So, what is a 'side' in acting?
A 'side' is another word for a script used in an audition.
More on "sides" and how to audition better in a moment, but here are some other terms you should know as you get ready to start auditioning:
What is a 'Side' in Acting?
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3 Mistakes to Avoid in the Audition Room:
Now that you know the 3 ways to perform better in auditions, there are also three key things you should AVOID doing in auditions:
As a general takeaway here, don't overcomplicate the audition prep process or you'll feel overwhelmed and start to hate auditioning, which is a recipe for anger and frustration for years to come.
Watch this quick video to learn my "outside the industry" perspective on why trying too hard to stand out in auditions can do more harm than good:
- Do NOT try to give casting directors what you think they want. You'll inevitably get it wrong unless the audition is for a well-known play. Most casting directors don't care about whether you're making the right choices – they just care that you're making clear choices. You should focus on playing the scene as yourself (or in other words, as your own Type/Brand). If you think the casting director wants a gruff, mafia-type character and you're not at all like that in real life, you shouldn't try to be that way for the scene. Trying to make your voice deep and gruff like an Italian mobster will just come off fake. They're unlikely to book you because there will always be someone who is more naturally that way. Just play yourself and let them determine whether you're naturally a good fit for the role.
- Do NOT try to show range or give an extremely unique/memorable performance. Keep it simple. The more you try to stand out by making weird, outlandish choices, the less likely a casting director will choose you for the role. This is because your job as an actor is to support the story – not be the story. The story is not about YOU. Don't try to draw unnecessary attention to yourself in the audition or you'll just look weird and the casting director might avoid bringing you back (yes, they remember actors).
- Do NOT overthink things and spend hours analyzing the script. It’s not worth the tons of extra effort to try to pick apart your sides by figuring out all kinds of complex answers such as where in the story this scene takes place, what point of the character arc you're the scene takes place in, etc. Even though you'll find advice like that in many articles and from many coaches, I like to think differently or as I call it, "outside the industry." At the end of the day, auditions are not designed for casting directors to see which actor came up with the right backstory – they're simply a way for casting directors to judge whether or not you're natural and seem like a good fit for the character!
As a general takeaway here, don't overcomplicate the audition prep process or you'll feel overwhelmed and start to hate auditioning, which is a recipe for anger and frustration for years to come.
Watch this quick video to learn my "outside the industry" perspective on why trying too hard to stand out in auditions can do more harm than good:
Examples of Sides
Here's an acting sides PDF to give you an idea of what sides might look like.
Here's a great audition sides database of not only examples of real sides for auditions, but also scenes you can use for self-tape submissions (in place of a demo reel).
Here's a great audition sides database of not only examples of real sides for auditions, but also scenes you can use for self-tape submissions (in place of a demo reel).
How Long are Sides for Auditions?
Most sides run anywhere from a half page up to 3, 5, or even 10 pages long. Sides written in standard format typically last about a minute per page, so a half-page script would be equivalent to a 30-second scene.
Most sides are marked with instructions as to where you'll be starting and ending. If they're pulled from a full-length script, the part you won't need to worry about will be crossed off. If it's legible, you can usually read it to give yourself a bit more context on the scene.
You can use some of these acting sides to practice as you get ready to go in to real auditions.
Most sides are marked with instructions as to where you'll be starting and ending. If they're pulled from a full-length script, the part you won't need to worry about will be crossed off. If it's legible, you can usually read it to give yourself a bit more context on the scene.
You can use some of these acting sides to practice as you get ready to go in to real auditions.
Why are They Called 'Sides' in Acting?
Back in the day of Shakespeare, to save money on printing (or before printers existed, having to manually re-write the script a whole bunch of times) for each actor, actors were handed short segments of scripts for auditions and rehearsals.
They were called 'sides' because the actor was usually just presented with their own 'side' of the scene, meaning they only received their own lines – all the other actors' lines were removed.
This practice also protected scripts from being plagiarized.
They were called 'sides' because the actor was usually just presented with their own 'side' of the scene, meaning they only received their own lines – all the other actors' lines were removed.
This practice also protected scripts from being plagiarized.
At the end of the day, standing out and doing a great job in your auditions is about creating a personal, memorable impression on the casting director.
This isn't done by doing unique, crazy performances. Instead, it's by being yourself and showing your professionalism in the room. It's by connecting with the casting director in a deeper way, rather than just trying to do some magical performance that knocks their socks off.
There are many ways to make that connection, whether by simple researching them beforehand to find something to ask them about in the audition room, or discovering something I call your Passion Brand and talking to the casting director about it.
But at the end of the day, you should be yourself. Remember: you're not trying to be the best; you're just trying to be naturally and confidently YOU, which means playing your Types and Brand confidently.
If you're right for the part, the casting director will know it.
Enjoyed this article?
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I'd like to invite you to my free insider newsletter where I'll share my best material, including:
- How to network easily and authentically with casting directors – even if you hate self-promotion.
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- And much more...
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Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues. Want to book more acting work by thinking different? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com. |
Further Reading:
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