Cold Reading Tips: 7 Techniques That Actually Work in Auditions
You walk into the audition room. The casting director hands you sides you've never seen. "Take a minute, then we'll read."
Your heart rate spikes. This is cold reading—and it's one of the most valuable skills an actor can develop.
Here's how to crush it.
1. Don't Read—Scan
Your instinct is to read every word carefully. Fight it.
Instead, scan for:
- Who you're talking to (relationship)
- What you want (objective)
- The emotional trajectory (where does it start vs. end?)
You can stumble on words. You can't fake intention.
2. Find the Turn
Every good scene has a "turn"—a moment where something shifts. In 30 seconds of scanning, find it.
Is it when you learn information? When you make a decision? When you give up?
That turn is your anchor. Build toward it.
3. Make the First Line Land
Casting directors make snap judgments. The first line out of your mouth sets the tone for everything.
Don't mumble through it while still figuring out who you are. Know exactly how you're starting—then adjust from there.
4. Use the Page as a Tool
Here's a secret: you're allowed to look at the page.
What you're NOT allowed to do is bury your face in it. The trick is quick glances—down for the words, up for the connection.
Think of it like driving. You check your mirrors, but your eyes are mostly on the road.
5. Embrace "Active Confusion"
You don't know what's coming next. Neither does your character.
Use that uncertainty. Let it inform your choices. A character who's slightly off-balance is infinitely more interesting than one who has everything figured out.
6. Listen Like Your Life Depends On It
Cold reading isn't about your lines—it's about how you react to theirs.
When the reader says their line, actually hear it. Let it affect you. Respond to what you just received, not what you planned to do.
7. Practice Cold Reading Daily
This skill isn't genetic. It's trained.
How to practice:- Grab random scenes from scripts you've never read
- Give yourself 60 seconds to scan
- Record yourself performing
- Review and adjust
The Secret No One Tells You
The best cold readers aren't the fastest readers. They're the ones who've made quick choices so many times that their instincts are razor-sharp.
It's a muscle. Build it.
Practice Cold Reading Now
ActorLab has 79 free scenes specifically designed for cold reading practice. Each one can be performed with AI voice partners—no reader required.
Try Cold Reading Practice Free →Built by a working background actor who's been handed more cold sides than he can count. These tips are battle-tested.