I've Resigned! — Page 7

I personally think that it is some of the best advice I ever got - when I go to an audition now, I never think of it being the perfect role for me and that no one else can play it as good as I could - instead I think of it as a little chance to give a cabaret performance - my little show for whoever happens to be in the room, just me sharing a part of myself and trying to show how happy I am to be able to do this for/with them...it makes all the difference in the world when you don't automatically set yourself up for rejection - as a matter of fact, I hate that people refer to it as rejection all the time - just because you weren't picked for something they are casting, it doesn't mean they rejected you, it simply means that they had something else in mind and you were not quite what they wanted, but it has nothing to do with your performance capabilities or your looks - we are God's Gifts to the world (meaning people in general)...we should love ourselves and our abilities - remember that famous quote - I think it is by Nelson Mandela - something to the affect that the thing we are most afraid of is our perfection - we are afraid that we may be exactly what they need and we are afraid of success - I believe that's true of a lot of performers - myself included. I just have to remind myself that I've done this for years, that I come from a musical family and that I can sing and I can act just as well as anyone else out there...and that if God means for me to be a success, she'll provide the perfect opportunity for me. (and I've had a good many successes in my life - I suppose if I died tonight I'd be reminded of all the wonderful experiences I've had - the Sunday in The Park tour I did, My relationship with my beautiful mate, joeyjoe, the love of my family -these are all successes in my book)
Gee can you tell I've had an extra cup of coffee today - I'm just rattling off at the mouth again!

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You are absolutely right though. I was on the other side of the business for many years, so I know your "rejection" theory is spot-on. Actors are narcissistic by nature and tend to take everything personally - whether you are cast or not could have very little to do with how you performed. The happiest actors are the ones who understand exactly what you just said.

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Updated On: 3/4/05 at 02:24 PM

Sueleen - I think you misunderstand - what my teacher (one of the best in New York) was trying to impress upon us is that no matter how much preparation you do, no matter how wonderful you are in a role, you're setting yourself up for failure at the start if you go into that room putting all that pressure on yourself to be "everything" they're looking for - what he was saying is "do your best, you're very best for that moment" wether you didn't sleep the night before or you have a cold or your mother just died - all those outside influences affect your performance in an audition - so do you're personal best and they are bound to think of you as a talented person wether you are right for the role or not. That way, they'll remember you when the right role DOES come along (in their eyes) and you'll be called in for it.
That was his point, as I see it.
And yes - I paid him extremely well and have never regretted spending a penny of it.

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YAY REDHOT!!!! Our Man of Inspiration!!!!

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Yes, Sueleen - don't tell me you didn't!!!

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Yes. It's $500, made payable to me.

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Seriously, who was required to be there? I'm confuzzled.

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To waste time? Or to give actors a false sense of hope?

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Updated On: 3/7/05 at 03:18 PM

Gotta love that great Equity union.

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Of course, the more you audition the better you get at it. I just don't think that the union should demand that the producers sit through a long ass day of open calls every time Equity tells them they have to. What frame of mind do you think they are in. Besides, I have a hunch that the people with real casting authority do not attend. They send their assistants and if someone really sticks out they might get a call back to audition for the people who matter.

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Sueleen, they don't send their assistants. The assistants have to stay in the office and do the crap work. Trust me.

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I would suggest a larger restaurant chain (Bubba Gump Shrimp or Bennigans, maybe even Applebees?) for a number of reasons. Fist of all they tend to have a larger staff so it is easier to get a shift covered at the last minute. The smaller privately owned places may be more profitable, but they are sometimes put off if you keep calling in sick at the last minute for an audition. I would also try going to the Equity office and see if they don’t have some kind of temp work for you. I am sure they can find something for you to do.

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