Auditions are stressful. There’s really no way around it. You can practice your monologue twenty times and still walk into the room and suddenly forget how words work. It happens.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that preparation makes everything easier. Know your lines, know your music, and actually understand the character you’re auditioning for. You don’t need to have every single movement planned out, but you should know what your character wants and why they’re saying what they’re saying.
Also, don’t walk into the room apologizing for yourself. You don’t need to say, “Sorry, I’m really nervous,” or apologize if you mess up. Just keep going. Chances are, the people watching have seen hundreds of nervous actors before.
And please don’t spend the entire audition watching everyone else. Someone might sing higher than you or have a completely different take on the character. That doesn’t mean they’re better. Casting isn’t about finding one perfect actor. It’s about finding the right person for a role.
Most importantly, remember that not getting cast doesn’t mean you’re bad at theater. Sometimes you just aren’t what they’re looking for that day. It sucks, but it happens to literally everyone.
Take a breath, walk in, do your thing, and try to enjoy it.
Now go audition.