After Auditioning Etiquette

Dont contact them direct as it does not look professioanl. Get in touch with your agent and ask if they can request feedback from them. You probably done a lot better than you thought. I have a feeling that most actors feel as if they have done awful at auditions.

Grant

• 17 years ago
• 1

if you got the part they will contact you

• 17 years ago
• 2

Rebecca, The question is if enough time has passed whereby you have clearly NOT got the part would it be acceptable to contact the casting director and politely ask for feedback.

To answer this question, in my opinion, yes. If the audition was secured through your agent then the proper method would be to have your agent ask for feedback, going direct and bypassing your agent isn't going to make you any friends. If however you got the audition through your own efforts then it is perfectly acceptable to contact them and ask.

I attended an audition recently and got "the thanks but no thanks" about 3 weeks later. I have responded by a "hey, thanks for taking the time to see me and for letting me know, if you've got 2 minutes any chance of some feedback so I can improve my audition technique for the next time".

If I get a response fine...if not also fine. They are busy people.

I forget about all auditions almost as soon as I walk out the door. If I get the call it's a bonus, if not, its nothing personal...I just didn't have the look they were looking for. Self critism does nothing but gnaw away at your self confidence and that can have disastrous results.

Have fun and keep smiling.

Regards,
ForbesKB

• 17 years ago
• 3

Thanks for your advice. I actually got an email this morning saying thanks, but no thanks! I will take your advice though Forbes and write back and ask them where I needed to improve, although I think I know the answer anyway!!

Cheers

Sue

• 17 years ago
• 4

I think you need to remember the purpose of a casting director is to primarily cast the production not to act as an acting coach. Therefore, although you may have done a very good audition, they may have realised early on that you weren't suitable for the part. To ask for feedback through an agent is perfectly fine as it maintains a professional approach but for an individual to ask i think is very unprofessional unless you already have an established relationship. You could place the casting director in an awkward situation, are they polite and give you a few friendly pointers or do you annoy them and they condemn you. To boost your confidence more you should maybe attend audition/acting classes where you can ask another professional to give you feedback and maintain a healthy distance. You would not want to be seen as desperate or harassing, after all, they are busy people and whilst they obviously assess your ability they are not to provide feedback to you but to whomever is employing them.

• 17 years ago
• 5

Thanks for your comments Anon.

I understand what you're saying. However, I didn't get this job through an agent. And while I have done an audition course, the main reason I think I didn't get this job is because my nerves got the better of me and rushed through it.

I am now unsure with emailing a response. I don't want to hassle, and obviously they've got far more important things to do than give me pointers, but if they had time, it could be a grand help. But there again, I think I know where I went wrong....sorry, waffling now!

Anyone else been in this position?

Cheers

Sue

• 17 years ago
• 6

Hi Sue

If I have been for an audition and haven't heard anything for a couple of weeks I'll contact the Casting Director and politely ask if they have made a decision... after all.. you have a right to know whats happening. I currently dont have an agent so have arranged all of my auditions personally and for all the parts I haven't got I have always asked for feedback. The way I see it, if an agent can ask for you, then you can ask too if you dont have one :o) I have generally recieved very constructive feedback which I hope to build on to better myself.. Sometimes not getting a part is out of your control though but it is still good to know why..
To date I have not had any negative experiences from asking the question.

Good luck with your future auditions

Tom :o)

• 17 years ago
• 7

Once I was told by the company I had auditioned for that they were making their decision "today" and they'd let me know "tomorrow", but that they loved my audition and were very positive.

I waited until the following Wednesday before I emailed them again to politely enquire if they had reached their decision and it turns out they had replied to all applicants and had filmed that weekend. My "no" email had got lost in email space and I'd been waiting nervously for nearly a week for no reason.

Sometimes there are jobs you really want so much that the butterflies stay till you hear either way. There's no harm in asking your Agent to enquire or, if you have their details, dropping them a quick email to say how you enjoyed meeting them and were wondering if they had come to a decision. If they then say it's a no, at least you are able to let them know to keep you details on file and ask them to provide you with some feedback, should they have the time.

Helena xxx

• 17 years ago
• 8

Personally I wouldn't contact anyone auditioning me to get feedback. I think we all probably understand the frustration of not having feedback from an audition. It can leave you in a perpetual state of limbo. I think it is something one has to live with. I have undertaken regular coaching sessions in order to constantly put the pressure on myself and get regular feedback. This helps me to keep me motivated and can be a source of reassurance. I am very fortunate to have very good tutor who helps me prepare for the audition process. It is easy to slip into bad habits and my tutor keeps me on the ball.

Not being cast for a part can be down to so many things. I have heard several stories of actors who have auditioned very badly and still got the part so its a matter I think of constantly working on your skills and keeping an open-minded view on the casting process. This is just my personal approach.

• 17 years ago
• 9

Told to me by a very good American actor - BILL - who works 'over here' mostly. All true, it really did happen. And Bill told it well.

Bill went to an audition and had 'a good feeling' about it. His friend drove him back home and as he was putting the key in the door, Bill could hear the phone ringing. He fumbled and panicked with the door key and burst in leaving his friend to quietly shut the door and wait by the mat.

Bill picked up the phone and was overjoyed to hear that his agent was on the other end.

Bill: It's about the casting, I knew it … good news?

Agent: Er, not exactly.

B: What do you mean?

A: Well … you weren't successful. Sorry, but these things go like that.

B: What?? They didn't like the way I read. I could read again, do it differently.

A: You read just fine, nothing wrong with the way you read.

B: OK, it's my hair, they didn't like my hair, I could grow it, or get a wig made up, and hell, I could even grow a beard if they want me to!

A: Your hair's just fine, nothing wrong with it.

B: They didn't like my casual look. I can do smart … I can do scruffy!

A: What you were wearing was perfect, they didn't comment on that.

Bill, is now searching desperately for anything that might change the decision.

B: Oh I know, they didn't like my voice, my strong Jersey, I can do Deep South, easily.

A: Your voice was OK too.

Bill is now stumped, totally dumfounded and crestfallen, but he wants to know.

B: Alright then, tell me, what was it, what didn't they like?

Agent: They just didn't like …

There's a very long pause. And an intake of breath, which Bill hears.

'YOU!'

• 17 years ago
• 10