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When an actor first comes to Los Angeles, in search of an acting career, an agent, a manager, a good acting class…there are so many options, and it’s hard to know where to begin.

After you get your headshot, and perhaps an agent, a new actor will face meeting casting directors for the first time in the form of a general audition.  This is a meeting that is usually arranged by an agent or manager, or is a result of being seen in a play or at a workshop.  It is not for any specific role, but to let the casting director get to know the new performer and sort of get a feel for whether he or she will be someone the casting person will choose to champion for future roles. Read the rest of this entry »

What is the first actual meeting you will have as a new actor in the Los Angeles film and television community? It is likely to be a general audition with a casting director. This is a meeting that will not be for a role in a current casting project such as a movie or television show, but will be a chance for the casting director to get to know you as a person. They will be judging whether they can use you for something in the future so don’t treat a general audition lightly. Dress professionally, present yourself well, and use the opportunity as a preliminary to a casting call. The casting director will be looking at how well you can chit chat about yourself and your special talents, skills, and abilities. They will be looking for confidence, professionalism, and they will be watching how you present yourself, to see how you will fit in on a working set. They may ask for your marketing material, a picture and resume and perhaps biography if you are not represented by an agent and they don’t have access to that information from your representation. They may need a demo reel, so you should be prepared to have that ready. This is a valuable first step that you should take seriously and not waste! You never get a second chance at a first impression. If you are late or rattled or badly dressed or unprofessional, you will not likely have access to that casting director in the future.

I have been asked many times how I got my first job in Hollywood as an actor and I’m always reluctant to tell my students the story as it is so atypical.  It really doesn’t happen to most actors, but I’ll tell it just to prove that there is always an exception to every rule.
I was a working actor in New York when I came out to Los Angeles to try to get into TV and Film.  I had an agent in NY that had an office in Hollywood as well.  I came out to Hollywood for a week, just to check it out – to see if I liked it here – to see if I can live here.  My agency set me up with many “General Auditions” that week. Read the rest of this entry »