10 Self-Tape Tips for Actors (That Actually Help)

Auditioning can be exhausting.
Self-taping can feel lonely, rushed, and repetitive.
It’s always the day you don’t want to doll yourself up for the camera that a rush audition hits...
But you cannot be an actor without auditioning.

I know, I do over 160+ audition every year...

In this video, I share 10 self-tape tips for actors that have genuinely helped me:

book more work
stress less during auditions
and actually enjoy the process

These aren’t “guru” tips. Heck, I can't even promise casting directors like them! These are things I've learned after 160+ auditions, mostly in commercials, with the occasional TV/film audition sprinkled in.

Some of these tips are about performance.
Some are about efficiency (I'm run a video company & have 3 kids afterall).
Some are about protecting your sanity.

THE 10 SELF-TAPE TIPS are:
1. Create a self-tape you actually enjoy making
2. Keep it brief (casting is watching a lot)
3. Play your strengths over the script
4. Upgrade your audio (cheap fix, big impact)
5. Break through the noise with intention
6. Simplify your full-body slate
7. Offer multiple takes (when it makes sense)
8. Use teleprompter apps wisely
9. The reader “cheat” for solo taping
10. Keep a wardrobe document (future-you will thank you)

Whether you’re union or non-union, commercial or narrative, taping on your phone or a DSLR.. I hope at least one of these helps make auditioning feel a little lighter.

👇 CHAPTERS
0:00 – Intro: Who the heck am I...
0:52 – Tip 1: Create a self-tape you love
2:09 – Tip 2: Keep it brief
3:05 – Tip 3: Strength over script
4:13 – Tip 4: Better audio (this is a must)
5:11 – Tip 5: Break through the noise
7:15 – Tip 6: Simplify full-body slates
8:35 – Tip 7: Offer multiple takes
10:07 – Tip 8: Teleprompter apps
11:12 – Tip 9: Nick's Reader Cheat
12:40 – Tip 10: Wardrobe document

If you’ve got questions OR tips yourself, drop them in the comments... They might inspire future videos.

And if you’re an actor in the trenches right now constantly sending self-tape into the void... Know that you’re not alone. Keep going, my friends.

For more on video production:
www.mrp.tv