Acing It – Audition Workshop Notes

Instructor: Tara DeFrancisco & Rick Prouty (CSz Chicago)
Date Taken: July 2009

Every year, ComedySportz has a tournament where all of the city teams get together to play, take workshops and hang out. This workshop was part of ComedySportz Tournament 2009 and covers tips on auditioning, for both shortform and longform improv.

Workshop Notes

• Many auditions generally aren’t “warm” 
• Generally about 10 people per audition 
• Your audition starts well before your audition 
• Your biggest demon in your audition is yourself 
• 2 biggest things: 
• (1) Make someone else look good 
• (2) Do something for yourself (give assists and score goals) 
• Annoyance Theater style:  Improv is like a plane crash—put your mask on first, then the child’s 
• Audition Notes: 
• Step forward, wave and say fact about you. In your “intro”:
• A. Project and Confidence 
• B. Have strong Vocal Quality 
• C. The more real you are the better; don’t be “bit focused” 
• The key is to be genuine 
• “Psych out” tricks auditioners do: Not laughing; Calling out 1 person at a time; ”Please hold” and then whispers; ”We’d like to see ___ again.” 
• Biggest keys: Confidence, projection, acting ability, make your scene partner look good, commitment to scenework 
• ALWAYS Warm up before your audition