Auditions are a fact of life for every performer. They can be very stressful and sometimes even overwhelming, especially when you really want to book a gig. Here are five easy tips to ensure you are more relaxed before you walk into the audition room:

1. Stay Away from the Vampires

Stay away from the people in the audition room or waiting area who seem to be giving off a very nervous energy and/or are having negative conversations. These vampire auditionees suck your positive, prepared energy and can affect your psyche in an unproductive way.

Do everything in your power to keep away from them, as you don’t want to end up having a bad audition because of their attitude. This may mean stepping outside the holding room and waiting in the hallway until your turn is up or finding a corner of the room where no one can bother you.

If by some chances these vampires are friends of yours, don’t be afraid to kindly tell them you are trying to stay focused so you will rock your audition. They should understand. Then, move quickly toward a more positive atmosphere.

2. Keep Yourself Busy

Busy your mind to tune out vampires and/or keep any of your own insecurities and inner negative voices at bay. Better yet, keep yourself busy with something that takes you to your happy place, whether you’re watching your favorite television show on your iPad, listening to inspirational music, reading a book, doing yoga stretches, meditating, coloring, doing a crossword puzzle or even continuing to study those sides. Keeping your mind busy and happy means staying present and in the moment, so you won’t be as worried about your impending audition.

3. Make Plans for After Your Audition

Having something fun to do after an audition leads to positivity in the audition, too. Your mind is unconsciously looking forward to what’s next. Also, don’t be afraid to plan to treat yourself to a job well done once your audition is over. This way, you are setting yourself up for success, not failure. Don’t worry — even if you don’t have the best audition, your plans become a way to keep your mind off any bombed or not-so-great auditions once they’re over.

4. Don’t Go Telling Others

As much as everyone loves to share on social media, don’t tell people (including friends and family) about your auditions before you do them. You are setting yourself up for expectations and the undue pressure and emotional stress put upon you by others who want to ask what it’s for and how you did, give you their opinions of how right or wrong for the part you are or even react negatively as another performer who didn’t land the appointment you did.

5. Stack the Deck in Your Favor

Last, if the stress of an important audition is going to wreak havoc on your nerves no matter what you do, stack the deck in your favor. If sides have not been given to you, choose to use material you know you can do in your sleep (figuratively speaking, of course). This way, you can do the best audition you possibly can and won’t be as nervous about it.

On the other side of the coin, if the casting or creative team gives you sides to learn, make sure to get as much practice and performance with the material before the audition as possible. You can even set up a few mock auditions with supportive individuals or mentors, where you can run through them and get out those initial nerves and stress that comes from performing new material for the first time. You’ll be surprised by how quickly practicing your audition in front of people will lessen stress and allow you to have much more fun when it comes time for the real thing.

How do you shake your nerves before an audition? Let us know in the comments below…