Are You Tracking Your Auditions? If Not, You Should.

For the last several years, I’ve kept a spreadsheet of all my auditions — and honestly, it’s one of the most valuable tools in my opinion.

Why? Because auditions are not just “yes” or “no” moments. They are stepping stones, patterns, and insights into how the industry sees you. When you track them, you stop feeling like you’re blindly throwing self-tapes into the void, and instead start seeing the bigger picture of your progress.

Here’s what I include in my audition log — and why you might want to do the same:

Production Title

This one’s obvious. Knowing the project makes it easy to reference later.

Director & Casting Director and Producers

This is gold. I want to know who has seen me and how many times. Over the years, I’ve noticed patterns: certain casting directors keep calling me in, even if I haven’t booked with them (yet). That tells me they like me and see potential. For me, that’s just a matter of time — so I make sure every self-tape I send them is my absolute best.

Character Name

Even though names often change by the final cut, logging the role helps jog my memory down the line.

Network or Platform

BBC? ITV? Channel 4? Sometimes patterns emerge here too. I’ve literally caught myself thinking, “Someone at ITV likes me. Whoever you are, thank you!”

Was It Realistic?

This is where I check my own gut. Sometimes you audition for a role you know will likely go to someone with a bigger industry status. And usually, that’s what happens. But that doesn’t make the audition a waste — I still got in front of the casting director and production team. That’s a win.

Self-Tape or In-Person

For me, 99% of first-round auditions are self-tapes. Still, I mark this because callbacks often shift to in-person or Zoom, which leads me to the next point…

Callback?

This is big. A callback means you were much closer than most. Only a small amount of actors get a callback. It also usually means you met the team directly. Whether or not you book the role, that’s progress and relationship-building.

Did I Book It?

Simple “yes” or “no.” But I go a step further…

Who Booked It?

A few months later, I check IMDb to see who landed the role. For me, this isn’t painful — it’s educational. I can often see exactly what the production wanted, and 95% of the time I’m glad it wasn’t me. Artistic differences are real, and often the project ended up taking a direction I wouldn’t have enjoyed. The only sting? Missing out on the paycheck (LOL).

Do I Care?

This one’s personal. I make little notes like:

• “No, the part wasn’t interesting, but it’s a cool show.”

• “The writing was weak, so I don’t care that I didn’t get it.”

• ‘‘Yes! I love the work of this director’’.

This helps me separate genuine disappointment from opportunities that, deep down, weren’t aligned with me anyway.

Why This Matters

Auditions aren’t just about booking the job — they’re about building a career. When you track them, you can see growth, recognize patterns, and stay motivated.

It turns rejection into data. And data, my friends, is power.

So I’ll ask again: Are you tracking your auditions? If not, you should. And you better be keeping all your Self-tapes for review too!

Sending you a big hug,

Natalia

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