Chicago Self-Taped Auditions
I love a session on Saturday morning - hardly anyone is on the train! Today I worked with Miguel G. on his audition monologue. Thanks for coming in, Miguel! I look forward to seeing more of your work here in Chicago.
Need an audition taping? Be sure to take advantage of this month's discount! Click HERE for the code phrase.
It felt great to be back in the studio after an extended vacation. Thank you to Acting Studio Chicago for putting up with my multiple schedule changes!
No major news to report, other than to wish everyone a happy holiday. I am unavailable for tapings and coachings through Wednesday, September 7. I will start taking appointments again beginning Thursday, September 8. Some weekend appointments are available this week as well.
As a reminder, you can follow Chicago Self-Taped Auditions on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on any current deals or schedule changes.
Fall doesn't officially start until September 22, but this cooler weather and the fact that I can sit in my apartment without sweating has me feeling all...whatever the emoji is with the red 100 underlined twice.
To give the humidity a proper sendoff, I'm offering a discount for the entire month of September. Half-hour sessions for tapings and coachings (normally $40) will be offered at $35, and one-hour sessions (normally $60) will be offered at $50. In order to receive the discount, just mention the code phrase: STILL TOO EARLY FOR PUMPKIN SPICE.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Coaching & Virtual Showcase at The Second City: September 24-25 - learn more here
Matt Miller's Virtual Showcase (I hear he's offering a September special) - learn more here
JUST ANNOUNCED: 2015-2016 Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards Nominations!
Congrats to all the nominees!
Had a great audition taping today with the one and only Kirsten Fitzgerald! More tapings and coachings to come this week, and here's a look ahead at September:
There will be no tapings or coachings September 6-7, but business will resume as usual September 8. If you need a taping on the 6th or 7th, feel free to contact me and I will try to refer you to someone who is available.
ALSO: My next workshop has been scheduled at The Second City! Mark your calendars for September 24-25. Looking forward to it!
Well THIS was super fun! Brianne came in today for a self-taped audition - so great to meet her! As always, thank you to Acting Studio Chicago for letting me do my thing.
Today I recorded the adults in the August Virtual Showcase. A huge thank you to the actors who made appointments, arrived on time if not early, and came ready to play. You made me laugh, impressed me with your writing, and also made me hungry for Kit Kats (I'm looking at you, Ali). So much fun! That does it for the August Showcases...'til next time!
When preparing for an audition taping or showcase recording, I've had actors ask me whether or not they should use props. My first question to them is this: "Is the prop crucial to the scene?"
Generally speaking, if the prop is necessary for the scene and small enough to fit in your pocket, then it is probably fine to use. However, let's say you're auditioning a fight scene, and the stage direction reads: pulls out knife; do NOT assume you should bring a knife in to your audition. The moment a weapon comes into play, everyone in the room is immediately nervous, including the casting director and your fellow actors. Typically, the action in those types of scenes will be mimed in an audition situation. This applies to both on-camera and theatre auditions.
Let's look at another example: your character is sitting at a restaurant with friends, so you'd like to sip on a glass of water during your audition. Ask yourself this: Does drinking the glass of water add to the scene, or detract from it? Would the scene be just as effective, if not more so, if you did not drink the glass of water? If it is imperative that your character be drinking, then use a bottled water. Bottles of water are easy to transport in your bag, and you won't have to worry about a glass breaking.
Don't hesitate to ask the person running the audition about prop usage. There are situations in which props are necessary, like in commercials where you are selling a product. Clients need to see how you handle their product, and in these cases the prop is likely supplied for you.
When in doubt, just ask. You'll be doing yourself, and the others in the audition room, a favor.
Yesterday's recording session for the Teen Virtual Showcase: Second City Edition went off without a hitch! Well, mostly. We did have some planes form the Air and Water Show give us a lovely flyover greeting a couple of times. But all in all, it was a successful day with a great group of kids. Now...time to edit! And yes, I drink my coffee through a straw.
