Bad Audition

Q: Do you ever have a bad audition? You seem to be one of those people who is content no matter what state they are in or what they are doing and that is a great way to be.

AO: Yes, like any job, there are good and bad auditions.
I went to one audition in Raleigh NC, and the casting director seemed really excited to see me – she had me read a part and then decided she wanted me to read for another role as well. (Which is always a good sign.)
She sent me out in the hall and called me back in twenty minutes later to do a second reading.
Then she wanted me to learn a dance and come back in an hour and perform the dance. She called a local dance teacher to come over and teach me the dance, which he did and which I performed later that afternoon.
Then she wanted me to learn a second dance – which wasn’t amusing to me at all – or the dance teacher, since at this point, neither of us were being paid for our time, nor had we officially been chosen for the job. But we learned the dance anyway, in hopes of getting the job.
After performing the second dance she sent me out in the hall to rehearse the reading for a third character she wanted me to read for.
After reading for the third character (5 auditions in front of the same casting director, and 8 hours later) she asked me to lunch.

I suggested Wendy’s across the street since I wasn’t going to turn this into a business lunch event –
And it was at Wendy’s where after I bought her some food, she asked me if I could come back and audition again the following day.

“I’m thrilled for the chance to audition for you, and while it seems there is something you see that you like, you seem to be hesitating for some unknown reason.
I live three hours away, and have been here auditioning for you for eight hours. If in eight hours you haven’t decided that I’m right for your production…let’s agree that we get along, and we’ll keep the possibility of us working together open for the future – but for now, I have to go back home, and I’m unable to drive all the way back here tomorrow. Thank you for your time.”

And I promptly got up and left the Wendy’s.
She did email me a couple of times for other projects – but this particular audition was one of the weirdest I’ve had thus far.

I'm a professional actor, and auditioning is part of my business - it's a sales pitch in a sense, and the casting directors job is that of the buyer, they must make a decision that you are right or not right for a job.

As a salesperson, you're not going to close every sale, nor as an actor are you going to get every job you audition for - and there comes a time in every sale, when the selling must end. I find it helpful not to take it personally, just move on to the next sale.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

What Have You Been Up To?

Note: Hey Angela!
This is Myles, we met on the set of "Cabin Fever 2" on the prom scene days. I doubt you'd remember me, but one thing that may stick out in particular is that I was talking to you when your old acting friend from a Charlotte acting class showed up and said hello to you (he was a tall blonde haired fellow).
I've got some pictures of me from the set, but I was covered in blood so you may not recognize me. Either way, was wondering how you've been doing since the completion of the film?
Have you been doing anything else since then?I do hope you're doing well!

Hope to hear from you soon!


AO: Hi Myles,
It’s great to hear from you and thanks for staying in touch.
After we wrapped “Cabin Fever 2” I went back to my training schedule which includes various acting, voice and dance classes.
As a freelance actor, I supplement my income with voice over work and I’m currently writing a screenplay.
The biggest thing I’ve learned from acting, more than anything is – how to live life in scenes, i.e. on purpose from moment to moment, rather than to drift aimlessly through each day. Not to mention that acting allows me to meet great folks like yourself.

Woohoo!

What have you been up to since the film?
Any new acting gigs?
Any auditions?

PS. Thanks for the pictures. They’re awesome – you look very painfully dead. ;-)
Angela

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Voice Training

Q: What training do you do for your voice?

AO: It really depends on what you want to achieve with your voice and how you plan on using it. A fabulous book I recommend is Patsy Rodenburgs' book called The Actor Speaks: Voice and the Performer (ISBN: 0312295146) It's full of wonderful exercises you can use on a daily basis.

If you are in Charlotte NC, the Carolina Broadcasting School sometimes offers workshops and classes specifically for actors and would be voice-over talent.
If you are in theater, do stage work, or you sing while dancing, a great exercise I do each morning is sing while on my treadmill. I have one earbud from my mp3 player, playing music in my ear, while listening with the other ear to see if I'm singing on key. It's a challenge because you have to split your breathing with your singing, and your exercising - and it strengthens your vocal/breathing skills.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Sending Headshots

Q: I sent my headshot to a Director and then I called him a week later and he said he never got it. What should I do?

AO: Welcome to show business and welcome to life. Many directors, producers, casting directors and agents receive headshots with reverence, knowing that it cost time, money and courage for you to send it. Others unfortunately, receive them like junk mail. Brief glance and in the trash it goes. Don't take it personally.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Business Card or Resume?

Q: How do you know when to give somebody your business card or resume?

AO: If you are not sure, ask them if it would be okay to give them your stuff. With a little practice you'll soon be able to determine whether or not the setting is appropriate. The worst thing that can happen is that you ask and you are told "no." And that leaves you no further behind than if you hadn't asked - so if you're not sure, just ask the person you want to give it to...because you never know.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Day Job or Acting Full Time?

Q: Hey Angela,I wanted to maybe get some advice from you because I know that you made the transition to becoming an actress.
I have a day job and was planning to go back to VA this Fall to finish my degree in Business. But I have the opportunity to be in another movie and many others in the future. I find myself wanting to go the same route that you have gone and become an actor. But for me do this would be a huge decision in my life because I know that I can have a great life if I go back to school and finish my degree.
I also may have to quit my day job in landscaping in order to pursue acting (and I do have bills to pay, that's for sure). Was it hard for you when you first started out? This is certainly one of the biggest decisions of my life. I guess it all boils down to how much I really want it. But anyways, any tips you can give me would be awesome! But it's cool if you can't reply to this (I know you're busy).


AO: Transitioning from civilian to actor is not an overnight process, but you are correct that your success is directly linked to your level of enthusiasm and dedication.

* Remember that hobbies cost you money, while business earns you money. Think of acting as a business, rather than a hobby and you’ll go much further faster.

If you are currently landscaping, you already know how to juggle your schedule around bad weather to still get the job done. This is great news inasmuch as you can continue to juggle your schedule around acting and not give up your current clientele. Act when you have the jobs, and when acting is slow, do your bigger landscaping projects.

Personally I’ve found that most everybody is fascinated with movies, movie making, and the elusive world of acting. I’ve told current friends, family and clients that I’m acting and they’ll have to be flexible with my schedule as I might miss an event (birthday, reunion etc.) here or there and lo and behold, they are more than willing to work with me – and of course they want to hear all about the details of my latest gig.

My suggestion is to always have a back up income to your acting – even your top A-list actors dabble in real estate, restaurants, filmmaking, investing, and other profitable endeavors to spread the risk.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Scene Study

Q: How do you choose a scene to work on in your scene study class?

AO: Find a scene partner first. What approximate age range can they play? (give or take 5 years.)
* Choose a scene with players that match the age range and gender of you and your scene partner. This will allow you both to focus on the text, the subtext and the scene without trying to stretch too far in the beginning.

* Find a scene (preferably from a play) because the sides will already be in text form somewhere - and play scenes tend to be longer than scenes from movies which allow you do to an entire scene, or just a part of one.
Don't be afraid to ask for help from a teacher, mentor or more experienced actor in your class.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

To Monologue or not to Monologue?

Q: I'm going to an audition and the email I got said I should come with prepared material, but it didn't say what. What should I do?

AO: Find out as much as you can about the audition.
* Does the production company or theater have a website? Often times, they will post auditions and breakdowns under their "Casting", "Auditions" or "Events" sections.
If you have an agent, I would contact them and ask if they can get you sides to read in advance.
* Ask if there is a particular monologue the casting director wants to hear. If not, find something that is characteristic of the role you are auditioning for.
* If you are auditioning for an independent film, often the producers, writers and directors are very accessible, and their information is right in the email you receive.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Finding work without an Agent

Q: How do I find jobs if I don't have an agent?

AO: How do you find a date without a dating service? You have to be on the lookout.
* Go where actors go. (I.e. websites that post auditions, open calls, and actors resources.)
* Join associations and groups where actors go to network.
* Attend workshops and classes for actors. ü Keep marketing materials with you at all times.
* During your networking time in a class, on a set, and in rehearsal exchange information with other actors, teachers, casting directors and movie people.

© 2007 Angela Oberer

Post Card Promotion

Q: You've got an incredible post card promo thing going, how often do you send post cards, who does them, and what kind of response have you received?

A: Thanks for noticing. I've personally found that sending postcards is less expensive than sending headshots and resumes and demo reels (which I don't send unless it's for a particular role for which I want to be considered.)
My postcards are meant to be mini-press kits, with limited updates, a couple of photos and a way to keep in touch with people I have worked with, or people I want to work with in the industry.
I send them every six weeks typically - give or take a few days.

VistaPrint.com prints all of my postcards and various photographers provide the photos.

The response I've received is fantastic. Lots of industry players have contacted me and have put me on their mailing lists to keep me informed about upcoming workshops, auditions, parties etc. Staying in touch is how we network and promote each other in this business.

© 2007 Angela Oberer