<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm an aspiring 19 year old male actor, and I've never quite grabbed the concept of what to wear to an audition. What kind of clothes? I always feel like the clothes I wear are too dressy? What stores do you recommend shopping at? Aren't khakis too over dressy? What type of clothes do you recommend wearing? Aren't Jeans unacceptable? I know a plain T with no logo and a color that works best with my skin, is a good start, but I'm still unsure about what type of bottoms and shoes to wear. :( I want to refrain from jeans because I heard it's bad? and dress shoes too...help? I need the stores to be affordable too! Like Gap, Old Navy, Urban outfitters...idk, just help! Thanks! :)</p>
<p>I was in a Theatre Magnet, and we just wore blacks for every audition, but now that i've graduated, idk if wearing all black to a commercial, film, or tv show audition is acceptable ...I'm mainly auditing for commercial, film, and tv auditions.</p>
<p>aren't stripes and plaid colors too much of a distraction?</p>
<p>Take this with a grain of salt, bc my S auditioned professionally in NYC but as a CHILD actor several years ago and he isn’t auditioning professionally at 19 now, but overall, black, white and busy patterns were not recommended. Jeans were fine. So were khakis. And we shopped at all the stores you listed. </p>
<p>I personally think some of it may depend on the market…people may not dress the same in NYC as they do in say, Texas. And some might depend on the part you are looking to play and your type. For example, if you are auditioning for a role as a preppy type, why would you be uncomfortable auditioning in khakis and a polo? </p>
<p>Is an agent or manager getting you these auditions? BC they are really in the position to give you the best advice since they know you and they know what they are submitting you for. If not, then wear clothes that you are comfortable in, that are presentable and that you can afford. And while I recommed looking to see what other people are wearing to auditions to get a feel for it, don’t let that change who you are. If you are right for the part, you will book it regardless of what you are wearing at the audition. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Just to reiterate what sandkmom says, and as an observer who notices what young men wear to auditions: jeans seem to be fine; khakis, too. Casual clothes without logos or busy patterns. And, yes, if you know something about the role, do adjust your style accordingly.</p>
<p>You need several outfits and should dress to suggest the character for which you’re reading.</p>
<p>It sounds like you could use a good class on auditioning. Aside from the two year conservatories, some reputable people to go to for that in New York are Bob Krakower, Josh Pais, Weist Barron Studios, and the Penny Templeton Studio. There are more than you can shake a stick at in LA and you should go to the Backstage.com message board to get more info on them. If you can’t afford a class, some good books you could start with are Audition by Michael Shurtleff, The Lyndon Technique by Amy Lyndon or How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart by Margie Haber. </p>
<p>Also, in case you didn’t know, there is a difference between legit/theatrical and commercial audition technique. </p>
<p>Welcome to the jungle! :)</p>
<p>P.S. for students and parents: Sadly, on-camera audition technique is one area for which most collegiate programs up to and including the top BFA and MFA conservatories fall woefully short and most people still need additional classes or coaching in it after graduation. Plan for it.</p>
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<p>I also recommend that you use these clothes just for auditioning so they remain in good condition. And to clarify, dressing to suggest a character does not mean looking like you are in costume! In most cases, being subtle about it is probably better than being over the top…unless you are the “over the top” type! </p>
<p>There are still sure to be plenty of commercial auditions where you won’t have parameters for the character and casting may not really know what they are looking for until they see it! And they may just create the character on set. My S booked a braces commercial and he didn’t have braces…they brought in a special effects guy to make him fake ones. He doesn’t wear glasses but wore them in several spots and he even got his haircut on set once. He booked other jobs bc he looked like others in the “family” or like he could be the younger version of the adult actor they cast. These are just a few examples that come to mind and in all of them, what he wore to the audition was irrelevant and sometimes even what he looked like was secondary because they so easily changed his look to suit their needs. So don’t drive yourself crazy!!!</p>
<p>I agree with fishbowl that an audition class or workshop or even a book can help get you started but really there is no substitute for experience. You will get it by auditioning. Have fun with it! :)</p>
<p>The “have fun with it!” is such great advice. Having sat through many different types of auditions as my daughter has done the NYC tour of auditions over the last couple of years, its amazing how many people look and act like they are waiting in line at Dentist’s office. The best advice we got early on was to treat the auditions as the “event” itself. Go there – have fun – try to knock it out of the park – and then forget about altogether when its over.</p>
<p>It’s kind of hard to “forget about altogether when it’s over”, but that’s the life of an actor 
For example, I went to audition for this new TV series a week ago, and the casting director said, “WOW! Man this guy is good…the best we’ve seen”…1 week later, not a single call back That actually hurts, because I know I knocked it out the ball park. haha…but it’s something we should all be used to by now as actor/actresses. It’s just friggin sucks.</p>
<p>First thing my daughter auditioned for was a Web-TV show. THey asked for an adjustment to read it entirely differently and the two people casting the show literally stood up and applauded. She thought – hey I got to get this job now. Nope – never heard from them again. In the final audition rooms, type and look and things you have no control over tend to matter most. From my outside perspective, handling rejection might be the single most important skill an actor needs to develop.</p>
<p>I couldn’t have said it any better ^^ 
I’m pretty sure it all came down to who fit physically fit the part the most. It would’ve been my big break if I got that part, because It’s going to be a HIT in the USA. Oh well, I’m just glad I got that comment from someone that mattered so much! But regardless, it’s going to eat me up. haha</p>
<p>and yes, I already know how to audition, I just have trouble deciding what to wear. btw, the “Audition” book by Michael is amazing! I read it a few years back in my Acting School :D</p>