Before You Audition - A Re-Post

 If you are new to this blog or to acting please PLEASE read the following and - Welcome!

This is a re post. If you are looking for How To Choose A Monologue and other Audition Tips - please head back to August, September, October of 2010 in this blog.

For Musical theatre - stay tuned over the next couple of months.

However -Before You Audition

If you are an adult reading this blog and you have never done a show or taken a class –

Get Thee To a Class. I’m not saying you have to have a four year degree before you audition, but take a class and acclimate yourself to the world of theatre.

Learn the basic vocabulary. Get some experience under your belt, find your sea legs – insert metaphor here – but get some experience. You are entering a competitive field. Raw talent is great and if you have it – Yay! Talent will only get you so far. Hard work, determination, being prepared, being easy to work with and knowing your business is what gets you the job after the first job. The story’s of being discovered walking your dog (David Boreanez from Buffy, Angel and Bones) are FEW and FAR between.

There are techniques, skills, basic vocabulary, knowledge and plain old stamina – way more than this blog post has room for – that will help you in your pursuit of becoming an Actor. Take a class and then audition for one of the many amazing smaller or community theatres we have in Seattle (or your local theatre!). I have posted links to some local places to take class and Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) TPS posts classes, auditions etc.

Be smart when signing up for a class. Is it a studio that’s been around a while, a new group with some hot new teachers? Just ask around and make sure some people know who they are. Find someone who has had experience with the studio/teacher. Check out their website or blog. Make sure the class is reputable but - don't judge it fully based on someone elses experience. You may love a class your friend hates - or hate a class they love.

If you live in a small community and you are just out to have some fun – audition. See what happens. Some people – David Mamet among them – believe you should only do shows. He feels this is how you learn the craft of theatre. I do not believe that is the best way and definitely NOT the ONLY way. Will it help? Yes. Will you get better every show you do? Yes. But class affords you time to personally examine habits, choose when and when not to use those habits, explore techniques and grow into a more versatile actor. But if you’re just out to have fun – go for it! Ok – enough about that!

For my students and others who have a bit of theatrical experience head to Choosing a Monologue!