When Do Compliments Turn Into Jobs?-Scorecard #6

So things have been pretty slow on the audition front, lately.  This time of year, things slow down for the holidays before they pick back up again in January.  So there hasn't been much for me to go to and talk about but, I did manage an audition yesterday that I almost talked myself out of.

It wasn't until the last minute that I decided to go.  What convinced me was that the theatre is in Jacksonville,  and not all that far from Orlando.  I wouldn't too far from my O-Town gang.

Because I waited until the last minute, I didn't show up at the studio until 11:00 but, figured I would take my chances with the alternate list anyway.  To my surprise, the woman in front of me had just cancelled her 2:50 time slot to take her chance on the alternate list in the hopes of getting seen sooner*. So, I gladly stepped up, took it and filled the extra time with dance class.

When it was time to go in, I sang my song and felt it went really well.  Afterwards, I was told, "VERY good.  BIG tenor voice.  And you know how to control it.  I LIKE that!"  Obviously, I was thrilled to hear that but I've also learned to take compliments, even sincere ones, with a grain of salt.  Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE being told that I did something great!  At least, up to that point where it starts to feel uncomfortable.  You know what I mean?  But a compliment is no guarantee of a job or even a callback.

I guess I'm just ready for someone to follow that compliment with a, "Why don't you come back tomorrow to read for us" or "We just so happen to have a contract for you, right here!"  That second on would be great!  However unlikely it would be.  I guess I'm just getting a little impatient and ready to get away from the survival job for a bit.

But for today, I'll just be happy with compliments and get ready for dance class.  I've almost made it through a full week of that so, I'll have to write up a report for you soon.  But for now, we'll add another success to the scorecard.

Audition Scorecard 2010-2011

                   9 Success

                   4 Fails  (3 Type Out)

A winning record going into the winter break.  Nice!  

Until next time...

*A little side note.  At an EPA, there are about 5 or 6 names per time slot with each actor being allowed 3 minutes to audition.  If not everyone uses the full 3 minutes and there's time before the next group goes, they start calling from the alternate list to fill up the time.  The woman whose time slot I took wasn't so lucky.  She was still waiting when I was leaving.  Oops.  Maybe she shouldn't have been rude to me when she was leaving the line earlier. 

Another Type Out, Frustration Ensues: Update #4

I know that I've said before that being typed out at an audition isn't all bad.  It saves you the time of going in and singing when they weren't looking for someone like you in the first place.  But, there are those times when you know that you're right for a particular show and you still get cut anyway.  Those times can be so FRIGGING FRUSTRATING!  As was the case yesterday.

This one was for Catch Me if You Can, the musical based on the Steven Spielberg movie that had Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.  Now I've seen the movie.  I really liked it too but, more importantly, I know that there are people of my type throughout the whole thing.  So, I went to the casting office pretty much expecting to get to sing for it.  Not meant to be.

Of my group of 20, they kept 5 guys and I was, obviously, not one of them.(FAIL)  This is the third time in a row for this particular casting company and it's starting to get frustrating.  What's it gonna take to even get to sing for them anymore?  I just wish that, if casting people are going to type, they would just post, at the sign-in table, a notice saying what they want on that day.  It could say, "40-something African Americans, 6'2" or taller," if that's who they want to see.

I know that they have to say that they'll see anyone with a paid up Equity card but, let's face it, isn't casting the highest form of discrimination (yes, it's a harsh way to describe it but I'm irked, at the moment)?  When a writer and director collaborate on a play, don't they have a pretty specific image of what the characters should look like?  Those mental pictures are what the casting people are using to find actors for a project.  Yes, that's the business and, of course, I understand it but, it doesn't make it any less frustrating sometimes.

So, we update the scorecard:

  Audition Scorecard 2010

                   5 Success

                   4 Fails  (3 Type Out)

Until next time...

Squeezin' In - Scorecard Update #3

I usually try to avoid going to auditions on a Tuesday because that's the long day at the survival job.  I get to work at 10:30 a.m. and might not get out until after midnight.  So starting my day a few hours earlier by waiting to be seen by casting people isn't at the top of my list.  But last Tuesday, I decided to make the exception.  A well known theater in Florida was having their season EPAs and I wanted to go so, I sucked it up and went to be seen.

Unfortunately it turned out that this was the only day that they were having musical EPAs so, when I got to the sign-up table, all of the time slots had been taken. At an EPA once all of the time slots have been filled, they put you on the alternate list and call names from that, if time allows.  Depending on the audition monitor, the alternate list can run pretty quickly and I was number 23 so, I took my chance at waiting to see if I could get in before heading to work.

At the same time, another theater out of Pennsylvania was also holding auditions for their upcoming production of Annie.  Now it's been a million years since I've seen Annie and I'm not sure if there's even anything in it for me but, I took the opportunity to use it as a warm-up and try out a new song.  It wasn't  really in the style of the show but I've been told that, if they like you enough, it doesn't matter what style song you have.  I went in, sang the song and it went great! (success)  It was kind of obvious they had no intention of calling me back.  I wasn't what they were looking for and I knew this but, they liked the song so my purpose was still served.

While I was waiting in line to go in for Annie, my name was called off the alternate list for the Florida theater.  So, I got out of the Annie room and got in the Florida line.  In the Florida room, there was a smidge of a rough start.  The accompanist didn't play what I was expecting to hear so, we had to start over.  It's interesting how two pianists can play the same song two different ways.  But once we got into the song, I felt that it had gone better than before! (success)

I left the Equity building feeling great and ready for the long day of work ahead.  I DID show up about 15 minutes late but, that didn't matter.  Even if I had gotten in trouble, it wouldn't have mattered.  I had taken the chance of not being seen by anyone and, instead, was seen by TWO companies.  It was a good day!

So, as it stands:

            Audition Scorecard 2010
                   5 Success
                   3 Fails

I think I have a good shot at getting a callback from the Florida people so, I'll cross my fingers and let you know if it happens.

Until next time...