Over the last year (I graduated last summer), I have been in four productions where headshots were displayed in the foyer/lobby/etc of the venue.
Now, like a lot of people I wrote to a number of agents as I was (am) seeking representation, inviting them to come along. But, what is the best way of indicating to /other/ agents (those that other cast members have invited, those that come along on spec, etc) that you're looking?
I've always thought it might be an idea to have a small, discrete sticker on one of the bottom corners of your headshot (i.e. 'Seeking Representation'), or even to add it to the end of your bio/blurb in the programme.
If an agent comes to see you at a show and likes the look for you. They will go home and do their research on you. They will be able to find if you are represented or now. The idea of telling people that you are seeking representation might draw away from your headshot.
However.. I'd like to just clarify that I'm talking about agents that may have been invited by someone else, or have turned up 'on spec' - i.e. those that may assume (without having any reason to suppose otherwise) that I'm already represented..
There ARE actors who put "seeking representation " on their blurb and agents bite and offer them representation .
Same as gate crashing an audition- what have you got to lose??? I gate crashed Les Mis a few years back , they saw me and were extremely good natured !!!
You may have what the Yiddish call "chutzpah " and it could very well mark you as the man amongst the boys.
I had agents previously who had clients gate crash and they ended up getting the job.
Richard Evans the CD discusses how to gatecrash in his book . I just don't agree with you. You can't do it all the time, of course , but there are times it does work.
If you gatecrash every job then yes, you will be blacklisted . But musicals in particular seem more open to it than other mediums.
Gatecrashing an audition seems a little strange to me... If you're brave enough go for it. I definitely don't think I would be.
Perhaps it depends on the type of Audition. If it is a large scale casting crawl with semi-open auditions then perhaps, but I can't imagine a casting director/assistant walking out to a waiting room to confirm names and call times would be overly delighted to hear someone say "Oh yeah you didn't call me, I just thought I'd drop in and chance my arm"
Most castings are given specific calls for individual actors. If it's a general call it might be slightly less odd, but still - in my opinion - cheeky.
You're essentially saying "Yeah you decided that I wasn't right for the role and did not want to see me but YOU'RE WRONG!"
Besides most likely being a waste of time, I think it'd be detrimental to your career and any progress you hope to make. You could jeopradize not only your own but your agents name too. No doubt there are one or two people who might have secured roles through such boldness - and many congratulations to them! ...but I'm willing to bet they are part of a significant minority.
Everyone wants to get noticed. Just make sure it's for the right reasons... Don't give them an excuse not to call you when a role you are actually right for comes up!
I know nothing of the world of musicals, so can't comment on that.
I'm not necessarily talking about being blacklisted by the CD, although that could happen, but if I was an agent, and my client was crashing auditions, I would be furious.
Sam, I don't think crashing would ever involve owning up to crashing. The theory would be to make them think you were called but there's been some kind of mistake and your name isn't on the list for some reason. The assistant often won't know who's been called in, so will add you to the list.
Either this or to crash at the end of the auditions, own up, and see if they have time to see you. This way seems preferable.
Agents do support it at times , but they officially "don't know about it".
You do it occasionally . I've done it for les mis buti wouldn't just do it willy nilly. That was after 5 years of them not seeing me. And I was terrified .
Just to add, I did a workshop last year where the casting director said that say, for example, you're doing an audition at Spotlight and you manage to find out there there is a casting for a character matching your casting you've got nothing to lose by asking the assistant whether the CD would see you. I personally don't think I'd have the nerve to!
That's exactly the way I did it. You are polite and ask.
She went in with my stuff and said that they would see me.
No one is for a second suggesting you go in there all guns a blazing , full of entitlement and arrogance .
Casting directors would audition everyone who's right if they could. Just cos you're not seen doesn't mean you're not good, it just means you're one of hundreds and sometimes people get seen for reasons that are beyond comprehension . In musicals , it's sometimes just because you fit the costume!!!! But that's the product driven side of long running shows that one could debate is theatre at all....
Absolutley do that...nothing to worry about at all..as long as you are tactful & sensitive to a rushed off their feet casting director etc....and you are right for the role. I met a mate at a casting he was at....in order to have a coffee after....the casting director asked me out of the blue to read for another role!!
I was in Spotlight for a casting for an overseas commercial, 'twas nothing particularly exciting.
In the next casting room I could hear lots of shouting and threatening dialogue taking place, as a succession of hardy looking male actors, some of whom I recognised from TV, lined up outside. As we were all sharing the same space, we were, of course all checking out the competition, and I realised that these guys who were here for the exciting gritty tv/film thought I was going for it as well. I suddenly thought, why not have a word with the CD and see can they fit me in? Did I do that? Of course not. I was a good conforming little actor and didn't step out of line or rock the boat. If that same situation was tomorrow I'd be in there like a shot.
just to add to the pot when i have been looking for representation and other actors are too I have compiled a pack together with everyone's CV within it and sent it out.
This way every agent knows who is looking and they can see who they are interested in. I also think this way more agents are likely to attend because there are more people on offer so to speak.
Glenn, I can relate to that as well. Also at Spotlight, a couple of years ago, I was early for my time slot and had been waiting about 10 mins when a CD approached me saying, "David?", in a 'come in now please' tone. I said, "Peter...?" "Are you not David?" "No." And it was left there. She apologised and I went into a usual hello/goodbye commercial casting. On my way out I saw it was for a TV programme that, if I was there again now, I would absolutely say, "No, I'm not David, but if I fit the brief would it be ok to have a shot at it?" Absolutely I would.
Years ago a pal of mine went to a priavte audition and I had met up with him for a coffee in the morning before he went in. He asked me to go with him as he was nervous as hell. So, I tag along and went into the building and waited outside the room. A guy came out of the room and greeted me and said he wouldn't be long. I assumed he was talking about my pal. The guy returned and said I could go in in five minutes, I laughed and explained that I was waiting for my friend. I was told that I was the perfect 'look' for one of the roles and asked if I was a performer. At that time I was taking classical voice lessons and studying dance so I said yes! and he asked me to wait. My mate came out full of beans and I told him that they wanted to see me!
I walzted in completely unprepared, so sang a rather rushed version of a song a capella. I was then asked to stand by the piano and asked to sing all sorts of stuff. We were both asked to stay for the dance recall. The result? I was cast in my first West End show for a year with my still now best mate :-)
You must login as a candidate to participate in the forum.
Please note:Messages written in the forum do not represent the views of The Mandy Network, nor have they been vetted by The Mandy Network staff.
If you read something which you believe to be offensive or defamatory, please contact us and we will take the appropriate action.
