Comments on: Unsolicited Advice About Auditions

By: Ben Whitehouse

Ben Whitehouse — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:29:28 +0000

Sussy and Hal, I can see where you are both coming from on this, but I think knowing people in your slot, not necessarily your indie team mates, gives you a bit more chance at getting on the same page with them. While I do think any time you get to familiar with people and stop listening — you are bound for failure. I myself work much better with improvisers I know. Not friends or people I work with regularly, but people I have talked to at least once outside of classes/shows.

I am an improviser who likes to read the lay of the land beforehand and while I did audition with two people I knew (unintentionally mind you) I found my most rewarding scene was the one I had actually never worked with before, but had a class with. I knew his playing style and knew that if I listened actively, I would be rewarded with smart, on game gifts.

I’m not saying you should only work with the people you know, more that I feel comforted knowing there are people on the back line I know have my back.

This is however not what I wrote, so I guess that’s a problem.

By: Hal

Hal — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:22:01 +0000

I had been meaning to post– I agree with what Sussy said, although I guess it’s different for different people. I can understand why playing with friends would be easier for some people, but not me. I’ve never gotten on a team, but I’ve had better auditions and better luck with callbacks when I went with strangers.

I think part of it is what she said about being more alert and on your toes. Also, I think I get distracted by thinking about how my friends’ auditions are going, what they think of my scenes, whether I’m making them look bad, etc. Not like my friends are gonna think less of me if I have a shitty audition, but I guess it’s weird to have them there.

It’s easier for me if it just feels like MY audition, I guess. When I’ve auditioned with strangers and done well, I had no expectations of them, and that sort of freed me up.

But everyone’s different!

By: SussyB

SussyB — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:46:12 +0000

Good advice, but I have to respectfully disagree with #2 … I’ve auditioned for UCB Harold teams three times (twice in New York, once in L.A.) and was successful two out of those three times. The one time I wasn’t was when I went in with friends. The other two times I had no idea if the people I was starting scenes with were crazy or amazing, so I was way more on my toes. I know you think you’re going to be highly focused in the audition, but sometimes if it’s your friends in there with you, you fall into old habits, or you take for granted that you’re going to have a good scene together.

By: Corey Brown

Corey Brown — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:41:31 +0000

Agree with everything except the balls comment. If you got em…fucking flaunt em.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:36:59 +0000

Great advice. Between this and the Peter Gwinn site, it looks like the biggest key is to have fun. I think the second best thing is listening and making your scene partner look good. Set them up to be all stars and I’m sure the UCB powers-that-be will see you’d be a great asset on any team.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:33:10 +0000

Do the scene you’ve always wanted to do, or, at the very least, love the scene you’re in.

By: Ben Whitehouse

Ben Whitehouse — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:35:53 +0000

Well said Doug. I, personally, see any audition as a process in and of itself. It is like a performance. Focus on the experience, not on the outcome. If you put too much pressure on yourself you will not be thinking about the scenes in front of you.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:43:07 +0000

Well put! I’d also add that the chances of getting chosen for a callback and, eventually, for a Harold team are slim and slimmer, respectively. Last year, at least a few hundred people — maybe more! — auditioned and only a tiny percentage made a team. There were even some people who were on Harold teams before who re-auditioned. Yes, there were a lot of changes for Harold night last year, but many of the new teams were created simply by reshuffling existing rosters.

Having the proper perspective will really help you relax. Knowing that the odds are not in your favor, even if you’re pretty damn talented, is a good thing! It definitely takes the pressure off for me. (Not that I think I’m talented.)

I look at auditions as simply an experience in and of itself. After all, isn’t improv about staying in the moment and not planning ahead?

The best advice on auditions comes from a true vet, Peter Gwinn, in this perennial favorite:

http://www.argosagency.com/features/Gwinntervention.html

By: Curtis Retherford

Curtis Retherford — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:49:54 +0000

Nice list, Ben. One thing to add: I'd rather perform with someone who makes crazy decisions than no decisions at all. If someone does something ~~stupid~~ unexpected, I can deal with it. Standing around looking confused is a lot less exciting for both of us.