New Poll - Frequent Tryers
Thu, 18 Mar 2004, 10:02 pmcrgwllms6 posts in thread
New Poll - Frequent Tryers
Thu, 18 Mar 2004, 10:02 pmNew poll topic: How many auditions have you attended in the past 12 months?
And a question for discussion -
Are auditions the most important part of getting cast?
the Poll-tergeist
And a question for discussion -
Are auditions the most important part of getting cast?
the Poll-tergeist
Re: Poll results - Frequent Tryers III
Sun, 16 May 2004, 06:07 pmPoll results - "What's most important in getting an acting role?"
290 participants in 3 weeks
Doing a good audition - 146 votes = 50%
Looking the part - 38 votes = 13%
Having a good reputation - 32 votes = 11%
knowing the director - 28 votes = 9%
extortion - 18 votes = 6%
sex appeal - 12 votes = 4%
pure luck - 11 votes = 3%
pestering the director to cast you - 5 votes =1%
50% say that a good audition is the most important contributing factor. The other contributing factors were apportioned roughly as you'd expect, with perhaps a larger than expected number believing extortion is the only way they'll get a gig..! (Is that from actual experience, or their perception of others, I wonder?)
Yet the previous polls suggested that most of us do very few auditions. If it's that crucial, I guess that's also why the polls also said most don't do so many gigs a year.
But IS auditioning really as crucial as most assume? My personal opinion is that having a good reputation should be far higher on the list. The vast majority of work I've had has been offered on reputation above the audition....usually because I would never have been asked to audition in the first place unless my reputation and CV / experience had already made an impression. And really, the only reason to do an audition is to improve your reputation...showing what you are capable of.
Knowing the director is a big advantage...but only if you have a good reputation with them. Pestering the director to cast me has worked on at least two occasions with different directors, but only because my reputation worked in my favour and I was very careful not to be pissing them off through my persistence..!
Obviously, a reputation is something you develop over many years, so for people just starting the audition is the main door in. But all the time, that reputation will grow and affect the rest of your career....previous threads have talked about all the different qualities good actors bring to their work (work ethic, reliability, good people skills), besides the things that are shown at auditions (acting, looks, voice, sex appeal). A poor reputation in some qualities will tarnish your work opportunities even if your audition qualities are up to par. A good audition is always important, and is the way to introduce yourself to new directors, but in the long run they become a less important part of the total package.
Things like 'looking the part' is something you have very little control of, so it's hardly worth worrying about. For some gigs, looking the part may overrule other factors, and sometimes your other qualities will impress the directors even if they had a different 'look' in mind. In my experience, it's actually rather rare that a theatre show has a definite, rigid, look in mind that they won't waver from. My guess is it's much different for film/TV. Either way, concentrate your efforts on improving what you can, and don't sweat the rest.
All the best with your efforts.
The Poll-tergeist
290 participants in 3 weeks
Doing a good audition - 146 votes = 50%
Looking the part - 38 votes = 13%
Having a good reputation - 32 votes = 11%
knowing the director - 28 votes = 9%
extortion - 18 votes = 6%
sex appeal - 12 votes = 4%
pure luck - 11 votes = 3%
pestering the director to cast you - 5 votes =1%
50% say that a good audition is the most important contributing factor. The other contributing factors were apportioned roughly as you'd expect, with perhaps a larger than expected number believing extortion is the only way they'll get a gig..! (Is that from actual experience, or their perception of others, I wonder?)
Yet the previous polls suggested that most of us do very few auditions. If it's that crucial, I guess that's also why the polls also said most don't do so many gigs a year.
But IS auditioning really as crucial as most assume? My personal opinion is that having a good reputation should be far higher on the list. The vast majority of work I've had has been offered on reputation above the audition....usually because I would never have been asked to audition in the first place unless my reputation and CV / experience had already made an impression. And really, the only reason to do an audition is to improve your reputation...showing what you are capable of.
Knowing the director is a big advantage...but only if you have a good reputation with them. Pestering the director to cast me has worked on at least two occasions with different directors, but only because my reputation worked in my favour and I was very careful not to be pissing them off through my persistence..!
Obviously, a reputation is something you develop over many years, so for people just starting the audition is the main door in. But all the time, that reputation will grow and affect the rest of your career....previous threads have talked about all the different qualities good actors bring to their work (work ethic, reliability, good people skills), besides the things that are shown at auditions (acting, looks, voice, sex appeal). A poor reputation in some qualities will tarnish your work opportunities even if your audition qualities are up to par. A good audition is always important, and is the way to introduce yourself to new directors, but in the long run they become a less important part of the total package.
Things like 'looking the part' is something you have very little control of, so it's hardly worth worrying about. For some gigs, looking the part may overrule other factors, and sometimes your other qualities will impress the directors even if they had a different 'look' in mind. In my experience, it's actually rather rare that a theatre show has a definite, rigid, look in mind that they won't waver from. My guess is it's much different for film/TV. Either way, concentrate your efforts on improving what you can, and don't sweat the rest.
All the best with your efforts.
The Poll-tergeist