Sarah East: Acting, Auditions & What Casting Directors Really Look For

🎭 What happens when you stop trying to figure out what everyone else wants and start trusting what makes you unique? In this episode of *Podcast of Traveling Actors*, we sit down with actress, acting coach, and casting director Sarah East from *The Audition Room* to talk about the realities of acting, auditions, casting, and building a career in the entertainment industry. Sarah shares her journey from discovering acting through theater and *Full House* to studying at AMDA in New York, working in sketch comedy and children's theater, and eventually returning to Louisville. She also talks about the unexpected anxiety and panic attacks she experienced after leaving the structure of acting school and how those experiences shaped her perspective on the industry. Sarah opens up about the pressure actors put on themselves to achieve quickly, the importance of embracing the “weird bits” that make you unique, and why letting go of the need to control an outcome can lead to stronger work. She also discusses the importance of being present, truly listening to your scene partner, and learning how to stop showing the audience every “tool in your toolbox.” The conversation also explores some of the biggest traps newer actors face, including worrying about making mistakes, trying to figure out exactly what casting wants, and treating audition advice as a set of universal rules. Sarah explains why different casting directors can have completely different opinions and why booking or not booking one audition doesn't necessarily tell you how well you performed. Sarah also breaks down the differences between commercial and theatrical auditions, including the value of improv, giving casting multiple options, understanding specific focal points, and staying open to opportunities that may lead somewhere unexpected. **Topics include:** Sarah East's acting journey, AMDA, moving from New York to Louisville, anxiety and the pressure to succeed, finding confidence in your individuality, being present and listening, acting naturally on camera, avoiding tension and desperation, common traps for new actors, audition “rules,” casting opinions, booking the room, letting go of audition outcomes, commercial vs. theatrical auditions, improv training, staying curious, auditioning for opportunities, and building a career in the entertainment industry. **Episode Chapters:** 01:41 Welcome to Podcast of Traveling Actors 02:13 Meet Sarah East 03:20 Sarah's Acting Journey 04:30 Studying at AMDA & Living in New York 05:39 From Acting to Casting & Coaching 06:42 Anxiety, Panic Attacks & Leaving New York 07:58 The Pressure to Succeed as an Actor 08:22 Why Being Yourself Matters 09:25 Letting Go & Being Present 10:05 The Importance of Listening 10:34 “I Can See Every Tool in Your Toolbox” 11:31 Why Less Is More on Camera 12:42 Common Traps for New Actors 13:00 Being Afraid to Make Mistakes 14:06 Are There Really Rules to Auditioning? 14:29 Why One Audition Doesn't Define You 15:23 “Book the Room” 15:39 Embracing What Makes You Unique 16:09 Breaking Through Your Own Blocks 16:39 Making Auditioning Your Safe Space 18:18 Auditioning Is the Job 19:11 Commercial vs. Theatrical Auditions 19:38 What Matters in a Commercial Audition 20:45 Why Actors Should Take Improv 21:25 Staying Curious & Open to Opportunities 23:37 Audition for Everything 23:58 The Peanut Butter Costume 24:40 Final Thoughts Follow **Podcast of Traveling Actors** for honest conversations with working actors, filmmakers, and entertainment professionals, and never miss a new episode. 🎙️