I’m completely exhausted and my brain is fried. Callbacks started today. There are so many lessons to be learned from being on the other side of the casting table. Some are as common sense as “don’t apologize for mistakes, be prepared, and have a good attitude.” Others are way more subjective. Everyone in that room has opinions and is drawn to certain things. Some things are agreed upon. Some aren’t. I’m learning my own aesthetic and my own taste. Like for instance, I am much more drawn to someone who puts emphasis on their acting before their singing. I suppose I didn’t need to sit behind the table to tell you that. 
Another thing I found myself responding to very much was people’s energies and how they held themselves. It must be from my Laban training. 
(What is Laban you ask? I will do a post on it. I promise. In layman’s terms, it’s a study of different energies. Curious? Janet Louer is THE WOMAN…for coaching or Laban.) Everyone brings a different energy into the audition room with them. Some are light and playful. Some are grounded and regal. Some ooze sex. It’s so interesting to see. What REALLY impresses me is when someone walks in with one energy and then when they perform they transform to something completely different, but an energy that is still them and equally genuine. I like to be surprised!
So what advice do I have? Unfortunately, nothing you haven’t already heard. Go in. Be confident. Make strong choices. Be nice to everyone. Be patient. The biggest piece of advice I have is to leave the audition/callback in the audition room. My roommate is fantastic at this. I, on the other hand, sometimes take to my bed with a xanax. Just kidding! Sort of. I’m getting better at dealing with it.
The thing is, you really don’t know what the casting team wants. Sometimes the casting team doesn’t know what they want. So many things go into it and just because you don’t get the job doesn’t mean you weren’t EFFING awesome. It sucks, it’s not fair, but that’s just the way it is. Sometimes it’s look, sometimes it’s matching actors up, etc. The one thing it definitely is, is OUT of your control. So do this to please yourself! Do the auditions for you and then leave it in the theater Gods’ hands. If it’s right, it’ll happen. If it’s not, it won’t. It’s that simple. (Note to Harmony: read and heed your own advice!)
The last thing I can say is both encouraging and discouraging I suppose. Discouraging first: There is A LOT of talent out there. A shocking amount. There is a ton of competition. None of us are irreplaceable. It’s amazing how many truly talented, lovely, intelligent people will come out of the woodworks for a project they believe in.
BUT as a working actor I take comfort in the fact that I have stood there before, against all the talented people that Chicago has to offer, and guess what? I GOT THE JOB. And I keep getting the job. It hasn’t always been the job I wanted, but it’s THE job. I stood there and out of gobs of talented people, they chose me. If you think about it that way, it’s pretty special.
So I’ll leave you with that thought. If you didn’t get it, that was the ENCOURAGING part of it!
Oh by the way…..Operation Flapper Dress is working:
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I have always been extremely interested in casting. In my last update I talked about how the new Bailiwick Chicago asked me to be an Artistic Associate. Well, at my request they have expanded my role to include casting assistant.
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This Saturday, November 14th, I’m performing as Hope in the Anything Goes Victory Gardens Benefit. It’s a casting auction. Basically people bid on what part they want to play in a full-fledged production of the show. I’m part of the medley presentation that shows them what they’re bidding on.
I am currently in rehearsal at City Lit Theatre for The Wind in the Willows, a musical adaptation by Douglas Post of the timeless book. It’s really cute and the music is really great.
And finally, I’m so excited to be working again with City Lit Theatre on Oh Boy! this May with the legendary Sheldon Patinkin directing. I have so much to say about this man, but I will leave it for it’s own post instead of tagging it on to the end of this one.
David Zak, contributer and reviewer for the 
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A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens