How do I get "discovered"?

Ahhhh, that is the 10-million-dollar question!  I assure you, you will find the secret to being discovered right next to the answer to "How John Essay lost 100lbs in two weeks to become the most gorgeous male in the world!"  If you can find THAT, your dream will come true, because that is all it is: a "dream", a "fantasy".  Show me any successful career and I will show you a lot of blood, sweat and tears that helped get them there.  Nothing in life comes easy, it just doesn't.  OK, sometimes (but rarely) there are exceptions to this rule (or ANY rule, for that matter), but an exception should never be confused for the general rule, or even considered a realistic possibility.

Having said that, there are many things you can do to HELP yourself be seen along the way.  So many people have claimed to have "discovered" Barbra Steisand, and indeed, they "discovered her" - meaning they saw her for the first time - but Barbra was out there plugging away, making herself available to be seen, in cabarets, clubs auditions, etc. The word "discovered" implies that you need to be available for discovery.  A buried treasure is VERY hard to discover unless you know to look in the general vicinity it is located.  The same applies to you.  Making yourself available aids in helping you get discovered.  Going to plays, movies, industry parties, taking classes and perhaps some "pay to display"/"Meet and Greet" sessions, or anything else that will enhance your "life experience" is a step closer to being "discovered" or seen by someone on your way to a successful career.  Of course, if you clicked on this link in hopes of actually finding the answer to immediate stardom, you may want to take a good look at yourself and why you are still trying to reach for this unattainable fantasy. 

In my 25 years as a manager, I have only represented two clients who experienced what most people would call "overnight success".  The first was an incredible actress (of course!) who was catapulted into the stardom arena without being a star herself - that is, she was not a star but was competing with stars for roles.  We were lucky enough to have her up for every major feature of the time - SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, SOAPDISH, and WHAT ABOUT BOB?, to name a few.  However, it was always between her and a real bona fide star - in her case, usually Elisabeth Shue.  Of course, the outcome was always the same for my client - she lost out to the bigger name.  After several years of getting so close to being cast (sometimes up to eight auditions), it took a toll on my client, and after much soul-searching and a heart-to-heart with me, she decided to leave the business and pursue another career.  So, be careful what you wish for!  My second client who has achieved this level has proven more resilient - though always competing against household names, she is still managing - by being available and connected - to find a niche for herself as her star slowly rises. 

A slow building career is so much better than an overnight sensation.

What should you do if you have a bad reader at an audition?

Well, here you are: you've just arrived at your audition - and early, to boot! Now you have time to relax, to go over your lines again, and to freshen up in the potty room. You have read all the juicy tidbits of information on on our website and now you are implementing some of those new tools today. You look great, you feel great ... bring it on!

The monitor calls your name and you confidently enter the audition room. You exchange pleasantries as well as brief introductions. You notice there are two chairs facing the "casting table" and a reader is already seated. You are asked to begin your scene.

You begin your scene with your reader, and as you progress into the scene you realize ... THIS READER IS AWFUL! You can barely hear him/her, there is no eye contact, and worse of all, there is no emotional connection between the two of you.

DON'T PANIC! You have worked on this scene, and you know where the emotional connections are.

DON'T shrink to the level of this bad reader! You must trudge on, imagining that you are getting everything you need from this reader.

DON'T waiver. If you try too hard to connect to this reader, you risk being sucked into his/her low-energy-lack-of-connection vortex, and then you would be doing yourself a great disservice. The "casting people" will see your acting with thoselimitations, and they will assume that THAT is the BEST you can do.

Be prepared in advance for the possibility of an inadequate reader by always rehearsing your material as if your partner is awful. Besides, this kind of communication happens all the time in real life. You are upset about something your significant other did, and when you passionately try to explain it to him/her, he/she SHUTS DOWN. NO NOTHING. But you still go on trying to make them understand ... ! It is the same in an audition with a bad reader. You just have to go on and be passionately engaged in what you are doing, indeed become even more determined to get them to HEAR you, REACT to you, while still being authentic and "in the moment".

Should actors pay for industry reps 2 drink minimum at their invited showcases?

This is part of an actors "budget".  It is hard enough to get ANYONE to come see you in a show, let alone expect them to pay for drinks that are enforced by the club. All of these kinds of "clubs" have a two drink MINIMUM!  You must pay it regardless if you drink or not. This is only for a very small niche industry: Comedy Clubs, Cabaret Clubs, Dinner Theatre (although the theatre is usually gracious enough to comp the meals...sometimes).

Remember, most representatives that go to see showcases/cabarets/comedy acts are young adults just starting out in their agencies, looking for clients to bring into their agency in order to move up the ranks.  Young agents barely make enough to eat (most of their money comes from who they bring to the agency).  Some may go every weekend to scout new talent or more often.  That is a lot of money out of pocket for an agent who is basically working overtime, wouldn't have necessarily been at this show if not invited AND may not even drink alcohol.

The only exception is if the representative was there on his/her own without an invitation.  Then, of course, you wouldn't pay for anything - EVEN if the representative asked. Here's a handy saying: "If you extend an invitation you must pay for their libation".  LOL!  Just made that up.  Anyway, if you invited an agent to dinner (or even a friend, for that matter) you would still pay.   

To make it a bit easier to afford, try to spread the cost around among the rest of the performers/comedians in the show (if there were any); ask them to pitch in and help pay for any and all invited representatives, casting directors etc.