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What should you wear to an audition?

Updated · 7 min read

The short answer

Wear something that suggests the character without being a costume, in solid colors that flatter you, that fits well and lets you move. Avoid logos, busy or tiny patterns, and noisy jewelry. On camera, skip stark white and pick a color that stands apart from your background. For a callback, wear the same thing you wore the first time.

Clothes are the smallest part of an audition and the part people worry about most, partly because they are the one thing you can fully control. The good news is that the rules are simple, and once you have a few reliable outfits you will rarely have to think about it again.

The principle behind all of them: casting should notice you, and then forget what you were wearing. The outfit's job is to make it a little easier to imagine you in the role, then get out of the way.

Suggest the character, never costume

Read the breakdown and the sides, and ask what this person would plausibly wear on an ordinary day. Then take one step toward that from your own wardrobe. A detective suggests a button-down and a jacket. A barista suggests a casual top and an apron-friendly look, minus the apron. A teenager at a party suggests something a bit more relaxed than you would wear to a meeting.

Stop there. Full costume, uniforms, scrubs, period clothes, hats, wigs and props tend to work against you: they read as trying to cover a gap in the performance, they distract from your face, and they box you into one idea of the role when the director may have another. A single suggestive detail goes a long way. The exception is commercial casting, where you will sometimes be asked directly to come dressed in a specific way ("upscale casual," "dress as a dad at a barbecue"). When they ask, do exactly that.

If you are reading for several roles, or you are not sure, go neutral and flattering. A fitted top in a good color and dark trousers or jeans works for a surprising range of characters.

Colors and patterns: what works on camera

Almost every audition now involves a camera at some point, so dress for one even when you walk into a room. These are the guidelines most casting directors and photographers agree on.

  • Solid colors. They keep the focus on your face. Mid-tones and jewel tones (blue, teal, green, burgundy, plum) tend to flatter most people on screen. Pick the colors that bring out your eyes and skin, the same ones that work in your headshot.
  • No small, tight patterns. Fine stripes, small checks and herringbone can shimmer or ripple on camera, an effect called moirĂ©. Bold, simple patterns are less risky, but solids are safer still.
  • No logos or text. They are distracting, and on a tape that could end up shown to producers they raise brand questions nobody wants.
  • Careful with stark white. Bright white can blow out on camera and pull the exposure away from your face. Off-white, cream and light gray are easier.
  • Careful with pure black. Solid black can lose all detail on tape and turn into a dark shape. Charcoal or navy does the same job and photographs better.
  • Mind the neckline. Most screen auditions are framed from the chest up, so what happens near your face is most of what they see. A clean neckline and a color near your face that suits you matter more than shoes.

What to wear for a self-tape

Everything above applies, plus one more rule: contrast with your background. Most people tape against a plain wall or backdrop in gray, blue or off-white, and if your top is the same color, you will melt into it. A blue shirt against a blue backdrop or a gray sweater against a gray wall makes your outline disappear. Pick a color that clearly separates you from what is behind you. For more on backdrops and light, see self-tape background and lighting.

Do a short test recording before the real takes and watch it on a larger screen. Check that your clothes are not shimmering, that the color looks the way you expect under your light, and that nothing is creasing or gaping in a way you did not notice in the mirror. If you are using a lapel microphone, choose fabric that does not rustle against it.

Since you have control over the frame, you can choose a top that fits the shot and ignore everything below the waist. Most actors have done at least one tape in a blazer and sweatpants, and nobody has ever known.

Fit, comfort and shoes

Clothes that fit well look more expensive than they are, and clothes that do not fit pull the eye. Avoid anything you will need to tug at, adjust or hold closed while you work; if you would not be comfortable crossing your legs or raising your arms in it, it is wrong for the day.

Wear shoes you can move and stand in. If the scene might have you walk, kneel or sit, practice that in the outfit. Heels are fine if you are steady in them and they suit the role, and a problem if you are thinking about them.

Skip anything that makes noise. Bangles, large earrings and chains clink, and a microphone picks it up even when you do not notice. Keep jewelry minimal and quiet. Strong perfume is also worth skipping, since casting rooms are small and you are one of many people coming through.

Grooming follows the same idea as clothes: look like your headshot. If your hair is down in your photo, do not walk in with it pulled back. Casting called you in partly because of that picture, and they want to recognize you. If you have changed your look significantly, update your headshot.

Dance and musical theater auditions

Dance calls have their own conventions. Wear fitted clothing that shows your body's lines, since the choreographer needs to see your alignment and placement: leotard and tights, fitted dance wear, or close-fitting athletic clothes. Avoid baggy layers. Bring the right shoes for the style (jazz shoes, character shoes, heels, tap shoes, sneakers for commercial dance) and check the call, which often specifies them.

For a musical theater singing audition, the usual advice is to dress as you would for a straight acting audition with a slight nod to the show's style, plus shoes you can move in, in case they ask you to stay and dance. Many performers bring a dance bag with a change of clothes just in case. If the call says "dress to move," take it literally.

What to wear to a callback

Wear the same outfit, or something very close to it. Casting brought you back based on what they saw, and there may be new people in the room (a director, producers, sometimes a network) who are seeing the tape from your first audition and then you in person. Matching it helps them connect the two and keeps the impression that got you there intact. If you cannot remember what you wore, that is a good reason to write it down after every audition.

The exception is when casting gives you a wardrobe note ("can you come in something more corporate"). Then follow the note. For more on what to expect at the next round, see what a callback is.

A simple audition wardrobe

You do not need much. Most working actors keep a small set of pieces that cover the roles they are usually seen for, kept clean and ready so there is no decision to make the night before. A typical set looks something like this:

  • Two or three fitted tops in solid colors that suit you on camera.
  • One jacket or blazer for professional roles.
  • One more casual layer (a cardigan, an overshirt, a plain hoodie) for everyday or younger roles.
  • Dark trousers or jeans that fit well.
  • Plain, clean shoes you can stand in for an hour.

Put the outfit together the night before, as part of the rest of your audition prep, so the morning goes to warming up and the scene.

More questions

Should you dress like the character for an audition?

Dress in the direction of the character, but stop well short of a costume. A lawyer suggests a blazer; a mechanic suggests a work shirt. Uniforms, period dress, props and wigs tend to look like you are compensating, and they pull attention away from your face.

What color should you wear to an audition?

Solid, mid-tone colors that suit your skin and eyes are the safest choice: blues, greens, burgundy, warm grays and similar. A jewel tone near your face often reads well on camera. On tape, choose a color that contrasts with your backdrop.

Can you wear black to an audition?

In person, black is usually fine, and for many theater and dance auditions it is common. On camera, solid black can lose detail and make you look flat against a dark backdrop. A dark charcoal or navy usually photographs better.

Should you wear makeup to an audition?

Wear what makes you look like your headshot on a good day. For most auditions that means natural and even. Bright light and cameras can flatten skin, so some people use a little powder to reduce shine, but a heavy look reads as more than the role usually needs.

What should men wear to an audition?

The same principles apply. A well-fitting shirt in a solid color, a jacket if the role is professional, and clean, plain shoes covers most roles. Avoid graphic tees, sports logos and anything with a busy check or fine stripe.

Keep reading

How do you prepare for an audition?Read the breakdown and, if you can get it, the whole script. Break down the sides: who you are, what you want, who you want it from, and where the scene turns. Make clear, specific choices, then learn the lines well enough to look up from the page. Check the logistics the night before, and on the day, play the scene and let the result go.What is a callback in acting?A callback is a follow-up audition. After the first round, casting invites a shortlist of actors back to read again, usually for the director, producers or writers, who make the final decision. In most cases you bring the same choices that got you called back, plus any notes you were given, and you wear the same thing.What is the best background and lighting for a self-tape?The best self-tape background is a plain, uncluttered wall or backdrop in a mid-tone gray or soft blue, with you standing a few feet in front of it. The best light is soft and from the front: a window facing you, or a diffused light just beside the camera at face height. Turn off overhead lights, never sit with a bright window behind you, and keep every light the same color.What makes a good acting headshot?A good acting headshot looks exactly like you on a good day, right now, and shows a person in the middle of a thought. The eyes are sharp and alive, the framing is close (usually chest up), the background stays out of the way, and the clothes and mood suit the roles you are actually cast in. Casting should recognize you the moment you walk in.How do you make a self-tape?To make a self-tape, read the casting brief first, then film on a phone turned horizontal at eye level, framed from the chest up against a plain wall. Light your face from the front with soft light, record in a quiet room with a real person reading the other lines quietly from beside the lens, slate as asked, pick your best take, trim it and send it exactly as the brief says.

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