There is an image the actor projects the moment he/she enters a Casting Call. In this newsletter, we discuss what a casting agent or director sees in that very moment and how you add or retract from that impression.

Bear these vital points in mind the next time you audition.

Tardiness – Already an imminent problem for Bahamians, the ‘being on time’ factor applies to most every area of our lives. It’s unfortunate that we have a ‘Bahamian time’ that normally implies arriving to or starting an event at least an hour after the time publicized. Oftentimes, the same attitude toward timing carries over into auditioning. Here are some tips addressing this issue of time:

• DO NOT call the casting venue asking if you can attend half an hour after the casting is over because that will be the best time you’re available. There’s normally a 3-4 hour period of casting, but I always notice persons who are there before the casting begins. Being there as early as you can also gives you an advantage over your competition. At the start of the day, the casting director and director are more alert, energized and excited to see the fresh talent coming in. If, however, it’s a ‘weak’ audition day, they would’ve entertained a number of poor auditions and are now drained from the weak or no talent represented. Even if you’re the strongest talent, you show up at the end of the casting when their senses and maybe even tolerance are next to nothing. This may work as an encouragement that you walked in at the last minute, but you cannot bank on that or believe ‘I’ll come when I’m ready because I’m the best’. Who says that you’re the best?
• Being on time also gives you enough time to audition for more than one role. If I’m casting for an ‘Alicia’ and you’re there before anyone else, I may also encourage you to try out for ‘Mary Sue’. If the call ends at 4 p.m though and it’s 3:59, you’re fortunate if you even get to try out for Alicia. The ‘early bird catches the worm’ is still a very relevant adage. At the end of an all day casting, the agent is hungry, tired and thinking of all the good, bad and ugly talent they have to sift through. Bear this in mind when you intentionally catch the last minute of an audition, thinking that you’re the ‘best’.   

Your Look - So you weren’t with the early birds but did your best and arrived to the casting halfway through. You don’t know who’s been there, how they did or who’s coming after you. Never mind that, you take a chance of throwing on an old pair of faded jeans or a tacky dress that looks like you’re going to your neighbor’s house rather than a casting call; shoes or sneakers to boot; your hair hasn’t been touched for the day and if you’re a female, you bear absolutely no makeup. You think your natural skin is beautiful and don’t want to cover that important fact up.