Bios

Writing a bio is fairly simple.  In fact, someone working at your theater might even give you a sample bio when they ask for one.  If not, here are a few tips:

Some Tips to Get a Great Headshot

...Or, maybe I should rephrase it as "Tips to Get the Most Useful Headshot."

I'm not a photographer.  I don't even take pictures of my friends, or of places I visit.  Thus, I really have no idea what makes one portrait better than another.  I do have a few notes, however, on how to make sure you have the right kind of headshot to hand to a director.

A Few Thoughts on the OCD Actor

This is an addendum to some concepts I mentioned on the checklist here, but that isn't essential reading.

I sometimes think that worst thing about being OCD has nothing to do with the inconvenience of the rituals, or even the sometimes physically painful anxiety.  It's feeling so alone.

You walk through life with what you will always feel are utterly valid concerns, and you'll constantly turn around to find that other people just don't understand.

Checklist for the Actor

Putting on a show is about lots of elements and people coming together into one (hopefully) brilliant whole.  It can be amazing to watch whether you have a big part in the process or not.

However, this is also a ridiculously stressful experience.

I double check if I packed something, or noticed the right rehearsal time, constantly.  In fact, I triple and quadruple check.  I went to rehearsal once when I knew full well it was canceled just because I was afraid that I might have gotten the wrong message and would miss it instead.

Eventually, there comes a time when you have to let go of those kinds of preoccupations and just let it all happen.

For me, the only time that I ever manage it is a show night, when I'm on stage and that second long "Oh crap, what's my line?" moment during the line before mine is over, and then performance is really on. 

Everything moment between that one and the day I auditioned has the potential to be terrifying, because no matter how many classes you've taken, or tips you've read, or shows you've done, there's only so prepared you can ever be.  

That said, I've made a checklist of things you should always have or be doing whether you're in the middle of a show or about to audition for one.

I have either done posts relating to these things, or will do them shortly.  I'll link them on this post.

The checklist is as follows.

Notes, Part Two

This is a continuation of my previous post on Notes, located here. 

First, I'd like to add to my previous advice by telling you the most important rule of notes, which I unfortunately omitted previously.  Have a thick skin!

The Callboard

As I've gotten a fair amount of posts up, I've decided that a piece to make navigation a little easier might be useful. 

When doing a show, you will usually find that there is a physical board known as the "Callboard" where the stage manager and/or director has posted relevant information for the show, such as rehearsal times and other announcements.  The cast list might have been posted on the Callboard.

These days, many theaters will have an online Callboard as well as or instead of a physical one.

It's a very useful resource, so I thought I'd name this navigation post after it.

Notes, Part One

Once you start running through the whole show (or perhaps a little earlier than that) the director will start to give notes.

Basically, what this means is that he'll watch the show, decide what he or she thinks is good or bad (these will generally be very specific, like "I want you standing a little more to the left than you are in this scene").  Notes are, I think, fairly self-explanatory, but there are a few things to keep in mind.