dressing up for the audition

[AlexHL]

hi all just a quick question in regards to what to wear to an audition. I know so people think that you should dress very like the character you are auditioning for so some advice would be great!

I am auditioning for a character that is described a complete chav, and wears tracksuit bottoms, big hoop earrings and trainers.

how far exactly should I try and look like the character? NOrmally my dress style and accent is very far off from how the character is described, and I feel like if I make some effort towards looking more like the character, It may be easier for CD to see me that way?

However, I would feel slightly odd turning up to a formal audition wearing something like tracksuit bottoms! any suggestions??

[begolina]

I think that would be very wrong to go to an audition dressed with a suit if the character is a chav. However, I wouldn't go to the extent of dressing exactly for the part. I have seen a little girl dress as Dorothy for an agent workshop audition because she was going to sing Over the Rainbow as her chosen song. I did feel so sorry for her

[lyndahill]

I have read Jo Hawes book and she's says NOT to go dressed as the character, just go as yourself. If you're 12, dress as a 12 year old and not a 15 year old and vice versa and don't overdo make up. IShe could be different to other CD's though?

[francescasmum]

We usually go dressed neutrally but with a little glimps of what they are looking for, for instance if they are looking for a sweet innocent little girl she would probably go in a dress with her hair down but if they wanted a tom boy then it would be jeans and a T shirt, with her hair tied back or if she needs to dance leggings but not leotards, occasionally however we have been asked to go dressed in character, once airing towards goth, once a ballet dancer and once urban/rough.

[francescasmum]

When I say WE I'd like to point out that I have never turned up at one of dd's auditions dressed as a ballet dancer, or infact a goth!

[francescasmum]

Having said that last week I was asked if I fancied playing the role of Fairy nuff, Santa's helper, in a episode of a series dd is about to start filming. looks like it is now going to be played by a lady who is 92!

[Panda]

Ha ha J, you lost out there ;-) Would loved to have seen you in a Fairy costume

[AlexHL]

thank you all for your feedback! I will go neutral with slight suggestions of the character!

[fartoomuchtodo]

Francescasmum! You made me smile I'm always saying 'we' did this or 'we're going here' when really it's my talented DS just being driven/chaperoned/escorted by me. Try to catch myself but it just slips out. I'm smiling at the thought of the parents going dressed for the part Brings a whole new meaning to pushy Mum

[pg]

Yes, I think a "flavour" of the character is the way to go. Don't dress against the character. Don't go in "interview" mode - unless it's a business person. Occasionally you will get a request for a particular look - and obviously in that case you would follow the instructions .

For commercial castings and corporates I think you can go a bit further as these will depend so much on being the right person coming through the door.

For theatre auditions I would say go as yourself (though still don't dress against the character) for TV and Film I would look at it this way: "what would this character feel most at home in out of the clothes in my wardrobe?"

[aspiringactressx]

hi,

linked to what everyone else has said... I've found that the CD has ALWAYS specified what to go dressed as, if that's what they want. I've gone to auditions in school uniform, summer clothes (in the middle of winter!!!), work dress suits etc... this has always been specified in the emails my agent sends me. Sometimes it's more vague such as 'young looking' or 'no make up', but I wouldn't go for an audition looking like a 'chav' if the CD did not tell me to dress that way. By all means I would go in jeans and a jumper rather than a dress, but I wouldn't go further than that, unless the CD has said so.

[Flosmom]

Following on from francescasmum's comment, maybe we should start a trend of always dressing as the character? I mean the mums (or dads) dressing up, not the kids. Then we would have no difficulty spotting the other NAPMs in the waiting room

Deb x

[gingerbam]

Following on from francescasmum's comment, maybe we should start a trend of always dressing as the character? I mean the mums (or dads) dressing up, not the kids. Then we would have no difficulty spotting the other NAPMs in the waiting room

Deb x

oooh yes, that would be fun!

[francescasmum]

Flosmum, you go first and if you pull it off we may follow suit!

[Flosmom]

Flosmum, you go first and if you pull it off we may follow suit!

Just choosing my costume. What do you think...Annie or Dorothy?

Deb x