An Audition... or so you thought

The appointment had been on your calendar for over a week.  You practiced your monologue, perhaps your 16 bars every day.  You rehearsed a couple to put in your pocket, just in case.  You printed out new resumes, stapled them to your headshots and trimmed them neatly to look as professional as possible.  Somehow, you even found the time to get a haircut.  

You got up early, anticipating the subway’s usual hiccups.  At the audition, you performed your pieces.  They asked you for another one.  You answered questions about your resume, some theatre or director you’ve worked for.  A common thread appeared between you and the people on the other side of the table.  You made them laugh.  You nailed it, or at least got as close as possible.  You left knowing that you’ll hear from them soon.

Now, there’s an email in your inbox.  Their response did not come as quickly as you thought it would.  In fact, you gave up hearing from them, thinking that it was just a fluke; they were that nice with everyone they saw and you just didn’t get the part.  But now this.  Perhaps someone dropped out of the show, and they need to recast.  They thought of you.  You open the email…

‘Classes starting at Theatre XYZ!  Brush up on your monologues with the help of our company members, only XX dollars!’ Or: ‘Remember that show you auditioned for and didn’t get?  It’s running now.  Here are some reviews and tickets are only XX dollars.  Come and see this amazing piece of theatre!’

How did you get on this mailing list?  You don’t remember signing up for any classes or mailings at the audition or at any time on the company’s webpage.  Then it hits you: this company believes that since you auditioned for them and they didn’t cast you, you need to take classes and they are just the company to which you should turn.

This must stop.

Theatres that use their auditions as an avenue to expand their mailing list, or see as a way to build or expand their audience and educational programs should not be allowed to hold auditions.  It is insulting to tell actors essentially they aren’t good to enough to act with the company, but their money is welcome if they want the company to improve their skills. These companies make actors feel like they accepted a free weekend in Aspen, and spent 23 hours a day listening to real estate sales pitches.   It is tactless, tasteless, and only reflects poorly on the company.

These same theatres would never think of sending out a small note a few days after the audition: ‘Thanks for coming out, however, we cannot offer you a part at this time.’  Instead, they expect actors to wait for days, weeks sometimes for them to decide for themselves that they must not have been cast.  A short note like this one would give the impression those running the theatre understand what the actor goes through in preparation and anticipation of an audition.

Especially if a company is young, this is a way to start building a good reputation and build a following.  Actors say to themselves ‘this is the type of company and the type of people I want to work with.’  Advertising seminars masquerading as auditions only serve to make companies look bad, and actors feel they have wasted their time.