Last friday I did one of those agent's night. The woman didn't even look up most of the time. She was looking at my headshot and resume while I was doing my monologue..! She only looked up time to time. I felt insulted and wanted to say something but of course I didn't. Is this a usual behavior of an agent??

Welcome to show business. It's not just agents.

Casting people will eat lunch, talk to one another, play with their cell phone, take notes, and seem as if they are ignoring you while you audition. Some are ignoring you, some are listening to you and just taking notes.

All you can do is be professional and do your best. And hey, sometimes you can use that frustration in your monologue if it fits the character and the moment.

Or you can ask, "Is there a reason you're not looking at me?"

quote:

Originally posted by brooklynsugar:
Last friday I did one of those agent's night. The woman didn't even look up most of the time.

Well did she hear your monologue?

You could have sent her an .MP3

You shouldn't pay just to be seen. If they are interested they call you into their office; or as has happened to me I was UNSEEN sent to an audition.

I am setting up to do MP3 auditions from home using Audacity, a broadcast quality mic and a recording booth.

The best way, I think, to view this is that it wasn't ideal but when you go to the audition the floor space between you and the auditors is where their office begins. It's like when someone comes into your work or a job hits your desk or what have you. The table is their office and you have been given a pass to enter. That is their work time so they have to get on with that and not worry too much about appearances - although it would be nice. I'm sure she was reading your resume carefully and listening to your monolgue and thinking where you might fit in - if at all - to her job. Maybe the longer she reviewed your apperwork the more she was considering where you might fit in. It's almost like designing a room...when you're trying to figure out where the sofa goes you could stare in other spots trying to envision it there but it doesn't mean the sofas "out." Don't assume nothing will come of it - good luck!

They may or not have been listening and paying attention to you. Them's the breaks. I have had CD's in auditions (not paid to play auditions) not look up once and not even acknowledge me when I finished. It happens. I also see CD's on their laptops taking notes while I audition. I just do my best and am in my own world when I audition. They go away when I am truly 'in the moment.'

It happens. That's the biz. We cannot control others. All we can control is ourselves and our reactions to other people.

Do your best and move on. It sucks when people don't give you their attention, but it happens more often than not.

The same thing kind of happened to me and in retrospect I should have done a little trick I learned a while ago. I should have waited a moment until I was absolutely certain I was being watched. They might look just to see if I'm experiencing nerves or forgot my lines but that won't matter if the piece is very good. The bottom line is that I should have done what was necessary to establish control of the room. Especially since I'm paying for it.

quote:

Originally posted by drew27:
The bottom line is that I should have done what was necessary to establish control of the room. Especially since I'm paying for it.

I firmly believe that the industry reps who were more than likely paid to attend your audition should never have such a high feeling of entitlement that they lose respect for the actor who has worked very hard to study their craft and is trying to pursue a career and has paid to be seen by them as well.

Its rude and unacceptable behavior. All of this is way out of control.

You shouldn't have had to gain control over the situation. Respect has to be a two way street.

Good luck - sounds like these reps were not even worth meeting with.

quote:

Originally posted by Janet P:

quote:

Originally posted by drew27:
The bottom line is that I should have done what was necessary to establish control of the room. Especially since I'm paying for it.

I firmly believe that the industry reps who were more than likely paid to attend your audition should never have such a high feeling of entitlement that they lose respect for the actor who has worked very hard to study their craft and is trying to pursue a career and has paid to be seen by them as well.

Its rude and unacceptable behavior. All of this is way out of control.

You shouldn't have had to gain control over the situation. Respect has to be a two way street.

Good luck - sounds like these reps were not even worth meeting with.

Well said.

thanks all for your wonderful feedback!