Getting Started in the Industry
We cover all the topics essential to making it in entertainment in a specific order that gets
results.
Auditions
Congratulations on your first audition! Make sure you are prepared.
Double check:
- Date
- Time
- Audition address
- Phone number
- Directions
- Contact names (the casting director’s name and/or the person you’ll be asking for upon arrival)
- Type of clothing to wear (wardrobe)
- Name of the project or product (i.e. “Blackish,” “Uber”)
- What are they looking for (character description)
- Get ‘sides’ (scripted material) if available and practice your lines
Bring along:
- Parking money
- Map
- Snacks in case you have to wait
- Travel-type games or work books to keep busy during downtime
- Extra clothes
- Extra photos/resumes
- Entertainment Work Permit (if applicable)
Prepare a Monologue or 30sec Commercial…just in case:
- Sample Dramatic Monologues for Kids and Teen (.pdf)
- Sample Comedic Monologues for Kids and Teens (.pdf)
- Sample Commercials for Kids and Teens (.pdf)
Teach your kids the “Three P’s”:
- Be Punctual
Why be on time when you can be EARLY. Ten minutes is good, 30 minutes is too early.
- Be Polite
Teach your kids to greet adults with direct eye contact, a hand shake, and a smile. “Hello, my name is______________, nice to meet you!”
- Be Prepared
Know the material and practice.
Add two more “P’s” and your child will be a real PRO!
- Be Positive
Keep a positive attitude, even if you don’t get the job. Getting an audition already means you have been selected out of hundreds of kids for an interview. . . NICE WORK!
- Be Patient
Show biz can have more waiting time than construction work. Be prepared to wait. Use your waiting time to socialize and practice your “P’s.”
Do not bring other children along to the auditions. If you must bring another child, bring someone to help or toys/books to keep the child busy and distracted from causing a disruption.
If the casting director gives you a “callback,” remember to wear the same clothing and hair style.
How often can I expect to be called for an audition?
If casting directors are responding well to your photos and your agent is successfully getting you out, you could expect to audition as much as a few times a week or as little as a few times a month.
The number of available auditions being held can vary for a variety of reasons. Our business is affected by everything: earthquakes, fires, strikes and runaway production (i.e. tax incentives). Before you start complaining to your agent that they are not getting you out enough, consider the climate of the industry. How strong is the dollar? Does everyone seem to be filming in another state or country? What time of year is it? Then industry tends to slow down during the holidays.