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Advice for the actor. Restoratives for the soul.

Great, invaluable, practical, and insightful, veteran working actors share what they've learned about how to manage the practical and technical aspects of the audition process.

While some trial and error learning will be inevitable in learning any skill, this book will help bring clarity and focus to the acquisition of your audition technique, to the strengthening of your audition skills, and believe me -- it is a skill, and high one at that. You'll learn hard won insights, tips, and revelations that will help you set your audition targets -- and once you know what your targets are, where you weaknesses are, then all you need to do is continually practice setting your sights on those targets. That is the real value of this book. Some highlights are:

AUDITION PREPARATION STRATEGIES:

• how & why to practice your sight reading, a critical cold reading skill: see strategies #8 & #38 (Professional Sight Reading Techniques).
• how to maintain persistence and determination, and why they, not talent, are your true leverage in eventual success & mastery: see strategies #11 (The Power of Habit) & #21 (Fail To Plan And You Plan To Fail).

• how to start an audition (starting off on the right foot is everything): see strategy #42 (Starting Strong) & 63 (Center Yourself).

• how to be clear -- slow the hell down! See strategy #82 (Speed Kills).
• when to know that 'no real acting is required:' see strategy #93 (The 80/20 Rule of Drama).

With this book in hand you gain the most from each of your audition experiences -- and if you stay positive (and that's no mean trick because that's something else to learn), you'll find yourself quickly becoming a much smarter actor in the audition process, and that's the best way to free your talent.

"Something happened with me. It was like a monkey off my back or something. I didn't feel armored any longer as an actor; I felt like I could -- whatever I did -- was going to be alright. It was a beginning for me, of a kind of subconscious work."
- Gene Hackman