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I have been so very fortunate to have spent the last several weeks working at “The Young and the Restless” and this time, my return to the show landed around the Daytime Emmys.  I was asked to attend the telecast, since I was the first actor to win an Emmy for the show in the 1980’s, and while there, I ran into several of the casting directors and casting associates I know from the Daytime scene.

To my surprise, each one of them had visited this website, and they were all very enthusiastic.  The most common comment was that they were happy to see a site that offered advice and education that was accurate and informed for the Los Angeles market, and specifically dealt with customs and common courtesies that they feel have been lost among most of the new actors they see.  Their favorite blog was “The Casting Assistant” which deals with being professional and courteous to ALL the casting staff you meet an any audition; be on time, appreciative, respectful to your fellow actors and support staff atthe audition, and follow up with thank you note or email.

That came as another surprise, that in their collective view, actors are not as courteous, not as professional in their manner as they used to be even ten years ago.  Interesting, and something to learn from.

I used the opportunity to invite several casting professionals to be a part of our new subscription/membership service in development right now.  We will be offering shortly the chance for you to sign up for a subscription to our site, which will include several perks and information packages available only to members.  This will include one of our educational lecture videos each month, as well as other special offerings sent to members only throughout each month.  We will be interviewing casting people, directors, and other industry professionals about their pet peeves, their advice for actors, their experiences and careers in show business, and other information we think you’d advantage from.  These interviews will be sent monthly as part of your subscription.

So…things to look forward to, but for now, review the blog “the Casting Assistant” and at your next audition, take your behavior seriously…it really does have impact on whether or not you are hired or called back.

Till next time,

What is Your Age Range?  Height?  Weight?  Haircolor?

I recently went to an audition and walked into a waiting room full of women in my same age range, my similar type, dressed in the same general professional fashion…and it reminded me to talk to you all about being honest in representing yourself in your picture, resume, and in your type category and age range.  And to be confident that you have something that they do not.

It can be mind blowing to see 10 or 15 other “you’s” in the room with you, but don’t let it rattle you.  There is no one there with just your performance, your essence.  So commit to it, and bring your best job to the reading, and you’ll be fine.  But…

Susan Sarandon can still play a young Speed Racer’s mother, but I’m pretty sure most people her age cannot.  If you are even tempted to be unrealistic about your look, your type, your age…please think about it again.  If you walk into a casting office and are not the same person as the picture they have in front of them, you’re doing yourself a lot of damage.  Some casting directors will never have you back.  Your picture should be YOU.  Your image of that “you” should be realistic to the extreme.  The casting process is pretty fast.  They usually release the breakdown to agents, take submissions, and start reading people within a couple of days, then they thin the list and take the short list to the director and producers.  That’s at most another day or two, and especially in TV, it has to happen now.  The casting process has no room for wasted time.  If you are 50 and come in for a 30 year old young mom, you better look 30.  If you’re 19 and they need a sultry late 20’s call girl, you better be able to make that happen too…and look the part without too much imagination required.  And don’t come to the audition in costume…as we’ve discussed in other articles.  Just a suggested idea of how that character would dress and look, and that should be enough.  It is more important to make that character you, and commit to an intelligent and inventive reading.  That is something to remember.  Not the fact that you did not look the part, and did not have a representative headshot, and wasted 15 minutes apologizing.

So…get out there and give them the real thing.  Honestly.

Beth

Responsibility

Remember we’ve talked about “Pet Peeves” at length and how to avoid tripping someone’s switch at an audition or class?  Well that brings us in a sort of common sense way, to the crux of it…Responsibility.

Actors are notorious flakes.  They are considered by most people in other areas of show business to be late, inconsiderate, self-centered, and often require baby-ing or babysitting to get them to function.  They are thought to be selfish, privileged, and aloof on a set, unapproachable.  They are often avoided by the crew, or pampered into expecting that sort of behavior as normal. 

Break that stereotype now!  Be responsible for yourself, your actions, and exceed expectations.  Be early, know your lines, bring muffins, say thank you, send notes or emails, be professional.

There is nothing that will get you hired back faster…even talent.  Being a normal person, in charge of ons self and earning your way fairly and conscientiously will get points no matter where you go…and open doors you never imagined as a result.

Working actors who develop lifetime careers are not giddy, talking models with a good opportunity and lots of luck or contacts.  They are professionals who take their careers and their work and talent seriously, deliver, show up, and can be counted on.  Make a conscious intention to be among that group of respected working actors!

Start by being responsible.  Do what it takes to make that impression.  It will not fail you. 

You Can Do It,
Beth

Having a Hard Day?

Someone took your parking spot and you were late to an audition.  (been there, as you know)  You didn’t pack a suit in your car when you left for your commercial audition in a polo shirt and jeans this morning…and you got a call and your agent said, “Suit!!”  You haven’t eaten since coffee and a yogurt at breakfast and you’re a little dizzy, but late for your next appointment and can’t squeeze in even a drive through.  You need gas, and you’re stuck on the freeway in a traffic jam, and need to get to class and there’s just no chance of it!

There are two things that can add a little perspective back to “one of  those days” as an actor.  First of all, find ways to manage your world.  Pack a suit, a pair of jeans and a plain shirt/top, tennis shoes, dress shoes, socks/stockings, and a warm up suit or sweats into the trunk of your car.  If the climate allows, pack some water, and a couple of power/granola bars as well.  Leave your house ready for a long day if that is your world.  If you need to get to work after a day of appointments, throw in your work stuff too so you don’t have to go home if you don’t have time.  Try to live a simplified life…no pets, or someone who can take care of them if you’re in a jam (and this from a consummate animal lover, who stresses more about the animals if I’m late as I do about myself).  Try to embrace what structure you can build into a routine.  Prepare early.  Learn lines for scene work in class, work on your sides for tomorrow’s auditions, and don’t leave it till later.  Be sure that later will mean you’re late.

And secondly, find something outside of acting to keep you grounded.  A sport, a hobby, a charity, and activity, a class not related to the industry, all of these are places to start to become an interesting, well-rounded person.  It will even give you something to talk about at your next general interview!

Go Get ‘Em,
Beth

Rudeness

It happened today on the way to a meeting.  A guy in a hurry cut me off in the parking lot, and skidded in to the parking place I had waited for as the previous inhabitant backed out…I even had my turn signal on.  The guy screeched into the spot, slammed his door and ran for it before I could say or do anything at all.  I am non confrontative by nature, but there are a few things like this that will insight my dark side.
I made another couple of loops around the lot, found a spot and parked and went in for my commercial voice over call, on time, but a little amped from my temper and the utter rudeness of humanity.

Guess who was pacing back and forth in the lobby.  I heard several scraps of lame excuses as he tried to apologize to the casting assistant for being late, and saw that he was in much worse shape than I was in terms of frustration and adrenaline.  There is no way that guy in that condition was going to give a good audition.  He was obviously a flake.  Bad timing, bad planning, disorganization, and traffic had ruined his chances to make a good impression, and perhaps ever be called back to this casting office again.  All those things could have been avoided.

Don’t let yourself be him!  Please be professional about choosing acting as your career.  Treat it as a respected profession and you will be treated as a respected professional, not a flakey creative type who can’t keep an appointment, and who can’t be trusted to be given a job.

And as you walk along your path as a creative professional, remember a little common courtesy and consideration for your fellows, and it will pay off.  People notice.  I could have been the casting director in that parking lot coming back from lunch.  Believe me, I wouldn’t have hired that guy on a bet.  Happy parking…

Beth

It is always interesting to me why people go into acting in the first place.  Why do you want to be an actor?  To live a balanced life as an actor, in a very competitive and rejection based career, it is good to ask yourself some hard questions about your motives. Read the rest of this entry »