TIP#42– “Everybody is looking for something different and it’s frustrating.” This is comment that came up the other night from a recent workshop I was conducting – it was in reference to the subjective nature of the audition room. Others chimed in – “One Casting Director wants you to look straight at them, and another wants me to look just above the panel.” “Sometimes they want you to only sing 16 bars and another panel looks at you like you’re crazy and asks that you do the whole song.” “That other director let me use the chair in my scene, and this guy said no – insisting I stand.”
Believe me, I get it. Everyone has their own preference, their own way of ‘doing things’ and it can be confusing and irritating – especially when you, the actor, are trying to figure out the ‘rules’ and it seems like the rules keep changing. But here’s the rub – in terms of the audition room, (and indeed the individual preferences of the Casting Director, Creative team, etc) THERE IS NO ONE HARD FAST RULE. The sooner you realize this, the better – for this small truth will set you free. Thus every audition ‘tip’ you hear from me (and others) reflects my personal taste and experience – and this viewpoint will either be shared or dismissed by others. I don’t like overly-glam headshots. Others do. I encourage actors to hold their sides in auditions, others prefer you to completely memorize. I hate props; others love ‘em.
Bottom line? The only way that you, the actor, are going to be able to negotiate all this (and learn which CD’s, Director’s prefer what) is by trial and error – by going to the audition and seeing for yourself what worked/what didn’t. (“Ok, that guy soooo didn’t want to shake my hand. Duly noted. Next time, no handshake!”) Here’s an analogy I use, that seems to make sense to the actors I work with – think of the audition as if it’s party, (with the CD’s as hosts). You’ve been invited and now you just have to figure out what kind of party it is. If you arrive at someone’s apartment door and you see all the guests’ shoes lined up in the hallway, well you know that the hosts want you to take off your shoes before entering. (Forget about fashion! These folk are anal and want everything spic/span. The next time you attend you might want to make sure you have no holes in your socks…) If you know the ‘host’ to be fancy (with past invites asking everyone to wear ‘cocktail attire’) you know that showing up in jeans/sneakers might just not cut the mustard. Thus, a pot-luck is different than a sit-down dinner party, and a BBQ is different than a tea party. Once you make the rounds (and get to understand what ‘everyone’ wants/prefers) you will have more clarity on this which will, in turn, allow you to join in, ‘work’ the room and have the confidence to nail that audition.
(Duncan & Alaine)
Duncan Stewart is the Executive Director of Southgate Productions, (Theater/TV casting) and contracted by the National Artists Management Company (NAMCO) where he acts as the Director of Casting. In this capacity, he is responsible for casting the Broadway and National touring companies of Chicago the Musical as well as all other projects for legendary Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler. Current projects include the upcoming Broadway production of La Cage Aux Folles (starring Kelsey Grammer) and Clueless the Musical (Stephen Trask). Duncan also provides talent consultation for numerous television projects now under development by/for Cineflix International, a London based company. Most recently, Duncan was the featured judge and panelist for “The Great White Way”, a reality-based TV show produced by Osaka Television.
Alaine Alldaffer is the Casting Director for Playwrights Horizons. Credits include “Grey Gardens” (B’way and PWH) most recently “This” and “Circle, Mirror, Transformation and Clybourne Park. Present Laughter with Victor Garber for “The Huntington Theater” and “The Roundabout”. TV credits include Knights of Prosperity aka Let’s Rob Mick Jagger for ABC. Assoc. credits include “ED” (NBC),”Monk” (USA). Theaters include the Long Warf, Soho Rep. ACT in San Francisco and The Arena in DC. Festivals include Williamstown and Humana. She casts for The Huntington Theatre in Boston and the Women’s Project NYC. Coming up is the New York premiere of the Edward Albee play “Me Myself and I” with Elizabeth Ashley.
