Another Acting Audition.
And Again, You Didn't Get The Job!

Going on another acting audition?
Has it been a while since you have gotten a callback?
Here's how to figure out what’s working and what’s not!

A personal experience from May 2005...

After going on one commercial audition after another; well…twelve to be exact, and not getting one callback, I realized I should probably take an on-camera commercial class. While some actors tell me that twelve acting auditions without a callback is common, I still began to wonder if there was something I could do to better my chances.

Keep good, detailed records

To analyze your situation, it is necessary to keep good records. I used Leslie Becker’s book faithfully The Organized Actor faithfully The Organized Actor to keep track of all my auditions. In her book are audition pages in which you can log everything about an acting audition, such as role, location, name of CD's office, time, wardrobe necessary, materials to prepare, comments, among several other things. I used this tool faithfully and periodically go back and analyze my situation.

Are they really the right roles for you?

One of the things I looked at, were the roles for which my talent agent submitted me. I looked at this because sometimes at auditions I felt out of place or not right for the part they were casting. I also thought about my ability to improvise and decided I needed to work on that. However, I was already enrolled in other classes and had many other things going on, so I opted not to take an improv class right away. Instead I looked at other things I could improve on.

One day I talked to another actor, Clark Beasley, whom I had met about a month prior and run into again at a voice-over audition. (You often see the same faces at acting auditions!) I was feeling down that day, and fortunately I ran into him. Even though we had met before, we never really talked much. We spoke for a half hour, and he gave me a pep talk, telling me that when he started out, it was the same for him and that one day things will just start to click. “You’ll see,” he said.

Ask yourself more questions

If you keep not getting called back, ask more questions.
Are you as prepared as you can be?
Do you need to work on your improv skills?
Do you need to work on your cold reading skills?
Are your monologues appropriate? Are they crisp?
Do you really know the part you are auditioning for?
Are you getting to your auditions in time to learn the copy (if it's a commercial), get dressed, put on your make-up and be relaxed or are you always arriving at the last minute, going into the audition room a wreck?
Are you polite and on your best behavior when you go into the casting office?
Do you realize that the audition begins from the moment you walk into the casting office?
Are you organized when you walk into the audition room?
Is your head right when you walk into the audition room or are you thinking, "I gotta book this job!!!" Not a good attitude to have. Relax.
These are just some of the many questions you might want to ask yourself about each and every acting audition you go on, especially if you are not getting called back. Once you identify what's wrong, then you need to do something about it!

Make adjustments

That very same day, after I had made some adjustments over the last couple of weeks, things began to change. That very same week was the best week of the summer and from that day on, the results I started to get were much better. That week I booked two jobs, and from them came two others. In addition, I was called back three times for commercials and put on hold for twice as well.

In the end

Unfortunately I didn’t book the commercials, but I knew I was getting closer. Also, the casting directors for whom I auditioned, after being put on hold, began to call me directly, bypassing my agent, because they also believed that sooner or later I would book something. Just a side note, although they called me directly without going through my agent, I always involved my agent anyway. She has been good to me and I don’t want to ruin that relationship. For other things that I submit myself for, however, I keep all the pay. This is not necessary right or wrong, but it’s how I choose to do business.

The most important message

Whatever you do, if you are going to auditions and not getting very many callbacks, then you must realize that something is wrong and you have to fix it. If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. If that’s not good enough, then you have to change. Have a look at what it is we are up against very often when we go to an acting audition.

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What you’re doing is great Anthony. Whenever I read the things on your site, the interviews and even your book, I feel like if only everybody got to read this before they got started, they would be so much better off and everybody else (casting directors, agents, directors, etc.) would be so much better off too.
Personal Manager, Ingrid French

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Tony,
I want to say you changed my life. I want to be an actress so bad, but i began losing motivation when I couldn't figure out what to do. And then I found you! Thanks to you, I'm taking my first acting classes next month! Yippee!
Sara, Pasadena, CA

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Hi Tony
I would like to thank you for helping me with the monologue question I asked you. I went to the auditions for a Drama course and I am happy to say that I have been accepted as a first-year student at the Tshwane University of Technology. Please keep on sending me those newsletters and let me know where I can find books that will help me in my acting career. Thank you once more. Have a blessed day.
Sincerely
Edward Thaba -South Africa

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Dear Anthony,
Just wanted to thank you for bringing me in to [audition for the video], meet you and chat this Saturday. I was really excited to hear about your working on actingcareerstartup.com and even took a look at it today - it's awesome! You are very well-spoken, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and it shows through the work that you do! I hope our paths in the industry will cross again and really enjoyed meeting you. Thanks, again and best wishes with your very important work!
Warmly,
Gretchen, NY, NY

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Hey Tony, thanks for the info, yours by far is the most useful, I am 30 years old, and I myself always (secretly) wanted to be an actress, but I never knew where to begin, so thank you. You have given me hope!
Ana C., Tampa, FL