How to Prepare for a Cold Reading at an Acting Audition
Cold readings are a staple of casting: you’re handed a script with little or no time to prepare and expected to make bold, truthful choices—fast. While you can’t rehearse the exact sides you’ll get, you can train the skills and habits that make you relaxed, responsive, and memorable. Here’s a compact prep plan to help you shine.
1) Build a Warm-Up You Can Do Anywhere
Arrive 15–20 minutes early and run a quick routine:
- Breath & body: 2–3 minutes of deep diaphragmatic breathing; gentle neck/shoulder rolls to release tension.
- Voice: lip trills, tongue twisters, and a light resonance hum to open your range.
- Focus: a 60-second eyes-closed reset; visualize being curious rather than perfect.
2) Scan the Sides Strategically
When you receive the pages, read like a detective:
- Circumstances: Who am I, what do I want, what’s in my way, what just happened?
- Relationship: Choose a specific dynamic (ally, rival, stranger with power).
- Action verbs: Pick playable verbs (to persuade, to tease, to protect) for each beat.
- Operative words: Underline words that carry the thought; circle transitions where the energy flips.
3) Make One Bold, Defensible Choice
Casting isn’t looking for “the” right version—they want a clear point of view. Choose a tone (warm, wry, dangerous), a secret (what you’re hiding), and a physical anchor (stillness, a lean-in, a protective fold of arms) that fits the text. If redirected, pivot quickly and commit just as fully.
4) Pace, Eye Lines, and the Page
Hold the script at chest height to keep your face visible. Use eye lines: reader = “you,” down to page = quick refuel, off-right = the person you mention. Don’t memorize; map. Mark breath points and beat shifts. Allow listening beats—silence with thought reads as confidence, not a glitch.
5) Audition Etiquette = Extra Points
- Slate cleanly: name, role, reps if asked; neutral smile.
- Ask smart (if needed): One concise clarification is fine; don’t fish for backstory.
- Take direction joyfully: “Got it.” Then show a distinctly different adjustment.
- Buttons: End the scene, release the character, and give a simple “Thank you.”
6) Train the Muscle Between Auditions
Cold reading improves when you practice uncertainty:
- Pull random sides daily (TV drama, single-cam comedy, procedural).
- Time yourself: 60–120 seconds to prep, then perform on camera.
- Review: did your actions drive the scene, or did you narrate feelings?
7) Mindset: Book the Room, Not the Job
You’re not proving perfection; you’re demonstrating workability. If you can listen, adapt, and offer story-forward choices, casting will want you back—whether or not this role is yours.
Final Thought
Cold reads reward courageous clarity over flawless polish. If you breathe, choose a playable action, and truly listen to the reader, you’ll already stand out from most rooms. Treat every redirect as a fun challenge, not a correction—proof that you’re collaborative and fast on your feet. Keep training the habit of making specific choices under time pressure, and remember: you’re not there to guess what they want; you’re there to offer a compelling version they didn’t know they needed.
To learn more tips and tricks for actors and models, feel free to sign up for our next FREE Online Workshop. On this free Online Workshop, you will learn about the recent changes in the modeling and acting industries that are opening the doors for more job opportunities. You will also learn cutting-edge ways to have good-paying modeling and acting jobs in your local area, flood into your email inbox on a regular basis. You will learn what to do to land these jobs from the comfort of your own home. Click below to register now!
