So get all that other stuff done in the waiting room. Or empty all your pockets of all the stuff that will distract you from your scene. It’s really awkward when we all welcome you into the room, eager to hear what you’ve brought to share with us, and then we have to wait lamely while you shuffle through your bag to dig out that pesky pic. To add on to that previous rule: HAVE YOUR PICTURE & RESUME READY AS SOON AS YOU WALK INTO THE BUILDING. Oop, your resume just fluttered through the air, away from your picture, and now I’ll never be able to call you back because I don’t know who you are. Um, really? You didn’t even bring a headshot? Um, reaaaally? You want to email it to us later in the day? Oh, sorry, you took the time to print everything out, but… no staples. RULE 3: Okay, and the next rule for auditioning is to (I know this sounds so obvious, I know! But more than one person failed this simple test.) PRINT OUT YOUR RESUME.
I feel really lame now for caring about my own show. Because I just spent all this time listening to your heartfelt monologue, and you didn’t even bother to read the paragraph of a submission note we neatly typed up for you. We had one actor, who finished up her monologue, chatted a bit with us about her training, and then, as soon as she felt comfortable with us, said, “So what is this project anyway?” Oh. Before you click on the little button to submit yourself to a project, read what the project is. RULE 2: DO YOUR HOMEWORK! It’s not even hard homework, people.
I’ve been late, I’ve missed time slots, I’ve had to use the awful (yet unfortunately very true here in LA) excuse that traffic was bad. RULE 1: The first rule for auditioning (whether in theater, film, TV, WHATEVER) became apparent right away: SHOW UP FOR YOUR CONFIRMED TIME SLOT ON TIME! Okay, fine, problems arise, stuff happens, emergencies emerge…I know. Let me tell you, I got a great lesson in auditioning from the people who were reading for us… I’m so thrilled to be directing for them, and happy to be working again in one of my top 5 favorite places in the world…the theater! It’s a great space to work in, and we were lucky enough to have lots of actors come in.
I’m working again with a fantastic theater company this spring on their new show, which is a three month long collection of plays that rotate out as the audiences vote on their favorites. It’s the time when you as an actor get to step back, and take a long look at the audition process when you are not the one in the hot seat! And after being on the other side this week, I was reminded of some super simple things every actor should remember (and some things no one should ever, ever do).
# james arthur impossible audition series
Whether it’s for the web series you wrote and produced, the film you’re helping to cast, the showcase you’re directing, or simply being the reader for a new play that’s being cast in your community theater, seeing the flip side of casting is an amazing learning experience. Every actor should find the opportunity sometime to sit on the other side of the casting table, and that’s just what I did this past week.
0 kommentar(er)
