During and After the Audition - by John Essay

As I was saying in my last article “Preparing for a Great Audition”:

Always arrive a few minutes early. As you sit in the waiting room for your name to be called, it may be helpful to carry an index card with some key phrases to remind you of your preparation and to keep you focused, i.e. “Stay focused,” “Keep energy up,” “Do my third audition first.” “Make a strong beginning,” “No one is better than me,”—write whatever sayings that inspire you to do your best. Take another look at your notes in your audition diary and get ready to make all your preparation pay off!

Now it is your turn. Once your name is called, walk in with an upbeat demeanor and greet the people behind the table with a smile and your name. Don’t try to shake hands unless prompted —not only does this slow down the auditioning process, but it is also for health concerns: no casting person wants to shake a hundred hands, nor do you want to shake the hand of someone who shook a hundred hands. 

Have your picture and résumé out and ask if they would like one (remember to take control of your audition; you lead its course). Be aware that some people behind the desk may not be as gregarious; don't let this throw you. It has nothing to do with you. Now you need to quickly assess the room (its size; where you are going to stand; if you need a chair).

The director or casting director will ask you to begin your scene or monologue. This is your time. Every audition should have the adrenaline of opening night, which you can use to fuel your performance. These are your two minutes. Get the most out of them. 

If doing a monologue, it is best not to make eye contact with anyone in the room; use a different focal point like a person's ear or forehead. You can also pick a spot on the wall, a place on the table, just as long as your head is up and your eyes are visible and your voice is loud and clear. 

When doing a scene, you should know the material well but hold your sides to refer to—you should have rehearsed both when you will look at your sides and when to flip the pages. Keep in mind that we need to see your face so hold the sides away from your head; practice turning pages as quietly as possible—this will be extremely important if you are going on tape. You must look at the person you are reading with. (What is a scene if there is no communicating between two people?)

If your reader seems to be a less stellar actor than you had anticipated, there are different ways to approach this: 

Know the material so well that you can stay on point emotionally even if the person seems absent, or try to use it to your advantage, if appropriate for the scene. (If it's a scene that requires some anger on your part, that certainly would be appropriate). Remember that the quality of the reader is not in your control. 

If you are asked to make an adjustment to your material, please make sure you understand the adjustment. (If you don't understand it, speak up.) If you need a moment to adjust to some direction, say something. If you have a question, ask it. You are in control of your audition. When you are finished with your scene or monologue, you might say, “I’d be happy to do it again if you have any adjustments for me,” or “Is there anything else I can show you?”

Most casting professionals will be friendly and encouraging—after all, they are hoping you will be terrific—but sometimes your auditioners will be less than enthusiastic at your audition. I can't tell you enough how often adverse reactions of the people behind the table have nothing to do with your audition. It just happens. Remember, these creative people are people just like you and me. We all have bad days, we all sometimes hold grudges, we all take it out on people and sometimes we can spend the day zoned out and out of touch. Don’t let it phase you.

After the audition, write down what happened in your audition diary, analyze it, learn from it, and move on! You are doing yourself a disservice by trying to figure out what was on the casting director or director's mind, or if you're getting a call back or even if you'll get the job. It's wasted energy. Just analyze how to better prepare yourself so you can figure out what you can do better at your next audition or congratulate yourself for a job well done.

Try to remember: It's not always about getting the job. Try accomplishing one of these three goals at an audition and if you walk out feeling you've done any of these, you've won the game. 

Impress the casting director enough to call you in for another project. 

Use the audition to learn something for future auditions. For example: “I asked a question about whether I could move during the scene and that was well received and helped my audition.” 

Have fun! Do not expect to be perfect, for there is no perfection. Perfection leaves no room for mistakes and growth. Aim instead for excellence. Excellence is a far healthier goal, and one that is actually attainable. 

Now, go forth and conquer!

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How Following Industry Trends Can Get You The Part - by John Essay

There are trends in show business, just like in fashion. Certain types of action movies may be popular at the moment (“The Avengers,” “Thor,” “Spider-Man,” etc.), or there might be a surge of television or film projects featuring young singers and dancers (“Glee,” “Smash,” etc.). This means that certain types of actors will be cast more than others during these times.

Trends are important to recognize. Perhaps your "type" is hot right now or you might be able to adjust your image to fit a trend. There was a time when men with five o'clock shadows were everywhere.

I remember a time when one of my clients, who had previously done well commercially, had stopped getting callbacks. I thought this was so odd, since she had previously been so "popular." I watched TV for several days in a row and concentrated on those commercials that my client had auditioned for—I noticed that the women who landed the roles all had curly hair. Aha! I had spotted a new trend. I discussed this with my client, and she stopped straightening her hair. She soon began to get callbacks again. Now I know this might sound rather simple, but sometimes it IS simple—so simple that we fail to see what is there right in front of our eyes! The whole point is to always be aware of the current trends, and to see how you might fit into them. Sometimes it works!

If your type is not "in" right now, keep looking for the trends. They are always changing, and a trend for your type may not be far behind!

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11 Pieces of an Actor's Budget - by John Essay

Actors frequently ask me, “How much money does it take to be an actor?” The short answer is every actor’s expenses will be different. However, use the list below as a guideline. Although I have tailored the costs for those pursuing the business in New York City, the general outline is applicable wherever you may be based.

1. Living expenses. This category includes rent, utilities, cable, telephone, and food. These may seem obvious, but I begin with this list because you cannot really pursue the business of acting if you cannot afford these things. Count on rent to be around $1000/month and up, depending on the neighborhood, building amenities—such as a doorman, elevator, gym, etc.—and whether or not you have a roommate. (For Manhattan, $1000/month is actually really cheap, and if you find an apartment for this rate, it will most likely be in a less accessible neighborhood). Utilities (gas, electric) are usually not included in the rent. These can average around $100-$150/month. For telephone service, you can get away with only having a cellphone, and this averages around $75/month. Cable averages around $100/month without the premium channels. You may want to forgo cable if you have Internet access, as you can watch many TV shows via Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc. Your job as an actor is to know what is going on in the world and also what shows are on the various channels. As for food, don't be lazy and rely on the fast food that is cheap and easily available. Many New Yorkers eat out a lot, and this zaps your income very quickly. Be smart, and eat at home. It is cheaper and healthier. Count on groceries costing you an average of $15-$20/day.

For the following expenses, consider opening a savings account where you deposit $20 a week, more or less. A separate savings account means “out of sight, out of mind,” and that is a good thing.

2. Headshots, including hair and makeup. Having your headshot photos taken and reproduced is generally the biggest expense you will incur. Good photographers run between $600-$1000. There is also hair and makeup, which is a separate expense. Yes, men, you may need makeup too! The camera lights play nasty tricks with your face, and makeup can help offset these unsightly occurrences. Be prepared to spend between $100-$150 for hair and makeup. 

3. Headshot reproductions/retouching. When your pictures are finished and you have selected the ones you'd like to use, you may need to have them retouched. Perhaps there is a stray hair, a blemish, soft circles under eyes, etc. Generally, retouching will be approximately $25-$60 per photo. Reproducing your picture can cost almost a dollar a print. There are cheaper reproduction houses, but many use cheap paper that tends to lack the crispness that you get from good quality paper. And others may use a printing technique that makes them impossible to fax and/or scan. So be careful, and remember your picture may be in a pile with hundreds of others. You want yours to stand out, not fade away. If you start working with a representative, make sure you always have enough money to pay for more reproductions. There is no excuse for saying "I can't afford it" if a representative needs more photos of you, and you have no money to comply. 

4. Resumes. First of all, don’t print them on the back of your pictures. Why? Because when you book a job and want to update your resume, you'd have to throw away these expensive prints or hand-write a credit in, which can look sloppy. Also, make sure your resumes fit your 8x10 photo. Most sheets of paper are 8.5"x11" and will need to be cut to fit and then stapled to your headshot. Resumes are generally about 5 cents to 8 cents a copy, unless you print them at home where the cost is minimal. 

5. Classes. Prices for classes are hard to list here as there are too many and the price ranges are vast. Audit classes to get a feel for the instructor, what they are teaching, and see what the class is like. I tell people to look for a class you have to audition to get into. This generally weeds out the novice teacher or "experimenting" actor, and hopefully leaves you with a class that is full of working actors. 

6. Online resources. This will vary but there are a number of worthwhile services out there. Some offer audition opportunities, some are resource oriented, and of course you don't want to forget Backstage, and The Actor’s Guide to Everything! You can get a subscription to Backstage for as little as $12/month.

7. Makeup and grooming. Yes, we must budget this in. Men, a barber runs around $20, and if you add a shave (one of my personal splurges) it would double the price. If you color your hair, just buy the home treatment kits and master the technique. This will save you a lot of money. Women, cuts usually start at around $60 and increase rapidly. Save some bucks by shampooing your hair at home before your salon visit. Also you might want to try in-home coloring if that is your thing, instead of having it done at a salon.

8. Clothing. It really is necessary to have your own business wardrobe for auditions. For several hundred dollars, you can achieve a lot of different looks that will help your auditions. You'll save money if you don't mix them with your personal clothes. They will stay fresher longer, and you'll have to launder them less frequently. 

9. Postage and supplies. You'll need to do follow-up mailings, and mailings to agents, managers, and casting directors. This will be a minimal expense, but a very important one. Count on around $20 per month. This will increase drastically if you are in a show or film or have something of significance to share with the above-mentioned agents, managers, and casting directors on your mailing list.

10. Transportation. You can't afford to take taxis everywhere (at least not yet), but you will probably use transportation every day. One round-trip per day on the subway or bus, at the standard $2.50 fare each way, adds up quickly. A monthly Metrocard costs $112, and a weekly Metrocard costs $30.

11. Entertainment. You will need to set some money aside to see theater and go to the movies. This will depend upon how much you can afford. Some theaters offer standing-room tickets for as little as $20. Other theaters offer $25 tickets to a certain number of people on any given day. Offering to usher is a way for many people of modest means to see a show. A movie ticket runs about $12, but if you don’t mind going in the morning, you can go to a show before noon for $6 at some theaters. Count on $50 to $100 per month to see theater and film.

I hope this basic expense outline is helpful for those starting out as an actor. Break a leg!

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How Acting Affects Self Esteem - by Robert Curtiss

The theater teaches us to collaborate, to feel comfortable speaking in front of others, and to be able to take direction. It gives us a forum in which to express ourselves, and it makes us think and feel, as performers and as an audience.

We tend to be drawn to it at an early age. Many remember their first introduction to the theater, whether it be a play seen or performed in elementary school or watching a parent or older sibling perform. It is a socially accepted way to fulfill the need for attention and approval, and I think most would agree that the sound of applause is thrilling, empowering, and sometimes addicting.

That said, the theater also tends to attract people with great needs, who try to use it to validate themselves, and are tremendously insecure as a result. They audition and take every job they don't get as a personal rejection and a comment on who they are. They sabotage themselves in their search for a career and find excuses not to attend another audition because they cannot face another rejection. Needy people frequently do not get cast because their "need" for the job is so obvious, and no one wants to have someone that needy to worry about. After all, needy people aren't truly behaving like professionals, because they have an ulterior motive. They need to hear approval constantly and crave attention. Hiring a needy person is akin to getting a job as a babysitter for a demanding child.

Acting, or any performing, also can confuse those with a fragile self-esteem. All too often performers confuse their performances and talent with their identity. They are what they do. They hear that they are talented, and when they are performing they are told they are wonderful. It is understandable that they are confused!

When people who need validation and attention pursue this career in show business, frequently become bitter and resentful that they have to convince people to like them, to hire them, etc. Thus, they sabotage themselves precisely for the same reason they chose this career in the first place!

If I seem a bit harsh, it is only to paint a stark picture of the psychological makeup of many performers. Most performers have some feelings of insecurity about their place in the business. It is a business without much security.

It may be useful to ask yourself how this might apply to your life. Why are you in this business, and are you "too needy"? If the answer is yes, don't be discouraged. This is where some good psychotherapy can help, to build your self-esteem, to learn skills to turn down that needy "voice" in your mind that constantly craves attention, and to help you differentiate between your own identity and your "performing self."

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Trends in the Business

Trends in the business

Show business has trends, just like in the fashion business: certain types of action movies may be popular (THE AVENGERS, THOR, SPIDER-MAN, etc.), or there might be a surge of tv or film projects featuring young singers & dancers (GLEE, SMASH, etc.). This means that certain types of actors will be cast more than others during these trends. It is important to spot these trends in the business.  Is there a particular ethnic group that is "hot" right now?  Perhaps women with curly hair are in now.  There was a time when men with five o'clock shadows were everywhere. 
Trends are important to recognize -- perhaps your "trend" is hot, or you might be able to adjust your image to fit a trend.  One time I remember one of my clients who used to do well commercially had stopped getting callbacks.  I thought this was so odd, since she had previously been so "popular".  I watched TV for several days in a row and concentrated on those commercials that my client had auditioned for --  I noticed that the women who landed the roles all had curly hair.  Aha! I had spotted a new trend.  I discussed this with my client, and she stopped straightening her hair; she soon began to get callbacks again.  Now I know this might sound rather simple, but sometimes it is simple -- so simple that we fail to see what is there right in front of our eyes!.  The whole point is to always be aware of the currect trends, and to see how you might fit into them.  Sometimes it works! If your type is not "in" right now, keep looking for the trends - they are always changing, and a trend for your type may not be far behind!