Last Friday, my partner and I auditioned for principal roles in a web commercial. We were paired with a 10-year-old boy and for seven minutes or so, the three of us became family. When we walked into the room together, the director said we were a “nice looking” one. He asked us to line up next to each other and slate, so we did, and then we ran through the scene a few times. We haven’t been called back yet, but it was a really fun experience nonetheless—and much more so than my very first audition a few months ago!
The first time, my nerves were a complete mess. I thought I was headed into the casting agency for an in-and-out go-see, but I had to stand there in my little shorts and tank-top while a video camera tilted up and down and zoomed in and out as I rambled off heartfelt responses to a handful of questions about “real beauty” and the brand’s executives sat quietly in the back of the room just beyond the lights.
Shortly thereafter, my teachers at Internet Voice Coach shared some sage, yet simple, advice: never, ever tell the director it’s your first time! In doing so, you suddenly become the director’s worst nightmare; they need talent that they’re confident in—someone who will get the job done.
I didn’t book that job, but I didn’t let it get me down; my first audition was finally behind me, and I was free of those first-time jitters! More than that though, when I first started training for voice overs, one of my coaches told us not to take it personally when we don’t book gigs. This is an industry of selection—not rejection. She went on to say that most people are rooting for you to succeed; and if you don’t book a job, it just means that someone else was better suited for the role.
Keeping that pearl of wisdom in mind makes the submission process less daunting, too. I frequently scour the talent section of Craigslist for opportunities—that’s how I found out about The Vagina Monologues and my upcoming movie audition; and I finally registered with Casting Networks at SFCasting.com, so I’m able to submit for as many roles as I want in the Bay Area for a minimal monthly fee. There are a handful of other casting agencies in The City that are on my list, too.
Some of you may be wondering why I’m auditioning for screen and print jobs. Well, in a smaller market like the Bay Area, it makes sense to go to casting calls for print, TV, and film because it immediately increases your opportunities for work. Many of the established voiceover artists I’ve met around here started in voiceover and branched out into screen and print (or vice versa), simply because it afforded them more work.
Do you work outside of voice over acting? Do you have audition tips? Share them with us!
Photo from Microsoft Office Images.
I just came across this on Twitter via actor & acting coach Ken Garcia (@asooc): “Actors, audition to create a reputation, not to book the role. You have no idea what goes on in casting. Do your thing and let it go.”