All acting work requires a considerable degree of stamina, even for those who have just a few lines to say over a whole evening. Few stop to think how much emotional stress can also be involved. Mostly, this is because of the uncertainty of a live performance. There is however the curious paradox that actors may feel most insecure about themselves when they are enjoying their greatest success.
The great British actor Sir Alec Guinness once described acting as ‘happy agony’ and he may be referring to this paradox of mixed feelings. It is certainly odd that what are very painful experiences for actors in professional situations, may also be the work experiences that are the most rewarding for them.
This is not dissimilar to what many actors feel in acting auditions. Here, the confidence that an actor may gain from a four-week rehearsal period, is not available: he or she has just minutes to create a rapport with the audition panel.
This is an acute form of ‘happy agony’. At this most testing time, when you feel most vulnerable and insecure, you may very well feel empowered to give of your best. To ensure this, of course, you have to be extremely well prepared. But the satisfaction of a good audition, despite the anxieties, can itself be very rewarding.
Here at Audition Now we keep you informed of all the latest acting auditions; helping you into those situations where you can give your best.
Tags: acting auditions, acting opportunities, acting work, preparing for auditions