COVID-19 And What That Means For Tapings

March 13, 2020

Well, the inevitable has happened. As a precaution, several studios in Chicago are shutting down for the next several days which means tapings will be extremely limited. If you do have a self-tape request, feel free to reach out to me. However, I can’t guarantee that I will be able to get you scheduled.

More availability should open up after next week, but right now studios are paying attention to what is being recommended and proceeding accordingly.

Because of this lack of availability, I’m extending my “Voter Discount” through the month of April. Just show me a picture of your “I Voted” sticker or wristband to receive $5 off a half hour session or $10 off an hour.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Stay safe and stay well everyone!

Cast Your Vote and Get a Discount!

March 9, 2020

Illinois - next Tuesday, March 17, we have a big choice to make. Actually, several big choices. In addition to the presidential nominee there are numerous judges to vote on as well as water reclamation district candidates, just to name a couple of big categories.

I just finished filling out my mail-in ballot. I prefer the mail-in ballot because I can see all the candidates in front of me at once, do my research and vote in the quiet and comfort of my home. It also reduces the likelihood of me making a mistake on my ballot. And yes, you can track your ballot to make sure it is received.

Injusticewatch.org is an EXCELLENT resource to look up the judges - I did not always agree with the judge marked as the "Democratic Pick" and in fact some of the "picks" actually have negative ratings. Do your research.

News.wttw.com/elections/voters-guide/2020 is another great resource and has info on the candidates running for the water reclamation district. If you have any questions about using these resources, ask me! And if you'd like to know why I've been feeling the BERN for the last several years, I'll be happy to tell you.

This month I’m offering a discount to everyone who votes in the primary election. Just show your “I voted” sticker or wristband and receive $5 off a half hour session or $10 off an hour.

Pilot Season 2020

February 11, 2020

It’s mid-February, which means two things: 1. We can officially stop saying “Happy New Year” and 2. Pilot season is among us. Because this is such a busy time in the industry it’s important to promptly book your taping appointments as soon as you get the request from your agent. Studio space is limited and fills up quickly!

If you don’t find yourself getting many auditions this time of year, check out the Chicago Virtual Showcase. It’s a great way to increase your visibility among industry professionals in the city, and several participants have received calls from agents. We love hearing those success stories!

Have a Wonderful Holiday!

November 24, 2019

Have a wonderful holiday week and weekend, everyone! Chicago Self-Taped Auditions is officially on hiatus this week. I’ll be checking emails periodically but I might not be able to respond right away. I’ll see you in December!

Limited Availability and Holiday Schedule

November 19, 2019

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are already upon us (though I still refuse to watch ANY Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving). With the holiday season comes a change in scheduling. Most ongoing projects will soon be on hiatus and the need for self-tapes will quickly drop. If, however, you do happen to get a self-tape request between now and Thanksgiving, please note my availability is extremely limited.

For the remainder of this week I will do my best to get you on the schedule if you need a taping, but I will not be available at all next week, November 25 - December 1.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Do You Have a Success Story?

October 6, 2019

“Hey Kate, I just wanted to let you know that I was cast from the self tape you did for me last week. They offered me a different role from the one I auditioned for. It films next weekend. Have a great weekend!” — Steve L.

I love hearing success stories like this one! And this was Steve’s SECOND booking from one of our self tapes! Do you have a self tape success story? Email me! Tell your actor friends! So much of this crazy business we’re all in comes from word of mouth. If you’ve booked something recently, I’d love to write about it here. It helps other actors know that, yes, it is possible to book from self tapes, so they shouldn’t just disregard them.

It also helps me know things are on track for my clients. My goal with this business is to get you a callback - even better, a job. Recently after a session an actor asked, “Does anyone ever actually book anything from self tapes?” The answer: they do! One of my favorite things is reading an email from a client telling me they got the gig. I want YOU to be that client. So please share those stories, and keep submitting those tapes.

Discount Extended Through October 15!

October 1, 2019

Last month I ran a discount for $5 off a half hour session or $10 off an hour session. It was supposed to run through the month of September, but I had to go out of town the last few days of the month. So I’m extending it! Now through October 15th, mention this post to receive the offer, good on a taping or coaching.

There are still spots left for the October Virtual Showcase. Sign up now at chicagovirtualshowcase@gmail.com. The recording date for this month’s showcase is October 23.

Lastly, happy October everyone! It is quite possibly my favorite month of the year. The weather is a little cooler, but not so cold we have to bust out the North Face jackets, and apple and pumpkin scents fill the air. How are you spending these days of Fall? Carving pumpkins? Visiting haunted houses? Brushing up on your acting skills (obviously)? Whatever you are doing, here’s wishing you a delightful season filled with apple cider and lots of auditions. :)

The Next Showcase Date Is...

September 27, 2019

If you’ve been keeping up with this news feed, you know that our September Virtual Showcase posted this week. And that means it’s time to start thinking about next month! Our next recording date for the Chicago Virtual Showcase is October 23, 2019.

The Showcase is a great way for Chicago actors to get in front of industry professionals without spending a fortune on headshot/resume mailings. This opportunity is not recommended for beginners - on-camera experience is definitely advised in order to have a successful Showcase.

In other news, I am out of town for the next few days. Tapings are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, October 2. Since I had to leave town before the end of the month, I’m extending the September discount into October. Mention this post to receive $5 off a half hour session or $10 off an hour long session. This discount is good through October 15th!

I'm Headed Out of Town!

September 26, 2019

Chicago actors: I’ll be leaving town tomorrow (Friday, 9/27) and won’t return for a few days. You should see a notification bar at the top of this website. Currently tapings are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, October 2. My apologies for any inconvenience!

The September Showcase Has Posted!

September 25, 2019

The September edition of the Chicago Virtual Showcase has posted, and can be found at chicagovirtualshowcase.com. A password is required to view the showcases. For security reasons we do not post the password online, but you can reach out to us through that site to gain access.

The date has been chosen for the October showcase recording, and we’ll be posting that tomorrow - first to our contact list and then on the showcase website. Interested in getting on our contact list? We’ll only email you regarding the next showcase date, and you can let us know if you’d like to register for that month, remain on the list or be removed. Send an email to chicagovirtualshowcase@gmail.com to learn more.

In other news…

September is going strong with self-tape requests. Don’t put your self tape off to the last minute! Studio space books up quickly. In order to get everyone’s taping and editing done before their links are due, it’s best to schedule an appointment as soon as you get the request, particularly since this time of year tends to be really busy in the industry. Also, a good rule of thumb to remember is that the earlier you submit your audition, the better .