In a post-Covid world, actors are rarely being asked to come in person for first-round auditions. The new normal seems to be a world of self-taping where an actor records themselves reading the lines at home and sends it in to the casting team. Whether you’re renting an apartment in Los Angeles, CA, renting a home in Chicago, or looking to buy a home in Atlanta, having a self-tape studio can make the experience of recording your auditions even smoother.
ApartmentGuide reached out to an assortment of experts in the entertainment business to gather tips about what gear you need to create the perfect self-tape studio. Read on to learn more.
1. Know what makes a bad setup
Before you set off on building your dream self-tape studio, it’s important to know what not to do. “A bad setup is dark or harshly lit, has an echo or intrusive noise, a distracting background, or — worse — some combination of all three. But the good news? Fixing these issues is easier (and more affordable) than you think,” shares Jamie Carroll Acting Coach, a private acting coach based in New York City.
2. Find your space
After knowing what not to do, it’s important to find the space you’re going to be using in your home. “As self-tapes are now the standard for auditioning, setting up a good home self-tape studio space is something that all actors and aspiring actors need,” shares the team at WeAudition, an online service for hiring on-demand self-tape readers. “The key is, it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to do the job professionally. For the best results, pick a room or corner of a room that has a clear, clutter-free wall or background. If there is a window directly opposite this wall, that will give you good natural light.”
Another aspect of finding space for your self-tape studio is to make sure you have control over the environment to focus and film at all times during the day. “When setting up a self-tape space, the more control you have over your environment and equipment, the more you can focus on what matters most: your performance,” says BK Actors Self-Tape, a self-tape and coaching studio in Brooklyn offering a space to record auditions with high-quality equipment and guidance. “A quiet space, like a garage or a room with blackout blinds, ensures consistency regardless of time or lighting.”
3. Consider a dual-purpose setup
If you don’t have a room or corner to dedicate to being always ready for self-tapes, consider a space that can transform. “You don’t need a dedicated studio — just a smart setup,” says Jamie Carroll Acting Coach. “A well-planned self-tape space can be as simple as rearranging a few pieces of furniture. Your living room, bedroom, or even a quiet corner could be the space that lands you your next role.”
Laura Mac of the Laura Mac Method, an online acting school headquartered in Seattle, WA, seconds this idea. “If space is limited, choose portable or collapsible equipment to transform your living space back into a functional home after taping. A roll-up backdrop and clip-on lighting are great for tight spaces.”
4. Pick out your backdrop
The next step is to decide what you want your backdrop to be. “The best self-tape set-ups need only a solid backdrop, lighting, and a tripod!” says 1st Team Actors Studio, an acting studio in Northeast Ohio. “Common colors for the backdrop include grey or blue, but actors should choose a solid, neutral color that helps them stand out against it. Take into account your skin tone and hair color when selecting your backdrop.”
Laura Mac agrees, “Keep your backdrop neutral, professional, and wrinkle-free,” she says. “A gray or soft blue backdrop is ideal — it’s non-distracting, highlights your features, and works well on camera. Ensure it’s free of wrinkles or creases for a polished look.”
A more permanent option for your backdrop is to paint a wall in your studio. There are several colors you can pick from but there are also some to stay away from. “It’s best to have a wall that is not white or black,” says Authentic You, an acting studio in LA with a membership program for actors to stay on track. “White washes you out, and black can blend in with your hair, clothes, etc., and makes everything feel dark. Grey or blue are great colors to use, too.”
5. Grab a tripod
Although some actors get crafty with a stack of books balanced precariously on a chair, a quality tripod is essential for your new self-tape studio. “Your camera or phone needs a steady base,” says Rita Litton, a film and theatre acting coach with classes online and in person in New York City. “Many ring lights can be purchased with an adjustable stand that’s able to mount your phone or recording device. Alternatively buy a digital camera and expandable tripod, with a clip adapter that can support your cell phone.”
Walid Chaya, an acting coach, actor, director-write, and publicity coach based in Los Angeles, has a specific suggestion, “Use a tripod that adjusts to your height for eye-level recording, like the Victiv Tripod 74” which you can get for $30 on Amazon,” says Walid.
6. Buy a microphone
For a good self-tape studio, you need to know that you can be seen and heard without any trouble. “Most built-in smartphone mics work well if your recording space doesn’t have strong echoes, so this is not always necessary,” says Walid Chaya. “Otherwise, a plug-in lav mic is a great option, like the PQRQP 3-in-1 Wireless Lavalier Mic $24 on Amazon. Your off-camera reader doesn’t need a mic; their voice should stay slightly distant to focus on yours.”
For Coach with Eden, an audition coach in NYC and online, a good quality lav mic is non-negotiable. “Something that I consider to be essential is using a lav mic that plugs right into your phone. It requires no setup and makes all the difference, as it not only allows you to keep your speaking voice low and conversational, it ensures that your reader isn’t louder than you are, which is distracting,” says Eden. “The one I use myself and recommend to all of my students and private clients is the Boya BY-M1 on Amazon, with which you’ll likely need a headphone jack adapter.”
For another microphone option, listen to Andrew Wood of Andrew Wood Acting Studio, an acting studio in Los Angeles that pulls techniques from the Yale School of Drama. “You will want a microphone to record quality sound in your setup,” says Andrew. “I recommend the PoP Voice Lavalier Lapel Microphone. It attaches to your shirt. At $9.99 on Amazon, it’s a great deal on an excellent product.”
7. Reduce echo in your recordings
Whether you’re dedicating a full room to your self-tape studio or not, it can be helpful to set up the space for better sound insolation and less echo. “Egg crate or foam hidden behind your backdrop sheet or pop-up will muffle noise from neighboring shared walls,” says Laura Lasky of Quit Acting, an acting studio with private lessons, audition coaching, and hypnosis sessions.
“If you can’t leave this up permanently, glue egg crate or foam to a piece of cardboard or a piece of wood that can go on and off the wall as needed. Simply make sure you are equal or louder than your reader. They can talk softer or you can simply turn down the volume on their screen if working online.”
8. Get your lighting on point
The best lighting for your audition tapes is natural light, but that can be hard to come by. “Natural light tends to be best, so if you have a room with a window that faces a wall directly, setting yourself up against that wall with the window in front of you will be lovely – just make sure to avoid direct sunlight hitting you in the face!” says Coach with Eden. “If you don’t happen to have that or if you are taping after sundown, you can opt for either a ring light – I like the 18” light from Neewer – or a set of softbox lights.”
Ring lights can be polarizing in the self-tape community. “We are not fans of the ever-popular ring-light, as they create weird shadows and even weirder zombie-like reflections in your eyes,” says Anne Acker of The Green Room Studio, an acting studio offering online classes and in-person classes out of LA and Chicago. “For lighting, you want a soft source, which means a bigger light. A large window with indirect sunlight is ideal, but you can get great results by using a couple of softboxes.”
For the best of both worlds, you can combine natural light with artificial light. “Focus on using soft, natural light from a large window, that is even, illuminates your face without harsh shadows, and is supplemented by a ring light or three-point softbox setup; especially on very sunny days or when taping in the evening,” says First Take, an acting school located in the Bay Area.
9. Utilize three-point lighting
For a little more polish on your tapes, consider using three-point lighting. “A three-point lighting kit adds depth and polish to your tape,” says Jamie Carroll Acting Coach. “There’s the key light which is your main light source, the fill light which softens shadows, and the backlight which separates you from the background for a pro look. You can find affordable kits online, and plenty of tutorials to walk you through the setup.”
Walid Chaya recommends using LED panels for three-point lighting. “Use three dimmable LED panels from a brand like Neewer with three stands to hold them up. Use two at eye level on either side and one behind you at half height for backlighting.”
10. Set up your camera
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an expensive camera to record your tapes. “I don’t recommend filming on a fancy camera like a DSLR,” says Coach with Eden. “Use your phone! We don’t need a higher quality video than what your phone can provide, and this makes the process easier, quicker, and less likely to have a technical glitch make our favorite take disappear.”
Authentic You seconds this, “An iPhone or Android camera is perfectly fine, but if you want to purchase a separate camera, a simple DSLR is great. Filming your auditions in 4k is not needed, as you’ll have to compress the video when submitting anyway; so you don’t need to splurge on this.”
In conclusion: don’t forget joy
In all the technical elements, it’s easy to forget that creating your self-tape studio and recording your auditions should be fun. “When preparing for a self-tape, it is important to connect to something joyful before you begin,” says Matthew Bretschneider, Artistic Director of Studio Playground, an acting school in Rhode Island focused on offering classes for children in the community. “It’s necessary to consider lighting and framing, especially using natural light whenever possible, but above all I believe that an actor’s ability to connect to elements which bring them joy is essential.”
Now that you’ve learned about all the pieces you need to build your self-tape studio, it’s time to start chasing your dreams and setting yourself up for success. Whether you devote a whole room to your craft or can only spare a blank wall, what matters most is being seen and heard while also having a blast playing make-believe.
