Sunday, August 16, 2009

Trying Again

So it's been a little over a year since I last posted. I never intended start a blog and then forget about it for a year...so I'm admitting defeat, and just going to start over. No promises that this time around I'll be any better, but we'll see what happens.

Too much has happened in the past year for me to recount every little detail. But here are the big details, theatre company is still going strong, finishing its second season with every intention of beginning a third. We are in the middle of an overly ambitious season that gave us 6 mainstage shows and 4-5 fringe or alternative shows. I spent January to March in rehearsals and back in the booth. This summer I had the pleasure of just supervising SM's through our second and third mainstage productions. After labor day I'll find myself back in the booth until Thanksgiving.

I ran company member auditions recently and thought it might be fun to share some do's and don'ts of auditioning actors -- well alright mainly don'ts -- they are way more funny.

1. Don't ignore the person greeting you, she (or he) probably has more influence in casting decisions than you would think. For example, one of the first questions I'm asked by our artistic directors is "how was this person in the waiting room?" If I say they were rude, ignored me or did anything odd, that usually means you won't be hearing from us.

2. Don't try to kiss my hand -- I don't know you and I really don't want you to do that -- see number 1 -- it will not get you cast.

3. Don't change in front of me -- our building has a bathroom, please use it.

4. Don't give me your life story -- I don't care that you once rode a bus from Atlanta to Columbus -- now if something exciting happened on the bus and it's relevant to share at the time I'm more than willing to listen, but in general it's not something I need to know right now.

5. Don't show up and then vanish 3 minutes later -- I remember your name and you will not be called in again -- that's just odd -- at least tell me you don't want to stay.

6. In fact if you confirm your audition with me I expect you to show up, if you can't make it please email or call. I typically give three chances, if you no show all three times you will never be called back for anything we do again.

7. Please don't wear pants with holes in them I have no desire to see anything from your nether regions.

It would seem to me that the above things would be self-explanatory and that you really shouldn't have to tell people not to do them, and yet each one of them has happened, most of the more than once!