Hit the Target – Make a Goal

If you have no goal, you have no direction for your energy. That’s okay though, if there’s nothing to achieve, it doesn’t matter. 

If you don’t want to be a better actor, – if you don’t want more money, or an amazing home, or to lose weight, or to spend more time with those you love, or to read all the books you always wanted to, or to play music, to try recipes, or run, fish, pole dance or write, if you don’t want to achieve anything, then do nothing and please don’t create a goal.

But if there are things you’d still like to achieve in your life, then read on…

Creating a goal increases your chances of achieving it. And writing it down increases your chances of achieving it MASSIVELY. Of course, you’re going to need take action too, but without a written goal – all the action would be pointless.  So write it down. And put it somewhere you can see it. And review it often to decide if you are staying on track or, equally if your goal has changed. 

To have a goal means becoming aware. If your goal is to see improvement in the quality of performance in audition scenes,  you have to become aware of the critical elements – the variables that make for a cracking audition scene. If you want to achieve that, you’re going to have to think about it. Bummer. Okay, if you object to thinking, click away from this post now.

Still here? Good.

Look, who knows if you can achieve everything you ever wanted. But having a goal and breaking down the components, the critical elements required to achieve that goal will certainly improve your chances of achieving it. 

So what makes for a good audition scene performance? What are some of the critical variables? 

- The Security of your Lines
- The Choices 
- Connection to the Other Actor
- Understanding the Scene
- Believable Emotions 

These are some of the variables of a good audition scene. But there are lots. Of course, knowing the right variables is part of the business of being a successful actor.  But here’s a secret. It’s a lot easier to move towards your goal if you can put a number on it.  Let’s take line security. What would you expect to see if the lines were super secure? A smooth fluidity, no thought, no hesitation, a distinct level 10.

How were the lines in terms of smooth fluidity in your last audition?  Around a 6? Or 7? You didn’t have much time to prepare, you only got a few days with the script, so it was a bit disjointed and there hesitation, just one, but enough to put yourself off.  Yeah, a 6 – maybe a 5?

Right, then one of your smaller goals is to increase your security to maybe a 7 or 8. Of course, we want a 10, but I am being realistic. One step at a time. 
Building an awareness about those variables when they are 10s, and acknowledging with self awareness where you are now, allows you to see what needs to be done to improve. And by raising your awareness of these things, you are already closer to your goal.

STEP 1: Decide what you want to achieve.

STEP 2: Write it down and put it somewhere you can see it every day. It won’t help at the back of a drawer!

STEP 3: Work out the most essential elements of achieving that goal.

STEP 4: Compare the ‘perfect’ version of those variables to where you currently are.

STEP5: Consider what options you have for improvement. Begin taking any actions necessary to bridge the gap.