Audition Psych 101 is a four-hour workshop for actors that deals with the mental side of the audition process. It’s mostly a lecture/conversation, focusing exclusively on the way we think about this weird show-business ritual, and how we can approach it better.

During the session, we deconstruct the ideas that make us feel scared, nervous, insecure, discouraged, and unworthy, explode some of our strange, illogical actor mythologies, and consider fresh ideas and practicable techniques for making auditions much more enjoyable and much more successful.

Here’s why it’s effective: Audition Psych 101 isn’t based on any sort of magical positive thinking, new-age philosophy, or spiritual beliefs. The ideas all come from solid, provable realities, professional experiences, and good old-fashioned logic. It’s the stuff you know in your gut, brought back into focus.

The atmosphere is casual and encouraging and there’s typically a lot of laughing.

Nothing at all. Just bring your brain and a pen.

I’m ethically opposed to gouging fellow actors, so I keep the price affordably low. I also give discounts to any actors who need them (see the registration page). My primary interest is in helping my colleagues.

Audition Psych 101 is currently being offered 8 to 10 times a year in New York City, with additional workshops scheduled wherever my travels take me. Previous workshops have been held in Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, San Jose, Atlanta, San Francisco, Charlotte, Aspen, Dallas, Baltimore, and Washinton D.C.

As long as there are enough people to fill a workshop, there are several ways to go about it. I’ve been the guest of universities and theatre companies all across the country; I’ve also offered the workshop independently, without a host. If you’re interested in organizing a workshop in your city, send an e-mail and let’s see if we can make it happen.

Audition Psych 101 isn’t recommended for kids, for two reasons. One is that there’s usually a fair amount of profanity. But more importantly, kids don’t seem to suffer from the same nerves, anxieties, self-judgment, and discouragement that adults do. Rather than being introduced to the idea that there’s something to be nervous about, kids should skip the workshop and continue to enjoy auditioning.