Auditions can be stressful even for distinguished movie stars: from first impressions to perfectly memorised lines, body language and subtle vocal nuances - every little thing matters in casting.
The last thing you want is to suffer an energy crash, lose your grip, and break into sweaty, nervous stutters in the spotlight – or, God forbid, faint with anxiety halfway through your spiel.
Mental fortitude is an essential asset for auditions - but psychological preparation is only one half of the success formula - the other half is to be had right there, from your plate.
Nail those audition nerves with some high-performance nutritional preparation for the big day.
Here are some tips on how to time and structure your pre-audition meal, plus a heads-up on which dietary ingredients to avoid, just to be on the safe side.
1. Fuel Up For The Time Of Trial: Eat A Balanced Meal Before The Audition
You never know how long your audition may last, so pep up before leaving home with a delicious, well-balanced meal.
- Complex carbs and protein are the best dietary mix for peak energy and focus at a casting.
- Make yourself a healthy meal: a king-size fruit smoothie, oatmeal, eggs on toast, a refreshing salad or light veggie pasta will provide your body with all the critical nutrients without burdening the digestive system.
- The best window for a pre-audition snack is 30-90 minutes before showtime: this will give your stomach enough time to process the grubs in peace (however illusory peace may sound to you on D day).
2. Stay Hydrated: A Quick Gulp To Water Your Vocal Performance
Many an actor has lost a gig to a dry throat – but there are a few simple ways to avoid this common pitfall.
- Remember to drink water in moderation before the audition. This will keep your cells hydrated, your mouth salivated, and your focus sharp.
- If your mouth tends to get dry from sheer anxiety, chew gum to promote salivation.
- Add a few drops of lemon or mint to your water bottle to refresh your breath, but do not go overboard with citrus notes: acidic fruit can promote, rather than reduce throat problems.
3. The Big No-No's: Avoid Cramps, Dry Throat & Stomach Glitches
There is no definitive list of foods and beverages that can cramp your audition performance, but certain dietary ingredients should be avoided for your stomach’s sake.
- No milk, please! Lactose can upset the stomach, form a film on the back of the throat and affect your breath - you don't want any of these distractions.
- No carbonated drinks either – you don't want to find yourself belching right in the middle of your audition, do you?
- Avoid coffee if possible: caffeine promotes mucus buildup and can in some cases hamper your vocal capacities.
- Spit out the gum before going in: saliva is okay, but too much of it will force you to swallow too often during the audition.
4. Smooth It Out: Best Foods For Vocal Performance
If you want to maximize your vocal performance, consider adding these ingredients to your diet weeks before auditioning.
- Coconut oil boosts metabolism and has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Afraid of going down with a cold on the evening before the audition? No way!
- Gelatin promotes digestion, packs tons of protein, and enhances the function of the thyroid – and this gland can make or break your vocal success.
- Vegetable soups (lukewarm, not hot) are nourishing and they have a positive long-term effect on digestion. Home-cooked broths can be your secret trump card when nutritionally preparing for the audition.
Are you ready for showtime? Do not overeat, but do not go in hungry: excess in either direction is a one-way ticket to auditioning disaster.
Good luck!
The post The Best Nutrition To Nail Audition Nerves! appeared first on Act On This - The TV Actors' Network.