We're Almost Sold Out!

October 4, 2019

Hey! The October edition of the Chicago Virtual Showcase is almost sold out (we have one spot left)! Don’t hesitate to sign up. If we can’t get you in this month, we’ll add you to the waitlist for November. For those who have already participated recently, we LOVE hearing your success stories. If you’d like to share the news about a job you booked or an agent you signed with after they saw you in the showcase, email the showcase staff at chicagovirtualshowcase@gmail.com.

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What Makes a Successful Showcase Recording?

September 22, 2019

It’s editing day! Friday I recorded the September Virtual Showcase with six actors - a good handful for agents to review. I hope to have the preview link available tomorrow or Tuesday.

So what makes a successful Virtual Showcase recording? Here are some things to consider:

Choose your material wisely. Scenes tend to work better in this format. It should be age-appropriate and fit your type. Is there a show from the last few years that you really love and connect with? Are there characters in it that you could legitimately can see yourself playing? If it’s a television show, chances are you can find an episode online from which to pull a scene. If it’s a play, you can likely get a copy of the script. Finding a scene with some comedy in it that makes your audience laugh certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

Spend some serious quality time on your commercial copy. Far too often actors dedicate the bulk of their rehearsal time on their scene or monologue while assuming they can just wing it when it comes to the commercials. After all, it’s just a couple of lines, right? Wrong. The less lines you have to say something, the more difficult it can be to effectively tell the story. Yes, as an actor your job is still to tell a story, even when that story is in the form of a selling a product. And you only have a few seconds to do it. Auditioning for commercials is an art form. Commercials are typically the first auditions an agent will send a new talent on, so honing these skills is key when preparing your Showcase recording.

Don’t rehearse your interview answer. It shows every time. You definitely want to prepare some things you’d like to talk about, but don’t rehearse this like a script. Your interview should feel relaxed and natural. Industry professionals want to get a sense of who you are as a person and what you might be like when you walk into an audition room. Many actors, especially those just starting out in the business, try to portray themselves in a way they think the agent or director wants to see. They’ll talk about things they think an industry audience wants to hear ("I’m really dedicated to acting, it’s my passion.”) Well, obviously. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Instead, think about hobbies or interests that separate you from the rest. (“I was runner-up in a hot dog eating contest.” “I’m fluent in three different languages.”) Okay, now it’s getting interesting.

Have any further questions? Feel free to email the Chicago Virtual Showcase staff at chicagovirtualshowcase@gmail.com.

Virtual Showcase Tomorrow!

September 19, 2019

Tomorrow is the September Virtual Showcase! I was thrilled to have one of the participating actors reach out to me for a coaching (why more actors don’t do this is baffling to me). We worked on finding the comedy of the scene, beat changes, and techniques for making it look good on camera (stop moving around so much!). I look forward to seeing how she applies the notes to her recording tomorrow.

Which brings me to a note about preparing for the showcase. In my experience I have found that actors are usually well-prepared for their scene or monologue, while thinking they can “wing it” when it comes to the commercial copy. I assure you, commercial copy is NOT easy. It takes practice - and lots of it - to nail the timing, the tone and the characterization when you are only given a few lines (if you get any lines at all). In acting - and in life, too, now that I think about it - I find that the less you have to say the harder it is to say it. There are numerous classes dedicated to auditioning for commercials, and considering it is typically the first type of audition a new actor will receive, it is certainly worth enrolling in a commercial class - or two, or three - to start honing those skills.

We don’t yet have a date set for the October Showcase, but we do keep a contact list so that interested actors can be informed once registration opens. Click on the Virtual Showcase tab from the menu on this site to learn more.