Act Acting » Acting School » OK, So, I auditioned, got a part, now what??!! Long!

OK, So, I auditioned, got a part, now what??!! Long!

Question:

Ron, why is it that every time the flames in alt.acting threaten to turn the curtains to ash, the front door bursts open and you waltz in on a cool breeze with a bucket of water?!? You do this on purpose, don’t you?  The same thing happened 12 months ago.  Geez.

Just blessed with good timing I guess! Congratulations!  ;) Eric & Carla pretty much covered things; the only things I might add would be: 1) The only person you’re competing with is yourself; Don’t try to be ‘as good’ as the guy next to you, try to be as good as you can possibly be right now.  That might sound shallow, but it’s a fundamental that’s so obvious that it becomes the first thing most actors abandon…

I try to do this.  I don’t really pay attention to how the other actors are playing their part, I play mine to the best of my ability, according to instructions from the director.  I have learned to allow the director to direct me, and within my abilties, do what they want, and not worry about anyone else. and, 2) Make a conscious, verbal, rock-solid decision right now to never, EVER lose that enthusiasm.  No matter what happens, no matter how experienced or jaded you may become, always remember exactly WHY you do what you do.  Keep it close to you, and it’ll carry you through the lowest ditches through the highest peaks of an inconsistent and altogether incomparable ride.

(right hand over my heart) I solemnly swear to keep my enthusiam for my new profession.  It is something I have wanted ever since I was a child, and I will always see the theater through the eyes of a child.  It was what I was born to do, it just took me 40 years to figure it out.  If I start to bitch and moan, I trust you all will set me straight.     Break a leg, —Wall

Thanks, Ron Bargoot

Response:

Good luck Ron, Hey give us directions to this theater and maybe we can come to see you. I just got cast in a dinner theater for Fiddler, as Golda. A dream come true. I am very excited about this. Kathy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ron, why is it that every time the flames in alt.acting threaten to turn the curtains to ash, the front door bursts open and you waltz in on a cool breeze with a bucket of water?!? You do this on purpose, don’t you?  The same thing happened 12 months ago.  Geez. Just blessed with good timing I guess! Congratulations!  ;) Eric & Carla pretty much covered things; the only things I might add would be: 1) The only person you’re competing with is yourself; Don’t try to be ‘as good’ as the guy next to you, try to be as good as you can possibly be right now.  That might sound shallow, but it’s a fundamental that’s so obvious that it becomes the first thing most actors abandon… I try to do this.  I don’t really pay attention to how the other actors are playing their part, I play mine to the best of my ability, according to instructions from the director.  I have learned to allow the director to direct me, and within my abilties, do what they want, and not worry about anyone else. and, 2) Make a conscious, verbal, rock-solid decision right now to never, EVER lose that enthusiasm.  No matter what happens, no matter how experienced or jaded you may become, always remember exactly WHY you do what you do.  Keep it close to you, and it’ll carry you through the lowest ditches through the highest peaks of an inconsistent and altogether incomparable ride. (right hand over my heart) I solemnly swear to keep my enthusiam for my new profession.  It is something I have wanted ever since I was a child, and I will always see the theater through the eyes of a child.  It was what I was born to do, it just took me 40 years to figure it out.  If I start to bitch and moan, I trust you all will set me straight. Break a leg, —Wall Thanks, Ron Bargoot

Response:

congrats Ron…I guess that pretty much proves that you aren’t just a dreamer…you are now a dreamer and an actor :)

I keep telling myself "damn, you did it". director’s POV…take it a step at a time…don’t think over everything you have to do before showtime…that’s for the director to worry about…just get everything ready in time for each deadline you are given

Yes, I’m going to have to take this one step at a time.   sounds like a great company to start off with

They seem like a real nice group, very mellow and interested in keeping it fun. Thanks, Ron Bargoot

Response:

Remember this the next time you audition.  THIS is probably what got you the role.  That relaxed, "I’m doing this for the fun of it" attitude. You tend to lose that a bit when you’ve done it for years.  Try to always keep it in the vein, that you’re merely punching a time clock and auditioning should be nothing more than that.

The director did mention when he called me that they were impressed with how relaxed and natural I was on stage.  When I was in school, I was told that I audition well.  I get nervous before I’m on stage, once I’m out there, I’m fine. I still periodically pull John aside and ask if he’s being taxed too much, or what I can do for him.  We’ve been together long enough though, that he’s beginning to even learn my mood swings for each particular show.  Your wife will learn too, but just be open with her about your feelings and what you’re going through.  This is new for you both, so don’t be afraid to be honest with her and share.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can work out something you’ve been chewing on if you discuss it.  John’s even helped me with adjusting my emotional prep when I wasn’t making the connection.

My wife, Lill, has some, uhh, security issues.  She is concerned that this will pull us apart.  I told her I’ve been here for 20 years, where am I going? I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.  I feel like "who are you kidding, you’re no actor". Gillian Anderson said while she was filming the first episode of the "X-Files", she felt that she was so bad, that at any moment, she would be called aside by the director and fired.  This is just normal on ANY first job, and sadly, probably won’t be the last time you feel this.

It’s funny but my friends have more confidence in my abilities than I do.  I guess it will come in time. Just relax.  Don’t pigeon hole yourself into calling yourself a "title", but realize that if acting is something you’ve wanted to do, and someone saw you as being right for a role, then relish it; the time will go quicker than you know. Pick up the book "Audition" by Michael Shurtleff and begin ravenously reading.

Will do. Thanks for the tips, and I’ll keep you all updated. Ron Bargoot

Response:

"Opus (:" wrote *SNIP* *Leave personal problems at the door. *Respect the stage crews.  You depend on them. Please come back when you’re needing advice on your resume’, and we’ll be glad to help.

Hey thanks Opus, I know it wasn’t meant for me but I really really enjoyed that read, I learnt heaps, thanks.

Response:

Ron, why is it that every time the flames in alt.acting threaten to turn the curtains to ash, the front door bursts open and you waltz in on a cool breeze with a bucket of water?!? You do this on purpose, don’t you?  The same thing happened 12 months ago.  Geez. Congratulations!  ;) Eric & Carla pretty much covered things; the only things I might add would be: 1) The only person you’re competing with is yourself; Don’t try to be ‘as good’ as the guy next to you, try to be as good as you can possibly be right now.  That might sound shallow, but it’s a fundamental that’s so obvious that it becomes the first thing most actors abandon…and, 2) Make a conscious, verbal, rock-solid decision right now to never, EVER lose that enthusiasm.  No matter what happens, no matter how experienced or jaded you may become, always remember exactly WHY you do what you do.  Keep it close to you, and it’ll carry you through the lowest ditches through the highest peaks of an inconsistent and altogether incomparable ride. Break a leg, —Wall Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I first posted to this newsgroup, geez, maybe a year ago.  You all gave me some good advice back then, and I promised if anything ever happened with me starting an acting career, I would let you know.  Well, I’m letting you know. snip So, any advice, comments, witty remarks, anything? Thanks,  and I’ll keep you all posted as to my progress, now that I’m an ACTOR!!!

congrats Ron…I guess that pretty much proves that you aren’t just a dreamer…you are now a dreamer and an actor :) director’s POV…take it a step at a time…don’t think over everything you have to do before showtime…that’s for the director to worry about…just get everything ready in time for each deadline you are given sounds like a great company to start off with — eric "all characters portrayed in this post are fictional and should not be confused"

Response:

Hi Ron, Well!  It is SOOOOOOO nice to hear someone else actually excited about acting again!  What a nice post you made.  I loved reading all of your details, and with this group, it’s good that zealous people can remind us from time to time, that THIS is what it’s all about. So I took the part, and now I’m a little scared.  I know I can do it, and they apparently think I can.

Firstly, BREATHE.  I heard Billy Crystal say to Robin Williams on a Comic relief rebroadcast when he flubbed a line he was reading from the teleprompter,  "Relax.  You got the job."  Laughed my ass off, but I tell it to myself at times when I’m feeling very insecure compared to the other actors. It’s just that this was my first audition and I really didn’t expect to get a part.

Remember this the next time you audition.  THIS is probably what got you the role.  That relaxed, "I’m doing this for the fun of it" attitude. You tend to lose that a bit when you’ve done it for years.  Try to always keep it in the vein, that you’re merely punching a time clock and auditioning should be nothing more than that. I don’t think either of us is sure where this will lead.

No one can tell that.  This business is such a crap shoot, that to attempt to tell your fortune’s future is disastrous as well as ulcer-inducing.  Don’t worry about where it might lead.  Right now, the only place it should be leading you, is to rehearsals every night with your mind ready to work.  That’s all that should matter at this point. Don’t worry about the next job until you’re ready to close this one when you’re auditioning. I don’t think she ever really believed I would be able to do this, actually go out and get a part.

When I married my husband in 1992, I was a singer/musician.  Two years later I auditioned for my first role in professional comedic/original/improv theatre and got it.  So we both had to make that adjustment, but if you’ve been together as long as you say, then she must stick by you for some reason.  Allow her time for it to sink in and make the necessary adjustment.  She’s going to soon realize that she will probably need to be there more for you emotionally than she has before.  When I get home from this Operetta every night that I’m currently doing, John has fresh water waiting for me, lots of kisses, a hot bath with lit candles and a generous ear.  Robert Goulet once said that when he’s involved in a show, his wife even lays out his clothes for him.  She fixes all of his food, and she KNOWS what it takes out of him emotionally to commit to a role. I still periodically pull John aside and ask if he’s being taxed too much, or what I can do for him.  We’ve been together long enough though, that he’s beginning to even learn my mood swings for each particular show.  Your wife will learn too, but just be open with her about your feelings and what you’re going through.  This is new for you both, so don’t be afraid to be honest with her and share.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can work out something you’ve been chewing on if you discuss it.  John’s even helped me with adjusting my emotional prep when I wasn’t making the connection. I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.  I feel like "who are you kidding, you’re no actor".

Gillian Anderson said while she was filming the first episode of the "X-Files", she felt that she was so bad, that at any moment, she would be called aside by the director and fired.  This is just normal on ANY first job, and sadly, probably won’t be the last time you feel this. Just relax.  Don’t pigeon hole yourself into calling yourself a "title", but realize that if acting is something you’ve wanted to do, and someone saw you as being right for a role, then relish it; the time will go quicker than you know. Pick up the book "Audition" by Michael Shurtleff and begin ravenously reading. Some etiquette tips to remember: *Try to arrive 15 minutes early to every call time–  This allows you time to get out of "husband" mode, and into "actor" mode.  It also allows time for the director to go over things with you that he may not have his mind on during or after rehearsal when everyone is pulling him into every direction. *Begin memorizing your lines immediately–  In this regard, you can never be over prepared. *Beware of the cliques–  There will inevitably be some.  After everyone has gotten comfortable with each other, you’ll see them begin to develop.  Don’t be afraid to make friends, but cliques can be dangerous when you’re in a new group and you don’t know the history.  Also, as always be careful of your liberal opinions.  You never know who has done a show with whom, and when I first started out, I had more than one innocent comment come back to bite me in the ass. *ALWAYS write down your blocking–  A BIG pet peeve of mine.  Use a pencil, and in your script, AS the director is telling you where to go, write it down while you’re moving.  This gives him a visual of where he’s put you, and helps you to remember it.  Some terms and shortcuts for stage directions.  These are shorthand markings that I learned in acting 116 in college, and I’ve never forgotten them.  They’ve saved me a bunch of times too, since blocking is sometimes given very quickly and you are expected to move to where the director is telling you to go, AS he’s telling you.  So do it in pencil.  Even in Hell Week, it may change if something suddenly isn’t working. SL–  Stage left.  This is the ACTOR’S left while he looks out at the audience. SR–  Stage right.  Again, the ACTOR’S right from the stage. US–  Upstage.  Stages used to be raked down toward the audience.  So back near the curtain is upstage. DS–  Down stage toward the audience. USC or (UC)–  Upstage center.  Move back toward the curtain and stand in the center. DSC or (DC)–  Downstage center. X– Cross XL– Cross left. XDSR– Cross to downstage right. X2R–  Cross 2 steps to the right. XDLFF–  Cross downleft and face full front. //–  2 beat pause. *Upstaging–  When you are allowing another actor to stand in front of you, is known as being upstaged, and you never want it. *"Open yourself out"–  A term used by a director, to tell you to move your face and body more frontal to the audience. *"Cheating Out"–  Another term to communicate that you must face more frontal.  The term cheat, is used because normally when involved in a conversation with someone, you would never turn away from them and partially hide your face.  But in theatre, that must be a given since the audience needs to see you. *Dark–  The term used to indicate a dark theatre; the days when you are off and the theatre is not open. *Call for line–  When you "go up" on a line, or forget it suddenly, IN CHARACTER and without looking at them, simply say, "Line" to the stage manager or whoever is on book for you.  Stay in character and you won’t have a hard time getting it back.  Allow them to read the line, then pick it up yourself as soon as you get to the place where you can remember it.  And don’t be afraid to call for it as many times as you need to. *Read Through–  Everyone gets together and reads through the script so they have an idea of where the play is going.  During the week of read-throughs, the director has the option of dropping a cast member and recasting the role.  These are sometimes omitted as part of the rehearsal process. *Blocking rehearsal–  The director tells you where to move onstage, trying to communicate the emotional situations of the characters through movement, and to make as many pretty pictures as possible.  It is the director’s job to tell you where to move, and it is the actor’s job to motivate that movement, in crude terms.  Usually, actors are off-book when the last scene is blocked.  This however, has never been held to rigid standards. *Off-book–  a term the director uses to let the cast know when they are no longer allowed to use their scripts for lines or blocking. *"Working" rehearsals–  A time when certain scenes are to be run over and over again until the director is sure the actors have it, or until he himself is happy with what he sees. *Line rehearsal–  Some actors are slow getting off book and need special attention with an assistant stage manager to run lines. Scheduled in addition to regular rehearsals, and done up until opening night for some irresponsible performers. *Run through–  When you see this on your rehearsal schedule, it means be prepared to run the entire show without stopping.  You may still call for lines here generally. *Spot rehearsals–  The director reworks those parts of the play that troubled him during the run-through.  These rehearsals are usually in addition to the normal schedule, or become a part of a "stop-start" run-through in which the players run through the play and the director stops them as each problem arises to work out the difficulty. *Dry tech–  A tech rehearsal without any actors present.  The techs make sure the lighting, sound and scene cue changes run as smoothly as possible so that when the actors rehearse on stage, the process will be close to the end product.  A stage hand reads the cues for each lighting, sound, or set change, moving around the set in the basic blocking pattern of the show.  Scenes with no lighting, sound or set changes are often omitted, in which case the rehearsal is called a cue-to-cue. *Cue to cue–  A tech rehearsal for the lighting/sound guys, involving the actors.  A complete scene is not done, but you jump only to the next lighting, set or sound cue.  VERY tedious. *Speed through–  A line rehearsal including only the cast.  Lines are done as quickly as they can be without regard for emotional preparation or feeling.  It is usually called when a cast has failed to pick up their own cues quickly enough. *Hell Week–  Our playfully cheeky way of referring to full

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Response:

Hello all, I first posted to this newsgroup, geez, maybe a year ago.  You all gave me some good advice back then, and I promised if anything ever happened with me starting an acting career, I would let you know.  Well, I’m letting you know. I won’t go back over my first posts, if you want to see them, you should know how to look them up.  Suffice it to say that I’m a 40 year old man who had a taste of acting a few years ago when I went back to college full time, and I got bit by the bug.  I’ve been working at a day job for 5 years, and I finally decided to give it a shot.   Through a rather strange series of misadventures, I happened to hear of an open audition for a new theater group preparing to produce an original play.  I was not looking for this, it just sort of fell into my lap.  Because of the way I heard about it, I decided it was fate, and went on the audition.  Sometimes, you just can’t ignore the gods, you know? So, this past friday night I went to the Charlestown Working Theater, a converted firehouse in Charlestown, a section of Boston.  This was my first ever professional audition.  I had no resume, no headshot, nothing.  I just went.  All I knew was it was an original play, the play was set in 1970, and was an outrageous comedy.     I figured I’d try to look as 1970 as possible.  I have long hair I usually wear in a pony tail, but for this I blow dried it to look more rock and roll.  I wore a pair of jeans, black leather boots, and a black "Peasant" shirt I have that laces down the front.  Actually, my wife bought it for me from Frederick’s of Hollywood a few years ago, they call it a "Greek Fisherman’s shirt".  Anyway, I was dressed as well as I could be.   I had no idea what I was walking into.  The auditions were friday night, and saturday all day.  I figured it would be best to friday night, there would less people there, and I was right.  There were a total of 7 guys and 1 woman who showed up.  The building is rough.  I mean real rough. It’s a halfway converted firehouse, it’s really not finished yet.  The actual stage area seats about 100.  I didn’t care!!  It was a stage! A theater!  And I was at my first audition!  Can you tell I was excited? I got a couple of handouts from one of the people there.  The first explains the mission of the theater company, officially "Evil Cat Theater Company".  This is from their statement: ECTC is a group of four delusionaries warped by years of theater experience: creative, technical, historical, theoretical.  We are an independent theater company, professional in spirit and attitude, and committed to the fun and excitement inherent in all theatrical adventures. Our creative and spiritual foreparents are as much Moscow Art Theatre as Ridiculous Theatre Company, as much Wayang Kulit as comedia dell’arte, even Mae West, the Marx Brothers, and Russ Meyer. We dream of enlarging our company and to this end we will encourage talent, our and others, everyone gleaning new insights and skills.  We promise to seek: new scripts from established and beginning playwrights, performers of all persuasions, designers of various schools–artists of the theatre who can convince us of their vision, if not their competence. Even as we realize this dream of founding ECTC, we stand fully warned by theatre history, littered as it is with the numerous corpses of similar ventures, but sometimes you just have to say "What the hell!" See, this was exactly the attitude I wanted.  I wanted to have fun doing this.  I wanted to work with people I could learn from.  I figured, I’m just starting out as an actor, and they are just starting out as a theater company.  What the hell, give it a shot.   Another handout gave a basic description of the play, and the characters not yet cast.  Here are the descriptions: The play is "Hefty Burdens", by Walter Prince. Hefty Burdens is set in New York and Florida in 1970.  It concerns one determined woman’s quest to produce and direct a no budget exploitation movie.  Along the way, she must deal with opinionated and near crazy relatives, a pill addled Israeli stripper, a romantically inclined double agent, and a large sink hole.  Think Ed Wood as a woman meets Austin Powers on the set of "Boogie Nights".   Characters: Sunni Grey: 40ish, tough but vulnerable film maker Mike Pope:  30ish.  A double, possibly triple agent trained to infiltrate subversive groups, but has he gone too far? Saul:  30+.  Sunni’s long suffering, closeted best friend.   Bernice Grey: 30ish, Sunni’s sister in law.  Wannabe writer and adulterer. Henry Hill:  18+. Down on his luck porno actor. Melissa:  18+.  Sunni’s niece.  Sweet tempered girl who has occasional outbursts of hysteria. The rolls of Hefty Burdens, the stripper and star of the film, and Karl Grey, Sunni’s brother in law who owns a gun store, have been cast already. OK, so that was the play and character descriptions.  Once we were seated in the theater, the playwright, Walter, began to pass out parts of the script.  I was given 5 sets of pages, with 3 or 4 sheets stapled to a set. He had all of the guys read for all of the male parts.  The first part I read for was Saul.  I was not ready for this. I got on the stage with my 4 pages of script.  Walter says "Ok, you are old enough to know this reference.  Saul is a closeted gay, along the lines of Charles Nelson Ryley or Paul Lynde".  I must have had a real strange look on my face because everyone cracked up laughing.  I gave it my best shot, but it wasn’t anywhere near what he wanted.  I got some polite applause, and got off the stage quick. The next part I read for was Henry, the porno actor.  I thought I was ok, the applause was a little better, but I wasn’t really thrilled about this character. The last part I read for was Mike, the secret agent and one of the leads in the play.  Part of the secret agent thing with this character is that every time he comes on stage, he looks and acts totally different than the time before.  The first scene I did, Walter told me to be "So gay that even gay people would say ‘what’s wrong with this guy?’".  Now, I’m 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, and extremely heterosexual.  I was lost.  Then I remembered one of my wife’s favorite shows "Will and Grace".  Her favorite character on the show is "Jack", an extremely flamboyant gay man.  So, I was Jack, or at least as close as I could get.  It must have been good because they were all dying laughing through the whole scene.   He had me stay on stage and do the next scene, where Mike is now a tough guy, mafioso type, trying to extort money from the movie’s producers.  I had to yell and threaten people, look intimidating.  I’m good at this, I do this in real life so people will leave me alone.  I looked to one of my favorite actors, Robert Deniro, for inspiration.  He is such a good ganster/homicidal maniac.  When I finished, there was much applause and general approval.   I hung out for a while, and watched the other actors go through the scenes.  Wow, other actors, like, I’m including myself in there now! I talked to the founders of the theater company about what I want to do with myself with acting.  They all seemed real interested.  I went home to wait. Well, I just got a call from the playwright, Walter.  They went through the full day of auditions yesterday, and got a huge turnout.  They had a tough time casting, they had to choose between 2 or 3 good people for all of the parts.  Except one.  I got the part of Mike Pope, the secret agent!!  Here are some of the things he told me, in no certain order: "You walked away with the part.  After you left the stage, we couldn’t see anyone else in the role" "You have amazing presence, you filled the stage" "You were the epitome of a tough guy, we’ll work on the gay guy". Ok so they weren’t all great, but so what, I’m an ACTOR!!!!!!   Now, for the other stuff.  I’m nervous.  Real nervous.  It was fun to just THINK about this stuff (Oh sure, I’m gonna be an actor), but now it’s real.  I am gonna be an actor.  No, I’m not quitting my day job. Rehearsals are going to be tues-wed-thurs nights, so I won’t lose my weekends.  It’s perfect in that respect.  We start rehearsals the end of the month, and will do 6 performances in October.  Yes, October.  Plenty of time to rehearse, right?  Except there is never enough time.  I already know this. So I took the part, and now I’m a little scared.  I know I can do it, and they apparently think I can.  It’s just that this was my first audition and I really didn’t expect to get a part.  Really.  I just went for the experience of auditioning.   I told my wife, and while she seemed happy for me, she also seemed a little weird about it.  This is all very new to us.  I have been with my wife for 20 years, and this is the first time I have ever done anything like this.  I’ve been telling her for the past few years I wanted to do this, and she always just said "Yes, ok, whatever you say".  But now I’ve actually gone and done it.  I don’t think either of us is sure where this will lead.  Now I don’t have to say "I want to be an actor", now I can say "I am an actor".  It’s blowing my mind.  I don’t think she ever really believed I would be able to do this, actually go out and get a part.   I have to start somewhere, and I think this is a good place.  I’ll be with a group just starting out, with people who have years of theater experience.  I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.  I feel like "who are you kidding, you’re no actor".  But they are willing to bring me along, and teach me what they know.  And I’ll even make a couple of bucks along the way.  Most importantly, they want to make it fun, and that’s why I want to do this.  I enjoy it, I love being on stage. So, any advice, comments, witty remarks, anything? Thanks,  and I’ll keep you all posted as to my progress, now that I’m an ACTOR!!! Ron Bargoot http://www5.50megs.com/rbargoot

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