How To Find Auditions

If there's one question I hear all the time, its "How can I find out where auditions are posted?"

The biggest key to finding auditions is through contacts. If there was ever a business that relies on your ability to charm and befriend people, this is it. The key to finding auditions is getting the right contacts and telling EVERYONE that you are trying to find shows to audition for. Don't ever assume that just because you "like to sing", ect, that other people will assume that you are interested. You HAVE to tell them ahead of time, or it will never occur to them to let you know.

School

If you are still in highschool, start out with your drama and music teachers. Many music/drama teachers are also performers themselves. Many are involved in community theatre, and may even do some professional work. If you tell them that you are interested in getting some performing experience and are in search of audition opportunities, they will be more than willing to let you know when they hear of something. Most of the auditions I have ever attended have been the result of an inside tip from someone I know in theatre. I got my first lead role ever when my music teacher told me about an audition that he himself was going to.

 

If you're in university or college studying the performing arts, you've got an entire department of possibilities at your fingertips. Your professors are training you for the professional world, and a huge part of that is the audition process. If anyone knows where to get your foot in the door, they're the people to ask. If you're new to the area, ask 3rd and 4th year students for advice. They went through the same thing.

 

Community Theatre

Community theatre is not only a perfect place to get experience, it also offers a lot of contact potential. You'll find everything from retired professionals to lawyers who sing and act on the side. The exposure as a performer in your community is also very helpful. Another great thing about community theatre is that once you have been in one production with them, most groups then consider you a 'member' and you will receive newsletters and updates on future productions.

 

The Net

You can use the internet to make contacts all over the globe. Many, many performers use the internet to market themselves through personal websites. If you are planning on moving to a new area and would like to find out about the audition market before you get there, find some actors on the net from the area, e-mail them and ask you to fill them in. Seek out performers that live near (and not so near) to you, and strike up a friendship through e-mail. Promise to let them know about auditions, and ask them to do the same.

 

Newspapers, Magazines and Periodicals

Although not a completely reliable or complete resource, many periodicals contain an audition listing in their classified section. There are also trade magazines for the performing industry which include audition listings, but these may not be useful to you unless you live in a large city in which one of these periodicals is printed. (ie New York)

 

Books

Obviously, books can't provide an up-to-date audition listing. What they can do though, is provide you with valuable job-searching information. There are listings of casting directors and agents, theatre companies, mailing lists, etc. Also, if you're new to the industry, there is nothing more rewarding than reading a book by someone who has been walking the boards for quite a while and knows both the successes and failures of the business.

Links To Audition Notices

Act Out

The performing arts database. A multi-searchable database of actors' headshots and resumes intended for the use of casting professionals.

American Theatre Works

Publishes the "bibles" of professional theatre job-hunting including "Summer Theatre Directory", "Regional Theatre Directory", and "Directory Of Theatre Training Programs".

 

Casting Call Newsletter

Casting Call Newsletter is a monthly publication offered by subscription (only $18.50 per year). It includes local theater calls for auditions, crew needs, directors and original works such as one act plays.

 

Theater Jobs OnLine

An online job and career search site designed for theatre practitioners. Theatre jobs averages 300+ jobs in all areas of theatre, and averages 600+ hits each day.

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