Audition No-Show(s)

Constructive Advice from The Beverly Office. (Part One)

Of late there has been a torrid increase in the number of actors not showing up to auditions.  Seems as though the audition process has become simply too cumbersome.  So often my actors ask me if they can self tape instead of attending the audition.  Although, self taping is the wave of the future, as of now, the casting process entails you showing up to perform in front of casting processionals.  This process is to be highly respected by acting professionals.  At this point as a talent agent I am seeing a blatant disrespect for the audition process.  For any actor on my roster let this be a wake up call.As a talent agent nothing is more upsetting than for an actor to believe that he or she is too good for the audition process.  Or better yet they can pick and choose which audition(s) they will attend. 

Believe me I understand as your resume grows you do have the option of yes or no!  However, woe be the actor that is disrespecting what so many others have fought so hard to build. The industry has set up the talent agent, actor relationship, to be one that is unpaid unless there is a booking involved.  Further talent agents have to book 6 figure job(s) for the larger majority of their talent to even make the process profitable remember its 10% on all Union jobs.  For those of you who skipped your Math Classes as well here are some numbers for you to review based on 10%:100.00 = 10.00 for T/A, 500.00 50.00 for T/A, 1000.00 100.00 for T/A ,10,000.00 1000.00 for T/A.  These numbers alone should tell you why so many talent agencies close their doors.  

You really have to be focused and have your talent booking not only multiple projects but with multiple actors attached.    So often we forgo our profits to ensure that actors obtain work, particularly, if the actor is in the building process of their careers.  What happens so often is an actor attends an industry workshop and someone who has never worked as an agent or worked as an agent 10 years ago gets up as says, let me tell you what I would do.  I would tell a person who is working on my behalf, for free, (the agent) that this is the way things are going to go.  Now this Agent who gives up hours of their time to get you in front of casting professionals and I, actor,  will reward you, agent, with a no show, bad attitude, late arrival, poor behavior with casting professionals and I expect for you, agent, to continue working for free on my behalf.  

Of course, when the agent does continue to offer you work opportunities,  by the way, any good agent, worth their salt is not going to put up that kind of attitude, you actor now feel victimized.

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