I just started attending one on one. I found it to be a nice change from Actor's Connection where I usually attend to workshop sessions.
I enjoyed the audition process because it was the opportunity to work on my material. I actually appreciated the adjustments I was given. Some of them, I've put into use, the others, I played with; they didnt work for me so I let them go. I think it's all subjective anyway, you can audition for one casting director, and they'll looove it and the next just might not get it. Take it with a grain of salt.
I've been trying to figure out who I am as a "package". When people first meet me, I tend to get that I'm "warm" and "spunky" so I try to present that in these general meetings. It's not that I cant do a dark piece, but I figure these general meetings arent about whether or not I can hit a piece out of the park so to speak, it's about what I can bring the table and that's "me" so I try to showcase who I am as much as possible. When I audition and book a job at Yale Rep then I will impress them with my range!
The sessions tend to be longer at one on one, so I have plenty of time to chit chat with the pro's. I like that there is no q&a, so I arrive at my appointment time, go in, play, talk about what's on my mind business wise and go on with my day. Playing devil's advocate, I dont know how many of these sessions you've been on, but if you havent done them a lot, you might enjoy the q&a setup, it gives you the chance to see what everyone else is thinking and its nice to realize that you are not alone and that everyone has questions and quandries!
Plus you get to meet your peers...
The members at one on one seem to me to be less "new" and very on top of the game. This post is not meant in any way to disparage AC! That organization has served me extremely well, I'm sure that I'll continue to take sessions there. I always meet some great people there and they certainly helped me to put a face to the names in Ross Reports so that the "biz" doesnt seem so impersonable.
My one quip with one on one is that you have to totally be on top of it when it comes time to register. If you're not on your Mac when the schedule comes out, it can be hit and miss getting into the sessions. That said, I've gotten in to meet everyone that I've wanted to, even when I was on the waitlist.
I say go audition and talk to them if you don't like it, don't join. In 10 minutes you get to work out your material, meet a new person and get FEEDBACK! What do you have to lose?
See ya at the next one!
Toni
"Sometimes you have to get out of your own way. Trust that you are enough"