Thread: Thoughts on auditions?

hello everybody!

i was chatting today to a lovely friend of mine - and she mentioned in conversation that a show had asked her to audition to perform?

ok, auditioning. fine. no problem...

however - it was to audition for an unpaid show?

do any of you have any thoughts on this?

to me it looks like they don't want to pay anyone (i know they can afford it. i've worked for them) but they want to make sure everyone is a good quality?

if you're not paying people, you can't be picky surely?
beggars can't be choosers and all that malarkey....

WARNING

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There are tons of indie/unpaid productions here (not just burlesque but anything on stage really) that audition for roles...I don't see what's so different?

productions are different,
i mean doing an act or two at a burlesque show at your own monetary expense.
so taking the time/travel/money to get there
for someone to critise what they're not willing to pay for

to me it seems like someone going into a shop because they're thirsty, drinking a drink from a fridge and going "it was good. but i'm still not going to pay for it"

I think if we were talking about some kind of insanely huge three ring hoopla where you would be seen by the gods and goddesses of society, press and the performing arts with the opportunity of having your career taken to dizzying new heights I would probably audition for an unpaid show.
For just an ordinary common or garden event though it does seem a bit of a tall order... most performers have showreels or films of their best acts on youtube etc, why not save the performer the trouble of hauling their tassels all the way over to you for a show they might not even book - and that even if they do book they won't receive financial recompense for?

I don't think I would do it unless there was a really great opportunity in it. I am so tired of small, new shows offering me gigs for 'exposure' or 'experience' when they are just some person and their mates on the stage and more of their mates in the audience. Who is that exposing me to? Nobody who can offer me anything I want. What am I experiencing? A poor show who don't even value performers enough to pay them something. If I had to audition too I think that would be the icing on the cake of ridiculousness!

Sorry - grumble over!

If the performer is willing to do it, presumably they see some value in the risk and potential of being in the show.

Personally, I wouldn't attend a show that does this but there are plenty of amateur acts desperate to perform.

Do charities interview volunteers to ensure they're going to keep up the good name of the charity?

I'm beginning to think that auditioning for unpaid roles isn't so bad. I know I'm inundated with applications for the new-comers slot at Muffins, and when I stumble across performers with talent and passion, the audience respond really well... and for the future of Hot Muffins, that's really good.

I've cetainly had to stop offering the new-comer's slot as a first-come-first-served venture because I can afford to be a bit more choosy (owing to the number of applicants). If these applications were all local, I'd certainly consider auditioning... but the applications come from far and wide, and I don't think it'd be fair. Instead, I favour applications that come with a video, or from someone I've already seen/heard about on the circuit....

Im not keen on unpaid auditions at all.
If your auditioning for a placement it's just the same as being interviewed for an internship. So when the benifits are there auditions are well worth doing for the right people. That is people who can back up claims.

I had an enquirey about a booking recently, And a soon after they said they were going to audition, - no fixed date or time untill a week before hand.
( WARNING SIGN ) the promoter said there would be no comps, and the audition then became open and advertised online,
as aposed to the closed casting.

Not only did they want the audition totally free, they also wanted to film it, and were then going to post them online.

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr NO.

When auditioning remember that your value as a person is not fixed to what someone else percieves your value should be as a performer.
And if your not happy with any aspect of the audition you have no obligation to do anything that your not comfortable with.

I say this to the girls especially, If your not comfortable with an audition, if it doesn't sound kosher, and if your being pressured. Just step away.

If you want to be a pro, expect to be asked to behave like a pro.

Either be prepared to audition sometimes, or have a good showreel that should take the place of that.

Originally Posted by heathersweet

( WARNING SIGN ) the promoter said there would be no comps, and the audition then became open and advertised online,
as aposed to the closed casting.

Not only did they want the audition totally free, they also wanted to film it, and were then going to post them online.

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr NO.

When auditioning remember that your value as a person is not fixed to what someone else percieves your value should be as a performer.
And if your not happy with any aspect of the audition you have no obligation to do anything that your not comfortable with.

I say this to the girls especially, If your not comfortable with an audition, if it doesn't sound kosher, and if your being pressured. Just step away.

Having said that, this example is clearly bullshit, and any performer worth anything should have walked away from that. Filming auditions to post online? NoFuckingway.

I don't think most performers are adverse to auditioning or providing a showreel. It's more a case of when it is worth attending an audition and when it isn't (at least for me).
For a show/slot that isn't paying they would have to be offering something worth having in return (experience, exposure, networking opportunities, a fun night out - but it has to be something YOU want not just something they think you should be grateful for). If they are I'm sure most people wouldn't balk at auditioning. But if the particular show is not offering you anything you would really want that badly it will make it even less appealing if they ask you to audition on top of performing for free.

I suppose what you are willing to go for is also affected by how long you have been performing, how experienced you are, how much you normally earn at gigs etc. I used to always offer to audition for people when I was very, very new and was very suprised that most of them didn't want me to and were happy to book me sight unseen. And even now, whether the promotor has contacted me or the other way around if I haven't worked for them before I always send them a link to video footage of my acts before we seal the deal so they know what to expect.