Audition reading - I love it!

Cold reading (which is the same as an audition reading) arises when you have to read aloud a piece you haven't seen before - this can also be called sight reading. This can occur in an interview, at an audition for a part or a place in an acting class or if you have to stand in for someone at the last minute at a wedding, funeral, business meeting etc.

I've done a lot of audition reading. Every time I took a speech and drama exam I had to sight read and I now actually enjoy it. It's a skill that is incredibly useful and a skill that most people think is easy (but they usually mess it up because they speak much too quickly).

You have to remember that reading aloud has to be done a lot slower than reading to yourself. The brain acts more quickly than your mouth. For general tips on reading aloud click here.

Take a few moments to read through the piece to yourself. If it's a long piece just glance through it to get the general feel of the piece. You don't want to read through the whole piece to yourself while your audience wait for you to finish!

There are two schools of thought about this quick read through. The first is that glancing through the piece gives you a chance to see if there are any difficult words in the piece. If there are you have a moment or two to work out how to pronounce them.

It has to be said that this is probably the sensible route when audition reading.

I, however, used to worry!!

I'd see a word that I didn't know and then worry about having to say it. The first part of my reading was bad because the 'word' was approaching fast and then the second part of my reading was bad because I'd messed up the 'word'.

My answer is to literally glance at the piece - mainly just to see how long it is and to try and guess if it was funny or serious. Then I just start!!

I don't go too fast, just an even pace and if I come across a word I don't know I just guess. No hesitation - straight into it. I haven't ruined the first part of the reading by worrying and I haven't ruined the second part. Sometimes I even get the word right!!

To avoid losing my place when I look up on the important words I hold the piece to be read with two hands. I let my left thumb move down the page as I read so that I can look up on the important words without losing my place.

Even if you don't feel confident enough to look up during the sight reading remember to look up on the first and last sentences.

Don't rush as you get towards the end - you might be very pleased to reach the end but your listeners need to hear the last bit otherwise none of your reading will make sense. it would be like telling a long joke and then rushing the punch line so no-one can hear it.

You may find that you have to turn the page when you are audition reading, just practice at home reading the last few sentences on a page and then turning over and continuing with the next page.

How to practice

Where would you like to go next?

Reading Aloud

Lamda exams