Acting : Does Anyone Miss In-Person Auditions? by Jackie Letkowski

Jackie Letkowski I can understand that. There’s something different about being able to read the room and feel the chemistry between people in person that a video audition probably can’t fully capture. At the same time, I can see why video auditions have become so convenient for everyone involved. Do you think in-person auditions actually lead to better casting decisions, or do you think it’s more about the connection you get from being in the room?

ben Lucas Hello! So I think meeting people involved with the film in-person can save a lot of headaches later; I.E., an actress can be great, but what if she has a bad attitude and the casting director regrets not casting another actor who auditioned and was easier to work with. Just a common example that I have heard :) Or what if, on the other end, the people involved with the film give off a bad vibe and it ends up being a bad experience for the actor?

I most definitely do. I totally understand why most auditions have gone the self-tape route, but I miss the connection you can make with the casting director in the room. I tend to feed off the energy of the room (my improv roots at play). I don't miss the driving and waiting around the room with a bunch of other actors that are all my type...so I suppose that's a drawback. But, when you're in the room, I feel as though it's easier to make the connection with the actual person, and they have a better chance at remembering you for future opportunities, even if you don't book this one.

yes I do. Like trying to log in today, a machine asked if I was a human. You can't get the feel of a person or a voice in this lazy "let a machine decide" era.

I agree, Jackie! There’s something special about being in the room and experiencing that real human connection. Video auditions are definitely convenient, but they can’t always capture the same energy. I’m a songwriter, so I also appreciate how much genuine interaction can bring out creativity. Great post!

In Mythica 1, No one auditioned, They just asked us to be in it.

In Liquid Desert 1, I went to audition for one part, was asked to read for another part, was chosen more for my look than for the read because the director could see me. Much more effective than online auditions.

Hi Jackie,

Mostly in Australia we have In Person auditions. Except when it was pandemic.

Jackie Letkowski Exactly, I think that personal interaction can reveal things you simply can't pick up through a video audition. Chemistry and professionalism matter just as much as talent sometimes. Have you ever had an in-person audition where meeting someone completely changed your opinion about them?

I miss being in a room of people when performing my stand up comedy routine because sometimes something unexpected happens where the audience will be really listening and reacting to a joke. There are a lot of things you can't do in front of a webcam or on zoom because the energy just isn't there. It's definitely not the same.

OMG. 50+ years in the industry and It is so barren now. In the majority I haven't done an in person audition for film or Tv since Covid. No reactions or chats or getting even a limited verbal understanding of what is actually needed. Ah well!!!

I’d rather have in person interviews they are more exhilarating. Interacting with others in the room brings out the character that you are imitating better than a tape of yourself.

YES YES YES. I know it can be rought, driving all over town, parking, a host of htings. But you get to meet with, interact iwth AMD BECOMES FRIENDS WITH the casting people. They are our lifeline. I miss seeing them face to face. I really wish they would bring them back

I was just talking about this. I don't necessarily miss the waiting itself, but I do miss what the audition room accidentally gave us.

You'd walk into a casting office and run into actors you'd known for years, people from classes, people you hadn't seen since the last pilot season. There was a strange little community built into the process. And once you entered the room, your main responsibility was to act. Somebody else was handling the camera, the reader, the room, the technical side of the audition.

Self-tapes gave us enormous freedom and access, and I wouldn't want to lose that. But they also moved a surprising amount of the process onto the actor. Now we're often performer, camera department, lighting, sound, editor, uploader, and the person trying to find a reader. And listen, I'm tech savy. Yet...

So I don't know that I want the old system back. But I do think we lost something when the audition room disappeared, both artistically and socially.

Curious if anyone else on here feels that contradiction: loving the freedom of self-tapes while still missing the room.

All my auditions have been placed on a spreadsheet since 2013. To date, I have booked the same percentage whether the audition was in-person or video. Time is precious, therefore, video works best for me unless or until the booking pendulum swings consistently to in-person auditions. The ROI on not driving (traffic jams), delayed train/buses, subway fares, parking fees, arriving on time then finding the parking garage next to be audition closed, then being delayed departing because someone has double parked and have you blocked in on the street, casting is running late (happens) and they ask you to come back after lunch which is fine except you have other auditions across town that afternoon. Yes, in-person may be preferred (for the many reasons mentioned by all), however the overall ROI in my experience is the management of time in my personal and professional life.

The amount of new requirements that artificially came along with self tapes are absurd. We can have the best of both worlds, but now we are expected to virtually make the freeking movie just to audition. I don't hold my actors to the same nonsensical standards for a self tape when I'm working on the directing/producing side and my team is running auditions. I have always enjoyed in person auditions but on the casting end a lot of complications and expenses are removed when self tapes or even online live auditions are done and you can review more people mor efficiently. There can be an in person stage after a round or two of online ones if needed and I do think that is a good idea before a company commits to hiring a an actor they haven't worked with before for a significant role in a film/video production.

Man, a lot of great feedback and insight from everyone here! Does anyone here find that when you're nervous going into an audition in front of casting directors, these nerves can sometimes bring out your best performances?

Yes. Nerves are adrenaline. You need the adrenaline to execute the action. If you play sports, say football for instance, and you go to the field without any adrenaline, you will get crushed. Same with surfing or any sport really. The adrenaline is what gives you the edge. Nerves are your body saying, be alert, stay sharp, if you want to survive.

I really miss “working in the room.“ I hate the fact that you aren’t able to build a relationship with The Casting directors, that you get no direction, and can only hope that your choices were great.

Sometimes I try to make myself nervous because to much confidence can turn people off.

Couldn't agree more. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if in-room auditions became popular again. The more actors lean on AI to generate flawless, cinematic frames and lighting in self-tapes, the more casting directors are going to crave the raw, unedited reality of an in-person read.

i do voice reads electronically. Often the clients want a perfect product in the demo. Easy for theft that way. Most do want live directed sessions.after the demo. That's basically an in room audition.

A lot of excellent points have been made already regarding the saving of time and convenience of not having to park and go across town, but there is something that hasn't been touched on.

In person auditions forced you to do the work. There are a number of actors that I've talked to taking several hours to shoot a video and that seems insane to me. The job is to perform on demand. If you can't do that, you're not ready. Productions are hemorrhaging money every moment and I've worked on several productions where the self tape was good, but the actor couldn't perform on demand.

The other thing I miss about in person auditions, is the opportunity to show I can take adjustments, because again, that's the job. If you get on set and can't take technical direction, you're costing production time and money. That level of professionalism was something you could weed out during the in person audition process and saves headache in the long run.

Aside from those two main points, having an opportunity to win over the room during the moments before and after the audition are the times casting directors can get a feel for you as a person and also make a strong enough impression to be front of mind for future projects.

Hi Jackie,

I can relate to missing that feeling of being in the room for live auditions. As an actor, one of the goals is to show the casting team something that will resonate with them, which is much easier to convey in-person.

However, I can't say that I am opposed to online auditions. Digital submissions are convenient when traveling or working on other projects, and the quick turn-arounds definitely keep me on my toes.

Thanks for bringing up this discussion!

Rodrigo, I agree that self tapes give all of us freedom, but I still miss the room. I used to vlog on youtube and so when self tapes became the norm, I saw it as a different kind of vlogging, but I also found that scenes don't always work the same way when you're just talking into a camera without having another person in the scene to react to. I much prefer performing on a stage because when I'd do comedy at open mic nights, I'd get the energy from the audience. Even during the pandemic there was a time when one of my poetry/open mic groups was on zoom and most people shared poetry or music, but when I shared comedy I was the only performer who didn't mind if the other's mics weren't muted because otherwise it would be like silent laughter. Even with the unmuted mics though, the atmosphere wasn't the same as in person.

I once was at one of those open mic nights. The hosts wondered why I wanted the lights left on high. You can't relate to an audience you can't see .