Actors often hear the advice to be bold and aggressive in getting their names out there. But if you approach casting directors in the wrong way, it can be a turn-off. If you follow proper protocol with casting and get an appointment with their office, you have to know the right etiquette for the audition itself. And if you happen to book the project, you still need to mind your p’s and q’s. So how can actors put the right foot forward when approaching casting directors? Arlene Schuster of ASG Casting, known for “The Mole,” “Sons & Daughters” and iconic commercials such as the Capital One campaign with Jennifer Garner, sat down with Casting Networks to give her take on “Actor Etiquette 101.”
Lesson 1: Reaching Out to Casting
Postcards are a great way to connect with casting, Schuster suggests, and their messages need to include one important thing. “The postcard should always have some piece of information that shows you’re working, no matter what that means,” she remarks. Her examples of what kind of information is noteworthy include: taking classes with a certain acting coach or teacher, performing in a local play or booking a role on a show.
Schuster does not recommend that actors drop by to leave their headshots and resumes. “I really do not think it’s appropriate for an actor to just stop in a casting office,” Schuster says. “We’re very busy … it just never sits well.” She offers a solution for actors who may be having a hard time connecting with a specific casting office. “Say to your agent, ‘Hey, are you giving gifts [to that casting office] this year? I’m more than happy to be one of your runners and drop them off,’” suggests Schuster. She advises this way of connecting with casting during the holiday season because it’s not obtrusive or pushy.
Lesson 2: Auditioning
For this lesson in “Actor Etiquette 101” Schuster says, “I’m going to start with the lobby because I think it’s really important when you have an audition to make sure you’re prepared.” Being ready for a commercial audition, she explains, extends beyond knowing the copy and the product. Actors should sign in immediately and stay nearby, even if there’s a wait, so that they’re available when their names are called.
“That’s step one,” Schuster notes. “Step two is once you’re in the audition room, really listening … It’s like going and taking an exam like the LSATs or the SATs. You need to know the directions because you have x amount of time.” Schuster advises actors to pay close attention to instructions regarding pronunciation and emphasis. The final thing actors in the room should keep in mind is to treat everyone with respect. “I see people come in, and they feel like, unless they talk to me or [my partner] Justin, it’s a waste of their time. And that is so not true … If anyone treats our people at ASG inappropriately, they get a red mark.”
Lesson 3: Booking
“Once actors book, if they want to, they can send a gift, but it’s never expected,” Schuster says. “But thank-you notes are always appreciated.” She recommends including a business card in any type of thank-you note for visual reference. And actor etiquette doesn’t end after booking the role. “No one wants to work with someone who’s difficult,” Schuster warns. She says that working well with others includes reading the room. “It should be so easy for actors to do since they need to always read the characters.”
Schuster’s advice can point actors in the direction of forming strong, healthy relationships with casting. From offering to deliver your agent’s gifts during the holiday season in order to connect with casting to treating everyone with respect once you’re in the audition space, building a solid rapport with casting involves the full continuum of interactions. And don’t drop your good manners after booking the role. Your behavior on set reflects back on casting, so be the actor with whom people want to keep working.
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