An Audition Story

I had a 5:20 audition yesterday at a Big Name Casting Company, for a national telecommunications commercial.  I was psyched: hopefully my recent momentum can carry me through to booking, impressing this too-quiet agency, and get me close to SAG status.

I hadn’t been to this casting office in a while, and I remembered from my last visit that they’d moved.  So I googled them, and since three listings showed the same address… I figured that’s the one.

Turns out it was wrong.  I ended up calling my agent, because the 411 listing was also wrong.  Now I was panicking – with a 5:20 slot, surely I was the last person for the day… and if I was late, would I even get in???

LESSON #1:  Google maps isn't always right.

I arrived just as the CD was closing the door on the last group. 

“Ok, fiiine”, he sighed heavily, “You can be the last one.”
“Want me to sign in first?” I asked.
“No”, he said with so much weariness – I at once felt incredibly stupid, and yet sorry for the poor, drained man.

The CD stumbled through the set-up:  the women had 4 “scenes” performing various tasks (i.e.: get married, go into labor) all while reacting to the guys.  It was a cute script, a challenging audition and a potentially lucrative gig – it was like the Holy Grail of auditions!  And like Indiana Jones I’d managed to slide in just as the cave was closing.  Hopefully a similar combination of luck and skill would help me seal the deal.

Unfortunately, since no dudes remained, us last 3 women had to react to an empty chair as the CD read from behind camera.  One woman ahead of me said it was really hard working opposite an imaginary actor…

“Don’t think about it,” I told myself, “Just do it.”  No worries about being the last one in, having no partner, arriving late, or about how the CD was in a dismal mood… I “get” this role and I’m going to sail over each hurdle…

LESSON #2:  Be aware of potential problems, but if there's nothing you can do about them – then whatevs.

As the last one in I so desperately wanted to put this exhausted CD at ease by joking a little bit to lighten the mood – but you don’t try to pet an animal that's in pain.  The nicest thing I could do for him was to be quick, normal and good.  And I think I did just that.   And at the end, the CD smiled.

LESSON #3:  Sometimes the best impression you can make is by not trying to make any sort of an impression.

Sure, it could have been because his day was over, but I’m pretty sure I did a good job – because I had fun and I didn’t even notice the empty chair.

I really hope for a call-back, but I’ll try to put it from my mind…

--Susan Atwood

Comments

[Justine]

Sounds like you handled it really well. It's easy to let nerves + stress get the best of us in those kinds of situations, but you didn't, so good for you. Sending good vibes that you get some good news soon. :)

[susan]

Thanks - and, for the record... I can't stop thinking about it! It's driving me nuts... need to focus on something else... like picking headhsots maybe? Ha...

[Justine]

Letting go (not thinking about it) is definitely always the hard part! :-) But yeah headshots should be a good diversion -- and practical, too. :-)