The Audition Circuit

Well I'm learning a lot about the whole "Equity/Non-Equity" argument. It's still a complex issue, but it's becoming clearer...for ME that is. It's a very individual decision...there's no cookie cutter answer that works for everyone...just like everything else in life.

I'm a 30 year old actor with an MFA. I wish I was Equity. There multiple auditions that I could attend everyday, but as an EMC actor, it's an ALL DAY commitment. I had three auditions that I wanted to hit last Friday...two EPA's and one appointment. I got up at 6:30 and walked into the Equity Building at around 8:15. I was 13th on the list for Pittsburgh City Theatre (or whatever) and 4th on the list for "Phillip Goes Forth" for the Mint Theatre. I waited around all day until 3:30 (EPA went until 5:30 but I had my appointment audition at 4pm at Ripley Greer) and didn't get seen. Pittsburgh made the call early on that they wouldn't be seeing anyone, but "Phillip Goes Forth" had a chance.

At the end of the day I was 1 for 3.

Today, I was 1 for 2. But today was tricky because they were both EPA's but one was at the Equity Building and one was at Ripley-Greer...about a 15 minute walk. You just gotta choose I suppose. So I went with the lower paying, shorter time EPA and I was the second to last person to be seen.

And then I blow it with a mediocre audition. I can't invest all this time and walk in the room and be unprepared. I really need to work on my pieces weekly, if not daily. They have to become routine enough but keep the passion. And it all starts with the pre-beat. If I start off well and can get in the zone, that will carry me through. But it'd be good to re-examine them and work them with someone from New York...someone who knows casting.

I've got the talent and the drive, I just need to learn the marketing and auditioning. I'm really wondering if I shouldn't be showcasing more character stuff. It's my strength and could be an interesting quality to show from someone my "type."

So yes, for me, Equity would be perfect. But only because I'm trained and I'm in New York. I don't know about elsewhere, but it just wouldn't make much sense I bet. If you're out of undergrad, probably you want to try and get a few EMC points before coming to New York. It's a big step up from non-eq...you can't even get in the Equity Building without your card.

It feels good to hustle and "pound the pavement." I'm leading a life that many successful and famous actors have lead. But does it feel like how I THOUGHT? Does it matter if it doesn't? Am I happy doing this? Is this actually my dream? Or is it just what I think I SHOULD be doing?

The question remains: What kind of life do I want to lead?