E-Mail to a Young Actress, or, Ask Havoc
I didn't vote.
But way to go, America! Thank you so much for choosing Emmitt over Joey!
As per my own civic duty, a young performer recently shot me the following query via e-mail:
I have a question. I'm going to the chorus call for The Wedding Singer on Monday. The call is 2pm for females. ... When the call has been 10am I usually get there around 5:30 so that I'm early on the non-eq list... should I do the same thing even though the call is 2pm? or should I get there around 11 or 12 to sign up b/c the call is at 2pm? Any idea? Thanks!!!
Since I am usually so good with e-mails, this was my response:
Hmm...this type of stuff usually isn't my bag (i.e. if you're not in the union, don't go to union auditions), but, since it's a quick question and I'm already at my computer, I'll try to answer this question as best I can.
First off, is this a dancer call or a singer call? It makes a huge difference either way. If it's a dance call, you'll stand a great chance of being seen, since they call in groups en masse, and usually they have time to see non-Equity performers at the end of the day. And, if it's a singer call, especially for a show as popular as The Wedding Singer, you'll have much less of a chance of being seen, regardless of whether you're first on the list, you're willing to wait on line all day, et cetera. If you do get to sing at 5:30 PM or so, congratulations! That rarely ever happens. But don't take it too hard if they tell you you're too short or tall or young to be in this show...there's really no such thing as being "too young" for this, now is there? If it's an Equity call, then you're probably not even auditioning for the casting director. Sometimes you only get to audition for a casting associate (not the CD, and definitely not the director), or even a casting intern, and sometimes you're singing for a guy who pushes a broom at the rehearsal studio/audition center.
If you're used to waking up, and getting there by 5:00 AM, and actually having the energy to act/sing/dance all day, I'd say go as early as you can. Just don't be an idiot. Don't go if you know you're going to be narcoleptic at any point in the day. And, if there's a sign-up sheet for females, know your number and where it's going to be in terms of how many Equity members show up. A show like The Wedding Singer is closing within the next two months, so chances are they aren't so much looking for immediate replacements for the Broadway company as they are scouting for the inevitable Wedding Singer Equity national tour. It has a pretty large cult fanbase, and the cult tends to include desperate actors. So, careful where you tread. Don't listen to whatever unsolicited advice actors give you on how to forward your career! Um...oops.
Also, remember that Equity calls are procedural and only mandated by law. I've had friends whose agents submitted them for The Wedding Singer outside of the EPA's, and it didn't make a difference either way. A show like Wicked or Hairspray usually doesn't have any openings when they schedule their Equity calls and, in some cases, only half-assing it. They are required by the union to have annual cattle calls anyway, even if they aren't hiring at the time, and the chances of getting cast in a show (even if you are in the union) from an Equity call is very slim. There is a reason the President of the Actors' Union is a labor lawyer. And it's very good to read up on those laws just before you join, even if you're able to get in early. And sometimes the casting of a show is so particular, they're required to have open calls for Equity and non-Equity performers, and THEN people stand much better chances at getting cast in Broadway shows from those!
Now that I've stopped rambling on about auditions and my stupid opinions on them, I'd say go for the experience anyway. It's always something truly great to behold if you're really a fan of the show. And it's always fun to see delusional actors running around in eighties costumes, if they're actually dumb enough to "dress the part." And if you're also a writer, it provides plenty of material. I went to an open call once for A Midsummer Night's Dream and there were literally hundreds of girls running around in fairy wings. Awesome!
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Good luck!
Rose Havoc
But way to go, America! Thank you so much for choosing Emmitt over Joey!
As per my own civic duty, a young performer recently shot me the following query via e-mail:
I have a question. I'm going to the chorus call for The Wedding Singer on Monday. The call is 2pm for females. ... When the call has been 10am I usually get there around 5:30 so that I'm early on the non-eq list... should I do the same thing even though the call is 2pm? or should I get there around 11 or 12 to sign up b/c the call is at 2pm? Any idea? Thanks!!!
Since I am usually so good with e-mails, this was my response:
Hmm...this type of stuff usually isn't my bag (i.e. if you're not in the union, don't go to union auditions), but, since it's a quick question and I'm already at my computer, I'll try to answer this question as best I can.
First off, is this a dancer call or a singer call? It makes a huge difference either way. If it's a dance call, you'll stand a great chance of being seen, since they call in groups en masse, and usually they have time to see non-Equity performers at the end of the day. And, if it's a singer call, especially for a show as popular as The Wedding Singer, you'll have much less of a chance of being seen, regardless of whether you're first on the list, you're willing to wait on line all day, et cetera. If you do get to sing at 5:30 PM or so, congratulations! That rarely ever happens. But don't take it too hard if they tell you you're too short or tall or young to be in this show...there's really no such thing as being "too young" for this, now is there? If it's an Equity call, then you're probably not even auditioning for the casting director. Sometimes you only get to audition for a casting associate (not the CD, and definitely not the director), or even a casting intern, and sometimes you're singing for a guy who pushes a broom at the rehearsal studio/audition center.
If you're used to waking up, and getting there by 5:00 AM, and actually having the energy to act/sing/dance all day, I'd say go as early as you can. Just don't be an idiot. Don't go if you know you're going to be narcoleptic at any point in the day. And, if there's a sign-up sheet for females, know your number and where it's going to be in terms of how many Equity members show up. A show like The Wedding Singer is closing within the next two months, so chances are they aren't so much looking for immediate replacements for the Broadway company as they are scouting for the inevitable Wedding Singer Equity national tour. It has a pretty large cult fanbase, and the cult tends to include desperate actors. So, careful where you tread. Don't listen to whatever unsolicited advice actors give you on how to forward your career! Um...oops.
Also, remember that Equity calls are procedural and only mandated by law. I've had friends whose agents submitted them for The Wedding Singer outside of the EPA's, and it didn't make a difference either way. A show like Wicked or Hairspray usually doesn't have any openings when they schedule their Equity calls and, in some cases, only half-assing it. They are required by the union to have annual cattle calls anyway, even if they aren't hiring at the time, and the chances of getting cast in a show (even if you are in the union) from an Equity call is very slim. There is a reason the President of the Actors' Union is a labor lawyer. And it's very good to read up on those laws just before you join, even if you're able to get in early. And sometimes the casting of a show is so particular, they're required to have open calls for Equity and non-Equity performers, and THEN people stand much better chances at getting cast in Broadway shows from those!
Now that I've stopped rambling on about auditions and my stupid opinions on them, I'd say go for the experience anyway. It's always something truly great to behold if you're really a fan of the show. And it's always fun to see delusional actors running around in eighties costumes, if they're actually dumb enough to "dress the part." And if you're also a writer, it provides plenty of material. I went to an open call once for A Midsummer Night's Dream and there were literally hundreds of girls running around in fairy wings. Awesome!
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Good luck!
Rose Havoc
posted by Gypsy at 2:35 PM
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