Making Auditions more user friendly
Wed, 7 June 2006, 06:36 pmalanm16 posts in thread
Making Auditions more user friendly
Wed, 7 June 2006, 06:36 pmI've often found that attending auditions with a new theatre group can be quite daunting. I discussed this with my fellow cast members in Darlington's upcoming "Table Manners" (a must to see incidently), very few people turned up for the auditions and of those who did (I'm talking about me here)the welcome was not what you would call 'friendly'. That is not to say that people were rude or unfriendly, just that they weren't warm and welcoming. Having said that, they are a great and committed bunch to work with and are very friendly now we have all got to know each other (just like normal life I suppose).
Perhaps if more effort were made to make people feel at home during auditions (this probably doesn't apply to those who a) know a large proportion of people on Perth's theatre scene or b) those who are supremely confident in their ability and within themselves)more people would be encouraged to come again or bring their friends with them, thereby increasing the pool of available actors.
While we are on the subject, I've often thought that a day's training, group workshop or some sort of dummy run might be a winner, at least it would give the first timers (and a lot of others, me included) some hints on what to do to ensure that we get the part that we would like, or a part anyway. It could be made into a fun day for all and help raise the standard, after all isn't that what it's all about.
I'll be most interested to see what other people think of this.
Audition Stresses
Thu, 15 June 2006, 03:05 pmId agree with the advice of 'Chill.' yet, it is incredibly hard to put into practice, expecially if you are a nervous sort of person. Group Auditions, in my opinion, are fabulous. I have only been in one real group ensemble audition and rehearsal process before we were cast into roles, and i found it the most rewarding. We all started on very equal ground and it made the whole process without a hierarchy, which can often happen in rehearsals etc... with the hierarchy between leads and extras. Which is an incredibly unnecessary ego stroking excersise in my opinion.
Auditions are daunting, no matter how many of them you have been to, how many times you have been turned down, or how many times you have been given that desired role. It doesnt make it any easier... Familiar faces at auditions CAN help, and thats a huge part of the industry... The good ole "Its not WHAT you know, but WHO you know" and its true - in perth its necessary. Perth is A SMALL city with a very tight little theatre/acting network. Everyone is connected by one degree of seperation at the very most. If you dont know someone personally, you have probably seen, or at least heard of them or their last project.
That is the best advice i was ever given when i started auditioning, was to be as friendly and personable as possible with not the auditioners but the auditionees. Because it is these people that you will constantly work with for your career in that city and often nationally also. The directors come and go, but that core group of actors, although it changes, it changes slowly and over time. Its good to know the ppl you are working with and auditioning with, it can ease some of the anxiety, and if you dont get the part there is someone to have a coffee with and a chat afterwards. which is always good. a good debrief is often underrated.
:)
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