mental calamity.
Thus, to help all of you who are driven to the Pringle aisle at the thought of selecting proper attire, I've done a touch of research.
10 Ponder-Worthy Ponders
1) Skip the black & white. Besides draining the light or refracting it, neither screams "here's my Kellog cereal energy!"
2) Unless its a specific character call, less is more. The standard "jeans and a top" work brilliantly, but make sure that the jeans aren't from the 60s, littered with Hollister-style holes, or [gasp] dirty. Jeans should fit you well and be flattering, and you should look, above all, "clean".
3) Solid Colors Rock. No Hot Topic "The World Sucks" logos, crazy polka dot patterns, or conflicting trademarks (Cola auditioners will not take kindly to an Pepsi logo).
4) Stick to Colors that Compliment YOU. You, as in skin tone, hair color, eye color, and... personality! If you've got blue eyes, grab a flattering blue shirt that makes 'em pop. Absolutely love purple? Wear it, it'll make you feel good!
5) Un-Cher Like Makeup. You want to be "camera ready", but you also don't want to look like a walking advertising for the newest Mac campaign. Make sure you wear foundation that covers, and even see a makeup professional if you have the time to know what and how to apply. Rule of thumb: foundation, powder [shiny = baddd], skin-complimenting blush, mascara, eye-color-complimenting shadow, and neutral but non-washing-out lip color.
6) Show Your Face! No glasses unless specified, and keep your hair from obscuring your eyeballs.
7) Watch Clothing Cut. Turtlenecks and other tops that cause your neck to suddenly dissappear are unfavorable.
8) Get Some Sleep! Even if you're doing the night shift, make sure you figure out a way to get in an acceptable amount of hours before walking into that audition room. If this includes requesting a later appointment time, so be it. Under eye circles and exhaustian can only be covered up so much.
9) Be Happy. If you've just told off a boss, knocked over a skyscraper-ogling tourist, or any range of emotional crisis -- get all Method or eat some chocolate. Don't go in there unless you are ready to represent that product for all of America to see! Exception: Anti-Depression "Before" Pharmesutical ad.
10) Improv is King. If you haven' taken an improv class, get into one now. So much of the commerical audition world consists of playing with the text, miming actions and bizarre things like fake drowning in a pool of Benadryl, and thinking on your feet. Further, be open to being a bit silly and creative -- they just might see something they didn't think of, like using a snorkel.
