When In Doubt....

When in doubt, show up early.

Like, really early.

Like, two hours early.

Today's audition was for a regional summer stock theater in California and I had grossly underestimated the number of actors who wanted to work there. I've never seen an equity audition quite like this, with so many folks wanting appointments that the line circled three times and then went out in the hallway, to the room next door.

I had an alternate number, thinking I'd have enough time to go to the gym, grab lunch, and come back. What are the chances that 20 people who woke up super early to get their appointments would decide they weren't interested and not show?

Highly likely, as it turns out. My number was called in the first hour, and of course, I was not there.

Second lesson learned: When in doubt, wait. Park your butt down and wait.

Thankfully they are having a second day of auditions tomorrow, and I will get there super early so I can have an appointment, and be there for it.

PS: An amazing tool for battling audition blues is to watch Tony acceptance speeches on you tube. This is my favorite one of all time.

PPS: Any readers out there have a diva/rolling suitcase that they take on auditions? Any recommendations?

So Many Princesses

Today was my seventh or eighth audition for Disney. I've auditioned for the parks, the cruises, the international parks.....and out of all those auditions, I've only been called back once. Its very frustrating because you think you fit well for a role, and whatever outside circumstances disqualifies you. Maybe my voice wasn't the right fit. Maybe I am an inch too short. Maybe I am an inch too tall. Maybe I look too multi-ethnic, but not ethnic enough to fit the newer princess roles.

Its very frustrating. The thing about these auditions is that a lot of people show up, often traveling several hundred miles to get there. I know I did in the beginning; I've traveled to Boston and Orlando, and taken several bus trips to New York for those open calls. I'd estimate I've spent 24 hours of my life auditioning at various open calls for Disney.

And after all of that, I think that I am not the correct type for their positions. I have several friends and acquaintances that have worked at the parks and on the cruises. I've often wondered, "Why them and not me?" but I think that it just wasn't meant to be.

When you go to an open call, there are no equity audition rules, although the Disney contracts are equity. This means that equity members *do not* get to go first or make an appointment, and auditions are done on a first come, first serve basis. As many equity members as there are in the city, there are twice as many non-equity members, vying for the same jobs. I had a nice reminder or what it's like to be non-equity in New York City. I found myself getting oddly nervous right before going into the room. There's all this weight of the last three hours of your life spent waiting, and that you want to make the best of your audition, otherwise the day is wasted. I am not very good at waiting. This, I need to improve.

Vegan Feast!

Last night I saw a great documentary, Vegucated, on the benefits of going vegan. The documentary follows three New Yorkers on their journey to go vegan over six weeks.



Inspired by the movie, I took out my weekday stress in my kitchen; whipping up a vegan feast!

I found myself temping in an office today. As soon as I start to feel discouraged about my performing career, there is nothing quite like sitting in front of a computer for 9 hours to make you appreciate your life as an artist!

I ravenously tore through the cabinets, and ended up with a red bean/veggie burger creation. Whipping out my one true love, my food processor, I dumped my leftover onions, peppers, and beans and gave it a whirl. After pan-frying the bean patties, I smothered them in soy cheese and sauteed swiss chard, ontop of crusty, multi-grain bread.

Oh, wait, it's not over yet:

Banana bread! Again, just using leftover bananas and flour, plus some mix-ins like apples, raisins, and chocolate chips, I have an entirely vegan cake at my disposal.

I inherited stress baking/cooking from my mother. Now that I've exhausted all my energy in the kitchen, I'm too sleepy to go out tonight :) Just a much-needed night in with my book.

Double Grrzzz

Fact: living and auditioning in NYC is really, freaking hard. Fun, but exhausting.

This is my first time going full-hog, attending every audition I can, and treating it like a full time job. The problem is that although it takes up all of my energy, planning, preparing, and going to the auditions, I'm not getting paid. #grrr

I may even be putting more than 40 hrs a week towards this full-time auditioning thing, and I see other girls doing it, too; but how the heck do they find a job that is flexible enough to let them audition around their jobs? Since I don't want to work evenings, I feel forced to choose between working or auditioning. I don't want to quell my chances of auditioning and eventual artistic employment because my temp position is 9-5.

Yesterday I had an alternate number for a popular, off-broadway audition. I missed them calling my name by about 10 minutes. I went back to the end of the alternate line, but sadly they didn't get to me before the end of the day. At least I got free tickets to see an off-Broadway play, which made the day feel fruitful.

This morning I'm hauling my tired butt out early to sign up for an appointment later today. Then I'll swing back to my hood, go to the gym, prepare and get ready for this afternoon's audition. I have a trial voice lesson with a teacher this afternoon, followed by a free movie screening that I'm really excited about.

The weekend is just one day away...

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut

....and sometimes you don't.

I got overwhelmed today. I showed up at a chorus call, knowing full well that it would be crowded, and a long wait. I got my number, sat down in the sweltering room, knowing that I'd have a two + hour wait until I'd get seen. Looking around the room, suddenly my clothes seemed inadequate. I was wrinkled, and sweating. I was wearing clothes that were too dark and heavy, and when I looked around, the other girls were beautiful and in light dresses. I saw my reflection in the mirror. My makeup was too harsh, my hair too messy, my curves just a little too curvy. New York girls are all so skinny, and I felt like behemoth amidst all of these perfectly primed ladies.

The room started to feel a little too small, perched there among 200 girls with my feet aching from the uncomfortable heels I wore. It felt like the walls were closing in, and the volume of chattering girls, like birds, was all too much.

I left.

I figured if I wasn't feeling right, I wouldn't do my best. It wouldn't get me closer to that job. Let one of the other girs who wants it more than I do today have my 16 bar slot.

I can't really explain what happened. The past week I've been home, its been full speed ahead. Today I just couldn't do it.

Being an actor in New York is anything but glamourous. Its mostly smoke and mirrors, in the form of a heavy backpack stuffed with makeup and clothing.

Today I needed a mental-health-break. Tomorrow I will try again.

Because all I can do is try.

Chorus Call Chaos

Another day, another audition. I have this new motto (that I've actually scrawled out on an index card and tacked on my wall): "Try harder. All you can do is try."

So in the spirit of trying harder, I'm trying to attend every open call I can that has a part reasonably within my limits.

Today's chorus call was for the Broadway revival of an old chestnut, which was actually the first musical I was ever apart of (Hint: Starts with an A and rhymes with fanny).

There were over 450 girls on the pre-sign up sheet; they had maxed out all their potential appointments, not to mention at least twenty equity members not on the list and an entire gaggle of EMCs. To cut down the number of auditionees, since so many of us actually showed, they "typed"us.

They line the girls up and parade them into the audition room in groups of twenty. As you stand there, merely presenting what you look like, they sort through the stack of headshots and decide who'd they like to see audition, based on their "type" or look.

I arrived at the audition about ten minutes early to hear the monitor announce that they were indeed typing. Of course no one wants to go on the subway and walk around freezing cold Manhattan in their cocktail dresses, so as soon as they made the announcement, it was a mad flurry of 400 girls getting dressed. Every corner of the bathroom, hallway, waiting room was strewn with coats, heels, curling irons, makeup....you get the picture.

I managed to get dressed, makeup'd, and comb my hair within ten minutes. It was a miracle.

I slapped my lipstick on just in time to join the type-casting parade.

They didn't want to see me; thus I was "typed-out."

On one hand, this is a frustrating process because its entirely out of your hands. Its based solely on your appearance and if that matches up with their imagined look for the production. On the other hand, it keeps everyone from wasting their time, if their look isn't compatible with the production.

This is my second experience with getting typed for a Broadway Production contract. New lesson learned today: Get ready at home before you turn up for a Broadway Chorus Call.

At first I felt a little disappointed that I didn't even get seen. I lugged a heavy bag into the city, I woke up early, I commuted in mid-town. Then I went back to my mantra: all I can do is try. I tried today, and so my work is done.

Why Aren't People Showing Up?

I've been back in the city for less than a week and have noticed a few auditioning trends:

Upwards of 350 people sign up for Chorus Calls and only 50 show up. Even at the Principle Auditions that I attended for the agency call, 30 folks on the alternate list didn't show.

It seems like every unemployed actor in the city signs up for these auditions "just in case," and only a fraction of them show up. Some people have their friends sign them up. I heard the name of a girl I know from Maryland have her name called. She is currently in a show and it would be virtually impossible for her to show up to this audition.

A bit about equity chorus call procedures; they post the list in the general office a week in advance, giving you the opportunity to sign up for an audition. Unlike the Principle Auditions, these are first come first seen, and as many as 400 folks can sign up their name. On the day of the audition, the monitor calls the names of the people on the list, in the order that they signed up. If you are not present when they call your name, you have to go to the end of the list.

I went to a regional theater's chorus call yesterday, and I was number 292 on the list. I was number 40 to get seen, so I was essentially seen within the hour. This is great for me, but where are all these other 250 women who wanted to save a spot at this audition? They could be at work, or at other appointments, but I think its more likely they wanted to sleep in.

I've also been submitting for auditions via email, and for the first time, I've been granted appointments. I'm excited to have my first pre-screened audition appointment this week, and see how the audition experience compares to an open call.