5 posts tagged “audition notice”

You recently auditioned for a role and the casting director was so impressed that they want to see you again! Congrats! Getting a callback is great validation for a performer. It means that out of the hundreds of people that the casting director initially auditioned, you were among a small few that really stood out.

While the casting director typically selects a handful of people out of hundreds that he or she thinks would be most suitable for lead and supporting roles – it’s rare that the casting director gets the final say. When you go to your callback, you’ll most likely audition in front of high powered decision makers such as network executives if you’re auditioning for a role on a television show, advertising executives if you’re auditioning for a commercial, or the director if you’re auditioning for a film. Additionally, you may even have more than one callback.

This is your shot to land the role, so make sure you take the opportunity seriously. In order to make the most of your callback:

• Arrive early and ask if there have been any changes to the script. Unfortunately actors can spend hours practicing material they’ve received in advance, only to get to an audition and learn that the material has been revised. If you arrive early, you give yourself an opportunity to prepare for issues like this.

• Don’t alter your look. You don’t have to wear the same thing you wore to the initial audition (though many people do), but you want to ensure the casting director remembers you, and that you reflect the same image that you did initially because based on the fact that you’ve been called back, that’s what the casting staff is looking for.

• Try to get a copy of the entire script so that you have a better understanding of who the character is.

• Be friendly, upbeat, positive and professional. If you’re auditioning in front of the director, he or she will not only be evaluating your talent, but also if you’re the type of performer they will want to work with for the duration of the project.

If you don’t land the job, take it all in stride. By securing a callback you’ve proved that you have something really special and others are sure to see it as you continue auditioning for other roles. Additionally, the influential industry executives who you auditioned for during your callback may be interested in calling you in for upcoming projects.

Curious how other performers have handled the pressure of callbacks? Log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and connect with other members in our community forum.

Ever wonder how your talent compares to other aspiring performers? Participating in competitions is a great way to gauge how you measure up in the industry, as well as increase your confidence and get additional performing experience. It’s also a great way to get exposure and boost your resume.

To make the most out of your competition experience:

Target competitions that are geared towards helping performers launch a professional career – especially competitions that either have celebrity judges or have a reputation of being well attended by industry professionals.

Make sure you’re aware of all scheduled deadlines, rehearsals and performances. You don’t want to blow your big break because you didn’t get your application in on time or because you missed your audition.

Be sure that you’re aware of all of the requirements - especially any required fees - so that you’re prepared. Whether it’s a singing, modeling, acting or dance competition, be sure that you have everything you’ll need from your repertoire to your wardrobe – and if you don’t have something, make sure you take care of it well in advance.

Take advantage of opportunities to network. Remain focused on the competition, but be sure that you build relationships with participants, staff and other individuals that could potentially help you in the future.

Have fun! Winning isn’t everything. If you don’t win your first competition, there are lots more out there. And with all of the experience that you get from your first competition, you’ll be even more prepared for the next.

For a list of talent competitions, visit our ‘Talent Resources’ page at http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com. You can also visit our community forum to ask other Star Search Casting members which competitions they’ve participated in to help them boost their careers. Good luck!

on NBC. Normally his day is consumed with auditions, but when I talked to him he had actually just finished working a 9-5 job at a local Los Angeles office and was preparing to go and teach an evening acting class.

The Writers Guild of America strike has left many actors all over the country out of work, and uncertain of what's ahead for them in the near future. With the number of auditions dramatically reduced and a number of projects on hold, many actors are taking temporary jobs so that they don't deplete their savings while they await the outcome of the strike.

So what's an actor to do? For many it's a toss up. According to SAG, actors who were in the middle of the project cannot be placed on unpaid hiatus. Instead the studios must either: 1) terminate the actor; 2) put series regulars on hold at full salary; or 3) suspend the actors for a period of up to five weeks at half pay.

For other actors who weren't contracted for a role at the time of the strike, it seems they may have a lot of idle time on their hands indefinitely. If you're an actor and you're out of work due to the strike, don't get discouraged. In your free time, perhaps consider:

• Taking or teaching an acting class
• Trying your hand at standup comedy to sharpen your comedic skills
• Volunteering at a local organization
• Supporting the writers by joining the picket line

Some may view the lull as evidence of the tumultuous nature of the industry but every industry experiences downturns. Just ask any real estate agent or dot com investor. All we can do is wait it out. In the meantime, there are still lots of projects that are not being affected by the strike. Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com for a list of casting notices for projects that are forging ahead with production.

While we pride ourselves on being a resource for aspiring entertainers, there are also lots of Star Search Casting members who have already achieved enormous success. I like to spotlight these members occasionally as a reminder to others of the opportunities that are available in the entertainment industry and how attainable success in this business can be.

Melanie Tillbrook is a Star Search Casting Silver member currently residing in Miami, Florida. Her page has been viewed nearly 60,000 times by casting directors, agents and other visitors. Melanie, like many other Star Search Casting members, has a number of interests and has pursued opportunities in music, dance, acting and modeling. She’s even currently working on developing her own independent music label, Fire House Entertainment.

Melanie has gained a tremendous amount of exposure through the numerous jobs that she has booked. She has appeared in a number of national publications including Maxim, Super Street Bike Magazine, and Sister 2 Sister in both editorials and advertisements. You also may have seen her in the music video for “I Won’t Tell” by Fat Joe and J. Holiday, on the cover of the calendar published by Muscle Mustang magazine, or on The Best Damn Sports Show or the Home Shopping Network. She’s developed an extensive resume, which includes experience in television, music videos, runway shows, calendars, commercials and more. Not only has Melanie pursued opportunities in music, acting, modeling and dance, she’s excelled at all of them! In fact, in addition to singing in the choir at Florida State University, she also studied both ballet and modern dance there and was a backup dancer for Snoop Dogg on the Projekt Revolution Tour. Pretty impressive, right?

In addition to her past accomplishments, Melanie has lots in store for her in 2008, including hosting a local Miami television show called Spread the Word TV. To her credit, Melanie has managed to juggle all of her success while simultaneously attending college to earn her degree in business. We want to congratulate Melanie on all of her achievements and wish her the best as she continues to excel in the entertainment industry!

If you’re inspired by Melanie Tillbrook’s success and are eager to pursue a career as an actor, dancer, singer or model, visit www.StarSearchCasting.com today to gain access to tons of opportunities that can help to propel your career. You can also browse profiles of other Star Search Casting members who are proving they have what it takes to make their mark on the entertainment industry!