How Good Are You?

If you're as good as they say you are, you may believe it. But if their response is silence—no roles, not even audition callbacks, that means you're no good?

Let's forget what they say—or don't say. You are God's gift—some say that, too. I'm saying it. Being a success as an actor is assured if you persevere. If you never step on a stage again—outside of classes and workshops—and you just can't count those, can you?—then you're an actor, period, end of discussion.

I believe in you. Not personally, at least not at this moment—I mean, anybody could be reading this. But, whoever you are, I truly believe in you. I believe your success as an actor rests on you refusing to stop auditioning, continuing to think like an actor, whether it's critiquing someone's film performance or reading a play with your imagination in gear.

All art is process, though we will always obsess on the end product. Be an actor. After all, you are one.

If the Shoe Fits

My favorite audition story comes from opera. The call was early, and I decided on a whim (I was young and full of whimsy) not to do any vocal warm-up. I sang a full-throated aria and my voice cracked repeatedly (it was years before my high notes were secure). I was embarrassed, but still young—the humiliation lasted no more than a few minutes before I was on to the next adventure.

I got a call later that day for a costume fitting for the role. The costume fit. The gentleman they had chosen based on the audition did not fit the costume.

I got the part. It was not a major role, but it was most certainly a major respected opera company.

I love this story. I believe it captures the essence of the audition process, the sheer fate of it. You get a role because you’re lucky, regardless how talented you are, and regardless to the degree your talent is appreciated.

Most of the artists with whom I’ve shared this story, particularly my take on it, hate it.
I don’t mean to imply talent and study mean nothing—quite the opposite. I mean only that talent and study ensure nothing with respect to winning recognition.

Talent and study, art itself, is its own reward.

Audition Futility

It’s hard to audition and then not get chosen—it happens!

Seems to me one has to believe that auditioning is part of an actor’s work, as much as is performing. The audience is limited and the performance brief, but it counts for something. You learn something. You’re seen and may be remembered. The call may come far later than you expect.

Questions You May Be Asked in an Audition – # 1

Q: What interested you in our season?

A: (select one)

a) Everything. Except “High School Musical,” of course, because there’s no part for me.

b) In what roles might you cast me?

c) Theater is my life. I can’t help but be interested.

You Never Know What to Expect

You never know what to expect at a commercial audition. I brought a prop to an audition a while back, which was clever of me. But they had a prop for me, so I didn’t actually feel very clever.

After I said my last line, the director said, “You don’t say that line yet.” I knew this, but didn’t say so, so as not to appear defensive. Not saying that I knew, I fear I appeared inept. I spoke that last line early because, although there were actors representing various characters in the scene, there were lines for an announcer as well. Because we didn’t have an announcer, I simply skipped to my next spoken line, my last line.

Maybe I think too much.