A is for Auditions

In between our other news articles from the group, we are starting a series of articles which are intended (work, volunteering etc going according to plan) to comprise an A-Z on theatre for beginners. The articles may be spasmodic as we have a huge turnaround of shows including tackling a production of Les Miserables, so these will be posted as one of us has time to sit down and write one – sorry about that!

The first one:
A is for Auditions.

So, you have seen an audition listed somewhere – maybe on a website, maybe a poster in town, or maybe a friend has told you about it. You may have wanted to get involved in acting for a long time, or you may just like the idea of that particular show, or be looking for a new hobby. Maybe you are lucky enough to find an audition for some paid acting work. But what is going to happen? What are people going to expect of you?
Common questions I see on Yahoo! Answers often ask “I have seen an audition, but I have no idea how to prepare or what to do for it!”. Now any audition advertisement should have some way to contact the production company or casting director for queries. If you are really unsure what to do (if the advert does not, for example, tell you to prepare a song or monologue), no serious director or production company is going to mind your contacting them and asking for more information. Or you could search on Google for the company website to find out more about them.  In amateur or community groups, you may be expected to take part in group script readings, from the show script, as your audition.

There are common pitfalls when auditioning. I always expect auditionees to arrive on time, show respect for others in the room (so not playing on phones/ ipods, eating a McDonalds, talking loudly over those auditioning, taking the mick out of those auditioning, etc), and to bring a pen and a diary. 
Always bear in mind that not everyone can have the lead roles. It is not a slight on your acting ability. Usually a director is also taking into consideration how well you might “look the part” – so for example, a ten year old girl could not hope to be considered for the role of an elderly gentleman, however well she read the part- and will cast according to physical appearance described or suggested by the script, coupled with the actors ability.  I also look at the apparent respect and good manners shown towards others and the rehearsal space, even when the person is not in the group of people currently in an audition reading.

If you are not cast in a huge role, and are offered a smaller one, then put all the energy and effort you can into that. A story is often told in our group about a show seen by some members where an “extra” who had no lines at all, but who was on stage a lot, almost stole the show from the leads, by their superb acting and who impressed a lot of people.

While some people level the comment at some amateur theatre groups that directors or groups have “favourites”, this is not the case with us. We look simply at someones overall suitability for the roles in the show, and as part of the team. Sometimes a new member may get a lead, sometimes a veteran member. You can never tell.  Some groups may not cast new members in lead roles, simply over concerns about the reliability of a new person they do not know – which leads us on to the next paragraph! (and goes back to the previous paragraph about doing any role, large or small, with real effort!)

PLEASE be honest about your availability. Some people audition, then once cast, realise that they are not available on rehearsal days, or that they had a holiday booked on the show days. It is critically important that you do not waste other people’s time if you know you cannot commit. While people do understand if you fall ill or something, timewasting or “just auditioning for a laugh” is likely to get you mentally branded as unreliable by the director, so if you wanted to seriously come back in the future, you may have shot yourself in the foot, as is also the case over tantrums about “not getting the starring role”.

Whether the show is an amateur show, or a professional show, you are still expected to behave in a professional manner and take the audition, and your commitment, seriously. Film and TV companies do approach groups looking for actors and extras (sometimes paid) and so you could have the beginnings of professional opportunities as well. Maintaining a professional attitude from the get-go is not only expected by everyone else in the theatre group (after all, you are hoping to be involved in a theatre production performed to a paying audience) but is good practice for you as well.
And that is the bare bones of good audition practice. You are always welcome to comment with any questions! Next time, B for Being An Actor