You should be on Broadway?

Early on in my career, when I was entirely focused on theater, I met with a manager who gave me really solid advice, that I was way too green to understand or use.

"There's no difference between you and the guys in the chorus of every Broadway show, except that they think they belong in Broadway show, and you don't."

Like a lot of young actors, I wasn't confident in my chops. I had decided that the smartest course of action was to work non-eq job, slowly build up my skills and resume, eventually get my Equity card, and then focus on Broadway. That plan may have been bad...

I might have decided to stay in the city, go to every Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour open call (EPAs, Chorus Calls), while taking dance classes, and struggling to pay my rent.

Is it more valuable to spend 6 months in Ohio, doing West Side Story, or 6 months in New York, auditioning for everything, making connections, and starting a career? It's a great question! Maybe I'd be a Broadway star now.

I try not to live with regrets... but this manager's plan for me might have worked.
Have you noticed that most stars were stars already by the time they were 25. 21, even?

I just wanted to share this thought with new actors. Maybe you should stay in town, rather than taking any job just to have a job.
This week you could go to open calls for:

8/29/2011 in New York, NY GHOST BROTHERS - ECC/Sing - Hurricane Plans	More...
Alliance Theatre Company Atlanta, GA Chorus LORT Non-Rep Seeking: PLEASE SEE BREAKDOWN FOR INFO RE: HURRICANE IRENE CONTINGENCY PLAN. Singers (M/F). Ch... Posted: 8/26/2011
8/29/2011 in New York, NY RX – EPA - Hurricane Plans	More...
Primary Stages New York, NY Principal ANTC Seeking: PLEASE SEE BREAKDOWN FOR INFO RE: HURRICANE IRENE CONTINGENCY PLAN. M/F Equity Actors... Posted: 8/26/2011
8/29/2011 in New York, NY NICE WORK IF... - EPA - Hurricane Plans	More...
Roger Berlind, Sonia Friedman New York, NY Principal Production (League) Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details. PLEASE SEE BREAKDOWN FOR INFO RE: HURRICA... Posted: 8/26/2011
8/29/2011 in New York, NY WHITE XMAS - ECC/Dance - Hurricane Plans	More...
Theatre Under The Stars Houston, TX Chorus WCLO Seeking: Ensemble Dancers: Men and women dancers who tap and sing well. PLEASE SEE BREAKDOWN FOR INFO... Posted: 8/26/2011
8/30/2011 in New York, NY KINKY BOOTS The Musical – EPAs	More...
Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig New York, NY Principal Special Agreement Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/16/2011
8/30/2011 in New York, NY HELLO MY BABY – Equity Chorus Calls / Singers	More...
Goodspeed Musicals East Haddam, CT Chorus LORT Non-Rep Seeking: Ensemble Singers who dance: Men and women.... Posted: 8/15/2011
8/30/2011 in New York, NY SOME LOVERS – Equity Principal Auditions	More...
Old Globe Theatre San Diego, CA Principal LORT Non-Rep Seeking: Equity performers (m/f). See breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/17/2011
8/30/2011 in New York, NY NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - EPAs	More...
Roger Berlind, Sonia Friedman New York, NY Principal Production (League) Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/15/2011
8/31/2011 in New York, NY KINKY BOOTS The Musical – EPAs	More...
Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig New York, NY Principal Special Agreement Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/16/2011
8/31/2011 in New York, NY GHOST (A New Musical) – Equity Principal Auditions	More...
Hello Entertainment and Colin Ingra, in association with Par New York, NY Principal Production (League) Seeking: Sam, Molly, Carl and Oda Mae. See Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/22/2011
8/31/2011 in New York, NY NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - EPAs	More...
Roger Berlind, Sonia Friedman New York, NY Principal Production (League) Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/15/2011
8/31/2011 in New York, NY OUTSIDE PEOPLE – Equity Principal Auditions	More...
Vineyard Theatre and Naked Angels New York, NY Principal ANTC Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/15/2011
9/1/2011 in New York, NY KINKY BOOTS The Musical – EPAs	More...
Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig New York, NY Principal Special Agreement Seeking: M/F Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/16/2011
9/1/2011 in New York, NY HELLO MY BABY – Equity Chorus Calls / Dancers	More...
Goodspeed Musicals East Haddam, CT Chorus LORT Non-Rep Seeking: Ensemble Dancers who sing: Men and women. ... Posted: 8/15/2011
9/1/2011 in New York, NY STEEL MAGNOLIAS – Equity Principal Auditions	More...
Harbor Lights Theater Company Staten Island, NY Principal LOA Seeking: Female Equity Actors. Refer to Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/16/2011
9/1/2011 in New York, NY GHOST (A New Musical) – Equity Principal Auditions	More...
Hello Entertainment and Colin Ingra, in association with Par New York, NY Principal Production (League) Seeking: Sam, Molly, Carl and Oda Mae. See Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/22/2011
9/1/2011 in New York, NY BILLY ELLIOT – Equity Principal Auditions / Adults	More...
NETworks Presentations, LLC & Nina Lannan Associates Columbia, MD Principal Short Engagement Touring Agreement Seeking: Adult musical theatre performers (m/f) for the original company of the SETA touring production.... Posted: 8/23/2011
9/2/2011 in New York, NY GHOST (A New Musical) – Equity Principal Auditions	More...
Hello Entertainment and Colin Ingra, in association with Par New York, NY Principal Production (League) Seeking: Sam, Molly, Carl and Oda Mae. See Breakdown for details.... Posted: 8/22/2011
9/2/2011 in New York, NY BILLY ELLIOT – Equity Principal Auditions / Adults	More...
NETworks Presentations, LLC & Nina Lannan Associates Columbia, MD Principal Short Engagement Touring Agreement Seeking: Adult musical theatre performers (m/f) for the original company of the SETA touring production....

Mooooo, part deux. More on Cattle Calls

I received a few questions about my MOOOOOO post 3 weeks ago, sooooooooo here's a follow-up!!

Q: Tie or no tie?
A: Dress for what is appropriate for the role. If you're auditioning for FINCH in How To Succeed, of course - tie (maybe bow tie). If the attire is not obvious, make your best guess. If you are still on the fence - err on the too-formal side.

BUT it is important to dress like yourself. THIS IS WHERE KNOWING YOUR TYPE COMES IN. If you are the type of guy who never-ever wears a suit, you'll look uncomfortable in a suit at an audition. Maybe wear black jeans, with a shirt and blazer. This will give the casting director a much better sense of who you are, while still respecting the show. Hey, chances are you aren't going to book this job (it IS a cattle call), but you will be up in front of her again - and now she is starting to learn what you are all about. This is the first step on getting you into the right roles. Maybe when they're casting Tommy next month they'll remember that guy who awesome, but wasn't quite right for H2$, but would be a great Cousin Kevin.

Q: Heels or no heels?
A: Heels. If you're going in for musical theater, you're going to be among a sea of women. There is a very clear costume: Heels, tight dress to the knee, hair down and lots of make-up. Every woman will look like this.

Here is another piece of advice (which slightly conflicts with the last, but they both apply): "TV/Film is about looking like yourself; Theatre is about looking like everyone else."
By this I mean, if you're auditioning to be a series regular on a prime time drama, they are looking for someone who is unlike anyone on television. Someone new and exciting. In theater, they have solid, preconceived notions about that what each character should be, and look like. If an actor is auditioning for Barfee in Spelling Bee - they will probably cast someone who looks like the guy who played it originally: heavy, long hair, white.


Dressing like they expect you to dress can sometimes be smart. Casting directors have very little imagination, and they are really just trying to find people who are not a high-risk to the production in most cases.

I realize I just said dress like yourself, followed by dress like everyone else. You have to decide for yourself. There is really no wrong answer. The only mistake you can make is feeling uncomfortable in what you're wearing; That will throw off your audition.

Q: Really, I should sing what I love, over what's dead-on appropriate?
A: Yep! There will always be callbacks. You will always get a chance to sing from the score. The cattle call is the ONE place you can call the shots. Sing what you love, and have worked hard on. Don't be dumb about it; don't sing a rock song for a Phantom of The Opera audition, but if it's a judgment call between pieces, go with the one you love.

In summary: Dress like you, sing like you! Show them you, the-great-performer-you-are in the cattle call. But bear in mind that there are expectations. Don't stray so far from the character, that the casting director can't picture you in the role.

Addendum:
If you're auditioning for a season of shows. This how-do-I-present-myself issue really gets actors crazy. "I really want to play Lady McBeth, but I want them to consider me for Little Red in Into The Woods too!" First off - calm down; this should set you free. No one can find one piece that covers that wide variety of characters. (If you can, leave it for me in the comments - I'd like to see it.)
Do what you love! Wear what makes you feel good! If they are casting a whole season, they are looking for confident people who would be fun to spend an entire season with. Don't get bogged down. Do your best piece, and on the way out, say, "I'd love to be considered for Little Red and Lady McB - thanks so much!" Easy.

***For a conference like SETC or IOD, my advice would be dress comfortably, but with respect. I'd say jacket, but no tie, for the men. Id' say dress, with low heels for the women.
But stay within your type! If you're a punk, dress punk, but look clean and smart. If you're a woman who never wears a dress - don't wear a dress. Be you!; You in pants. The only mistake is dressing like someone that you are NOT!

Those damn Meet-and-Greets

Here's some info on how to handle those damn meet-and-greets.




Here are some of my favorite schools:
www.actorsconnection.com
www.oneononenyc.com
www.breakthroughstudios.com
www.thenetworknyc.com
www.theactorsgreenroom.com - a little more expensive, but great

Get on their mailing lists, and see what looks good.

What should I have prepared?

Your repertoire of audition monologues and songs should always be expanding, but here's where you need to start!

Monologues:
Contemporary Comedic
Contemporary Dramatic
Classical

Songs:
16-32 Bars Uptempo Musical Theatre
16-32 Bars Ballad Musical Theatre
16-32 Pop
One whole song you love (probably comedic)

Thoughts? Leave comments here or email me at ActorsWhoMakeMoney@gmail.com