The Green Room - Audition Etiquette

Nov 10^th, 2009 at 9:45pm

Rosie Poppins Offline
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Still I'm incandescent
Salt Lake City

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I heard a story tonight and thought it was pretty shocking. Before I tell the story, though, I want to get a feel for a topic we haven't discussed in awhile... Please contribute, I genuinely want to know if I'm just lulu here. If I find I AM just lulu after responses have been given, I really will admit it.

What is NOT ok to do at an audition?
For an Actor?
For a Director/Producer/Staff Member?

Let me make one thing quite clear: I never explain anything.

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Reply #1 - Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:52pm

Mister Grinch Offline
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For an actor? Bring props. Be late. Psych out the other auditioners. Bring weasels, especially ones concealed in one's trousers.

There is one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart - if you value your continued existence - if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow there is one thing you never EVER put in a trap.� Me.

Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flying around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up!

As long as I don't bleed or cry, I'll do it!

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Reply #2 - Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:55pm

spiker Offline
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Salt Lake City, UT

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In what realm? What is okay to do as your audition monologue? Or what is okay in terms of behavior apart from your actual audition?

"...there are more people alive now than have died in all of human history. �In other words, if everyone wanted to play Hamlet at once, they couldn't, because there aren't enough skulls!"

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Reply #3 - Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:56pm

mr. spiker Offline
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a nest of sandworms
Eagle Mountain, UT

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Mister Grinch wrote on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:52pm:

Bring weasels, especially ones concealed in one's trousers.

Because if you have weasels in your trousers and don't offer to share ....

.... well that's just plain rude.

http://www.fiftytwoplays.com

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Reply #4 - Nov 10^th, 2009 at 11:42pm

Rosie Poppins Offline
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Salt Lake City

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spiker wrote on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:55pm:

In what realm? �What is okay to do as your audition monologue? �Or what is okay in terms of behavior apart from your actual audition?

Both.

Let me make one thing quite clear: I never explain anything.

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Reply #5 - Nov 10^th, 2009 at 11:58pm

Mister Grinch Offline
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Basically... run.
The Lost Moon of Poosh

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Posts: 7301

mr. spiker wrote on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:56pm:

Mister Grinch wrote on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:52pm:

Bring weasels, especially ones concealed in one's trousers.

Because if you have weasels in your trousers and don't offer to share ....

.... well that's just plain rude.

Honey, I'll share ALL my trouser weasels with you.

There is one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart - if you value your continued existence - if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow there is one thing you never EVER put in a trap.� Me.

Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flying around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up!

As long as I don't bleed or cry, I'll do it!

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Reply #6 - Nov 11^th, 2009 at 6:59am

spiker Offline
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I'm a fruitcake.
Salt Lake City, UT

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Rosie Poppins wrote on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 11:42pm:

spiker wrote on Nov 10^th, 2009 at 10:55pm:

In what realm? �What is okay to do as your audition monologue? �Or what is okay in terms of behavior apart from your actual audition?

Both.

I don't even know where to start...

It's not okay to do a striptease for your audition...unless you're auditioning to be a stripper.
It's not okay to grab the crotch of anyone in the audition room.
It's not okay to throw real punches or otherwise attempt to injure anyone in the audition room.
It's not okay to give direction to your scene partner.

...I could go on.

Tell us the story and then we'll tell you if you're cuckoo.

"...there are more people alive now than have died in all of human history. �In other words, if everyone wanted to play Hamlet at once, they couldn't, because there aren't enough skulls!"

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Reply #7 - Nov 11^th, 2009 at 8:59am

shimmer Offline
Diva
La Mirada, CA

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Don't tell them all about your sickness. It just sounds like a pathetic excuse... even if you ARE sick.

Unless, for whatever reason, they ask.

"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. " C.S. Lewis

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Reply #8 - Nov 11^th, 2009 at 9:22am

BlueRoses Offline
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I Love PA!
Salt Lake City

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Treat everyone with respect! I've heard of several situations where the stage manager and the director switched places in an audition situation just to see how auditioners treat each other and how they would treat the crew if cast in the show.

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Reply #9 - Nov 11^th, 2009 at 10:40am

Rosie Poppins Offline
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Salt Lake City

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There are two, actually.

The actor was doing a monologue about bulimia for an edgy new piece to be performed on the west coast. At one point in the monologue, she literally put her fingers down her throat and vomited on the floor. When the AD tried to stop her, the actor just continued the monologue. At the end, the actor left the room (and the mess) and the Director had the SM bring in the next actor to just do his monologue with the mess right there.
When that actor refused, the Director said that he wasn't professional at all and asked him to leave and never return.

The second story is that I know the actor who told me the story really well. He's a reasonable guy with a history of performing/directing here in UT. He sided with the Director, saying that the second actor was being 'diva-ish' and unworkable. As he was telling me why he thought that actor was being unworkable, I sortof blacked out a little, I was so shocked that he believed in what he was telling me.

WTF?

Let me make one thing quite clear: I never explain anything.

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