Be Seen

My question is how do we get in the door? With 400 other young non-equity girls at every audition, its a fight and struggle to be seen!

Yes, it is. But they key is to be seen. So, how do we do that?

1) You have to keep getting out there.

You have to get out there again and again and again. So much of this business is a matter of who can stay in and keep playing -- and we all know how frustrating that can be. But you have to get your butt up in the morning, make your bed, pay your bills, wash your dishes so you don’t get bugs and go out there and follow your dream.

It’s not always easy, often it’s hard. And sometimes it can be downright soul-busting.

But chances are, no one in your family is saying, “YOU HAVE TO BE AN ARTIST!” In fact, if your family is anything like my family they probably told you to pick something more “practical” or “easier.” Or said you should, “at least get a career to fall back on.”

My mother told me I’d make a great secretary. This was the 1980s. Then she asked me, “What are you going to do if you don’t make it as an actor?” At the time, Ronald Regan was president and John Paul the Second was Pope –- and both of them were former actors. So I told my mom if acting didn’t work out I’d be Pope or President.

You made the decision to work as an artist. Get up, get out there and keep doing it. You’ll be amazed at how determination and stick-to-it-ness can pay off.

2) You need to find/make opportunities to audition.

Audition as much as possible. Crack open that Backstage, read the audition boards at training programs, do the online casting sites -- get out there, do your auditions. Do audition seminars, take classes, participate in workshops, all that. Do it. You have to get good at auditioning. It’s all about auditions. A major casting director told me, “90% of actors don’t audition well.” Well, I don’t know about you, but if 90% of actors don’t audition well I’m going to put myself in the 10% range that kicks ass at auditions.

3) You need to perform.

Obviously practicing your auditioning can help you nab a gig. And if you’re lucky, that gig might allow you to ”really do your thing”, or maybe allow you to do something close to “your thing” – or maybe it’s just a job to put on your resume. Hey, a gig’s a gig.

But sometimes, you want people to see you the way you want them to see you. You have to show them what you do on your own terms.

You have to make your own show.

You have to pick material and pay for it, or write material, hire a director, rent rehearsal space, rent performance space, beg, borrow and steal your props and costumes and do a million other things you didn’t even know you had to do -- and then you put on a show! (Oh, and you have to get people to see the show.)

Sounds like a lot of work? It is! Doing your own show, especially if you’re developing your own material, is unbelievably challenging. It’s also immensely rewarding. It’s worth every second of hard work, because in the end you have created it. For better or worse, that show is your baby, your own little brain baby.

4) Maintain an online presence.

So many casting directors really love the computer -- they’ll ask, “are you on Youtube? I’ll check you out there.” I’m not kidding. So, as someone who needs to establish an online presence I say to you, “Uh, establish an online presence.” In all actuality I’m just shopping to get a website made. Oy.

5) Check your e-mail!

Cheese and crackers, check your e-mail every weekday at least once! And if you change your e-mail address you need to let people know! People can't see you if they can't find you.

6) Stay in there

Overall, you just need to stay in there. You won’t get in the door if you’re not knocking on it.

The Mighty Wallkill River

Hey everybody! We had some wacky weather up at the house this past week -- flooding and such. And while the river didn’t come into the house (Nice river! Good river!) it does take a great deal of time to put the contents of your house up on cinder blocks and tie down items in your yard.

That said, I’m catching up on memorizing lines this week and doing my taxes. So, if you write in with questions or comments or observations I’ll be sure to get back to you toot sweet.

Otherwise I won’t be the posting queen, I’m just playing catch-up.

From Superhero to Junkie

How do you prepare for an audition for a role that is so completely the opposite of who you are. I'm auditioning for a film student to come into their class and rehearse scenes from the film "Magnolia." I'm auditioning for Claudia, a disturbed woman who has a serious drug problem and who is completely high and a mess in the scene. How do I even begin to play a junkie? I am reluctant to go back and watch the actual film. Help!? thanks!

Well, I’m going to steal an answer from Jack Plotnick – not verbatim, but what I remember of what he says on his website. (More on Jack in a minute.)

Remember when you were a kid, and you pretended to be a superhero? You didn’t go all method actor, you grabbed a towel and used it as a cape and ran around jumping off furniture and you were a superhero! You know what a superhero is, you know how to play superhero. (www.jackplotnick.com)

So now you get to play junkie! Ah, how times change as we grow up. Look, I figure you’ve been hung over, right? Most likely? I’d start there and go with that. I also happen to know that you smoke, right? Uh-huh, you do. So don’t pretend like you have to research addiction. Any time you’re down to your last cigarette you’re thinking about buying your next pack.

It’s only as hard as we make it. Run out there and play.

Well, I’m back to memorizing lines for my existential hell! Enjoy your day!