This term describes auditions where actors may not have the opportunity to read through the entire script or even sometimes the scene. Here are a few tips for such occasions:

1. Arrive at the audition as early as possible. This allows you a chance to prepare, focus, get acquainted with the atmosphere, and familiarize yourself with the space.
2. Bring a pencil to work with the text and highlight accents as needed.
3. If the scene you receive references a previous or subsequent scene, be sure to read it. This will help you better understand the situation your character is in.
4. If you start to panic and feel overwhelmed by the complexity, take a deep breath. It helps to calm down. Meditation and simply reading your text can also help (which is why arriving early is important).
5. During “Cold Reading,” use minimal acting tools. Find a Psychological Gesture and Center yourself confidently for the audition. Keep it simple; you’ll likely be asked to change emotions throughout the process, so the less “baggage” you carry, the easier it will be to adapt. Sometimes, just one Psychological Gesture is enough to start with.
6. Sometimes, after performing your scene, the director may ask you to read an entirely different scene that you’re seeing for the first time. “Just read it” means simply read it well; don’t rush. You can ask for a moment to prepare. Feel the environment.

The key to “Cold Reading,” as with any other process, is to enjoy acting. It’s a small performance where you are the star!

By Joanna Merlin and Alesia Fortel.