The entertainment industry is well known for being able to adapt as the world changes, and the pandemic was no exception. As an agency, when the industry transformed around us, we had to adapt and so did our clients. Dealing with restrictions and constant changes across different states wasn’t easy and we had to find a way to minimise contact to ensure the safety of our talent and their parents.

Suddenly, in-person auditions and castings weren’t an option. So as a result, clients considered the alternatives and turned to video auditions as a safe and convenient option. Video auditions have since become the preferred option for clients wanting to audition children. They allow parents and children to film the audition in their own time and in the comfort of their own homes.

Now, almost 2 years later video auditions are the new norm and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, despite restrictions now being non-existent. This is why for any parent whose child is in the industry, or who has an agent, it is crucial that you understand video auditions and can nail them so that your child has the best chance of landing a job opportunity.

Here are our top tips for your child’s video audition so they can ace their next video audition.

Quality Is A Must

When helping to film or filming your child’s video audition it is important that the video footage is of the highest quality possible. It should be filmed in either natural light or a well-lit room and filmed in a landscape format (horizontally), unless stated otherwise by your agent. Make sure the room is clean and as plain as possible, with no unnecessary clutter in the background or the floor! Lastly, your child needs to look neat and tidy, with their hair brushed and dressed in smart casual clothing. You want to impress the client over the camera from the second they see your little one’s face on their screen.

Pay Attention To The Details

Read everything, then read it again……When you receive an email from your agent letting you know that a client wants a video audition from your child, they will also include all the information that you need. Make sure you read through it carefully and take note of the most important information, such as the length of the audition, any scripts or lines that need to be rehearsed, or how and where the video needs to be submitted. You want to ensure that everything the client wants is included in your video audition. Most importantly it will have a deadline for when your audition is due. This date and time are non-negotiable and if you are late, you will miss out on the opportunity. So, pay close attention to all the details provided to you.

Practice Makes Perfect

Help your child with their video audition by rehearsing their script or what they need to say before they start filming. After all, practice makes perfect. If they need to do an introduction, help them by having them write it out and then practice what they are going to say again, and again. The best part about (at home) video auditions is that you can have as many goes as you want until it’s perfect and then submit the best version to your agent.

The Earlier, The Better

When face-to-face auditions were the norm, we would always recommend arriving on time, or at the most five minutes early. The video audition equivalent is submitting your video audition on time! As with any sort of technology, things can go wrong, and this is common during filming, uploading and submission of a video audition. Always be sure to leave plenty of time to film and submit before the deadline, rather than leave it until the last minute and risk not being able to submit an audition at all.

All of these tips will help you and your little star to get the most out of your video auditions and give you the best chance possible of landing the role. The popularity of video auditions is unlikely to go away anytime soon and is increasingly becoming the only way to cast or audition amongst clients. So while your child’s first video audition is unlikely to be their last, you want to present your child at their absolute best every time.

Lastly, always remember that agents are just the middleman; we tell you what the client wants, how they want it, and when they want it. So, we cannot change a deadline or accept a late submission because of any circumstance, the industry doesn’t have any sympathy for missing a deadline. Clients typically don’t consider late submissions, it is seen as a risk to them, because if you can’t submit an audition on time, then they can’t be confident in your ability to show up in a timely manner to set.

Follow our top tips for your child’s next video audition, so your little STAR has the best chance to follow their dreams.