You Speak German? Ja...Kind Of

For the past week, I have stared at this piece of paper literally hundreds of times. I repeated those words, translated to German, for an audition.

Hundreds of times...

Earlier in the week I submitted my resume and headshot for an audition. The part is for a pre-WWII Nazi instigator. I was asked to submit this information because I have a little knowledge of the German language. Of course, it's been almost 30 years since I did anything with my German, and to be honest, I wasn't all that fluent back then.

I've never auditioned for a feature film before. Thanks to a good friend who offered some incredibly valuable advice, I wasn't as nervous and I could have been. My main fear--completely botching the German. I knew what the words meant and I have recited them over and over and over and over and over and over again. I was ready, but still...when you're in the room with the decision makers, my nerves have been known to get the best of me.

My main goal was to not screw up, not have to re-start because I said "von" with a "V" sound and not a "F" sound as it should be pronounced. 

I'm happy to say, I did not embarrass myself. The words came out pretty much as they should have and I got through the audition feeling good. That doesn't always happen. At least, if I don't get the part, I feel good about how I did.

There's a lot of things that go through my mind when I audition. The trick--at least for me--is to eliminate as many of those things, the things that have nothing to do with the words I'm saying, from the audition. Focus on what you're trying to communicate to the camera, and by extension, the audience. Seeing as how this was my first time doing this, we'll see how successful I was. Time will tell.

Auditioning...A Little Slice Of Hell

I don't do a lot of shows, but I've done a fair share. And I should admit that, because of various circumstances, I have not had to do a lot of auditioning. There was a time when I did five or six shows without having to audition. I was asked to replace someone who dropped out a couple of times. I love helping out, and the trade-off for doing so is no auditions.

That works for me.

But tonight, my daughter and I signed up for the summer show at our local theatre. We were given a time and our assignments--sing sixteen bars of a song and prepare a short dialogue. We dressed up, drove the five miles to the theatre, dropped off our resumes and headshots and waited for out turn.

Then the nerves hit, the anticipation, the insecurities. I know it's part of the experience, but still.

I don't know why, but something about this audition felt off the entire time I prepared. I found a song similar to those in the show (as recommended in the audition instructions...), and I kept going over and over the dialogue. It never seemed to stick.

I found myself in a room with eight or so other nervous people waiting to be judged. There was a piano, a desk behind which were sitting the decision makers, the directors, the producers. We sat and waited our turn, gave unspoken support as each handed the accompanist their music and stood on the X made of masking tape.

Everyone did great, really great. I knew several who auditioned, having been in shows with them before. I could listen to them sing all day long. That goes for my daughter as well. She did an amazing job.

Then, it was my turn. 

Let's just say it did not go as I had envisioned it. Oh no. It did not go well.

I began my song and after the second stanza, I had missed a couple of words. Then, the entire rest of the song just vanished like smoke in a breeze. 

Gone.

The piano player continued and I remained on the X, a silent monument to how one blows an audition. All I could do was smile.

In life, nothing comes but without a price. The price of doing a show is working hard, showing up, doing your best, and getting past the audition. There are many sayings about how a person cannot truly grow without being pushed, how a muscle wastes away if it's not worked, how getting out of one's comfort zone is the only way to really progress.

I'm sure all that's true, but it still sucks to blow an audition.

If I continue to do shows, there will continue to be the need to prepare and hopefully do better (I'd be hard pressed to do worse...). There's other sayings, too. Sayings about how everything that has happened is in the past, and is therefore, unchangeable, so worrying or regretting this particular audition is a waste of time. And, I can take comfort from the words penned from Margret Mitchell, "Tomorrow is another day."

How To Get Cast In Community Theater...A Few Suggestions

A friend asked me yesterday for some advice. He wants to start doing theater again. He attended a couple of auditions and was not picked. Granted, he swung for the fences and tried out for two shows I don't think I would have made. Not that I'm the greatest actor, but I've been doing community theater shows for almost twenty years.

During that time, I've learned a thing or two.

I started answering his questions and I realized I began rambling on and on. Turns out I had more advice than I thought I did. I decided to put down those ideas in this blog post, just in case anyone else might have the same questions.

Of course, these are my own opinions based on my experiences. They are in no way definite or exclusive...just how I see things.

I started off with this:

I would try for a show at one of the local theaters that needs men. Shows like 1776, or Oklahoma, or something with a big cast. The best way to help yourself is the way you handle yourself once you’re in a show. I know it doesn’t help much to say “first, get in a show, then you can really help yourself.” It’s just that once you’re in a show, you can do the little things directors and theaters love, like show up on time and always work hard.

Those two things go a LONG way to making sure you can do shows in the future.

The “big cast that needs men” is a great way to get in the door

Centerpoint is a good place to go. There’s a smaller theater in Farmington/Kaysville called Hope Box. I’ve never done a show there, but I know many who have and they have enjoyed that theater experience.

There’s also a theater in Ogden and a couple more in SLC that I’ve heard of. The theater community isn’t really that big--everyone gets to know everyone else and what you want to do is get a reputation as being dependable and hard working. If the people who choose know this about you, or have heard this about you, they’ll put you in shows.

But I think [getting involved in community theater] is a good thing to get into. On a whole, there are good people involved who like to so something than just stay home and play video games. And I do know they need guys because I’ve been asked to be in shows when people drop out or they didn’t get enough fill a cast. And they do that because they know what they’re going to get. That’s a few ideas I have about how to get in shows. Basically, work your butt off once you get in and keep trying until you do get in a show.

He then asked about trying for a lead role or being in the ensemble. Here's my response:

I think it’s okay to say you’d like to be considered for a lead role. You want to be confident in an audition. Of course, they’re going to look at you with more scrutiny. And I think Centerpoint gets leads that can be leads anywhere (Hale, Pioneer Memorial). I usually write “Any Part” on the paperwork. They are looking for something for various parts and you might fit into those. Actually, being an ensemble member is a great way to exceed their expectations and make yourself look better by comparison than some of the other ensemble people who just want to have fun with their friends.

Sorry--I’m rambling, but I’ve been doing shows for almost 20 years. Even though you might not get leads right away, starting small can lead to getting the good parts.

It’s like a club and you’re on the outside wanting to be part of the club. And, in my opinion, the way you act, the things you say, the way you treat other people (respect/just being a good guy) like fellow cast members, directors, anyone associated with the theater, does more to help you get in shows than how you are on stage. It’s community theater and you’re not getting paid so if you treat it like a job and respect it, you’ll get in show after show. Because if they know you act that way and they then find out if you can act/dance/sing, you’ll get the bigger parts.

Like I said, these are just some things that raced around in my mind yesterday. Maybe they'll help you if you're trying to get in a show. And if so, I hope they do.

Auditioning...A Great Way To Wake Up

There's nothing like an early morning audition to get you going in the morning.

I seem to go in cycles when it comes to doing shows. If you enjoy performing, you might understand why. It's because when you're in a show, you're part of a family, albeit a temporary one. You put in a lot of time and hard work and before you know it, the show's over. 

But there's a part of you that doesn't want it to end, so you audition for the next possible show--sometimes auditioning for a show that rehearses while you're already in a show. I have friends who do show after show. One friend did shows for a year solid--that's two months rehearsing (almost every night...), then doing the show for a month. He rehearsed for eight months and did shows for four.

I understand the draw. I really do. But when you're in shows, working hard and having fun, other things get ignored, like writing projects and other projects, not to mention spending time with the family, those who matter most.

This morning I auditioned with my daughter and my wife. It was a great way to wake us up. We'll know next week if we made the show. Summer's a good time to do a show. Then again, depending on the perspective, there's never a bad time to do a show.

The Horror That Is Auditioning...

I'm sure there are some people out there who love auditioning. I don't know any of them. We gather and put on a number, then wait. We watch groups enter a room and the door closes. What horrors await them? Soon, we'll all know.

Prepare to sing a section of music is what we've been told. I've gone over the song so many times, there's no way I can forget the short excerpt I've chosen. And yet I look at the music again just to make sure. Who knows what can happen when you're nervous? Those lyrics and notes you could sing in your sleep might suddenly flee your mind at a most inopportune time.

The door opens and they call your number. You enter the Room of Judgement. Sitting before you are those with that most important charge of choosing. I've never sat on that side of the table, the side with the power of choice. I've only been with those trying to sound as good as possible but never quite reaching that level of excellence that you hope you're capable of reaching.

They call your name/number. You stand. You give your music to the piano player then stand on wobbly legs before the panel. You say your name and your voice sounds strange when it should sound confident. The music starts. Is that the same music you sang to over and over in your mind? I think not. But the time comes, you breath oxygen into your lungs and go for it.

When it's over, they all smile and you thank each other. They thank you for auditioning and you thank them for the opportunity. There's something about the air outside the Room of Judgement. It's somehow cleaner, fresher, more free. You leave the building thinking of all the ways you could have done better.

Yes, I'm sure there are some people who love to audition. And I don't know any of them.