Is the audition worth it? Also I was born to be a pimple
I’ve auditioned hundreds of times for commercials, day players, series regulars, industrials—you name it. But there’s something uniquely grueling about the low-paying, no-credit, local hire roles. I’m grateful for every audition, truly—so lucky to have constant material to work with, even if it’s the same North Carolina Education Lottery spot I’ve auditioned for thirteen times and never gotten a callback for. But hey, the job is the process, right? Every role takes you one step closer to bigger things—even if you're just the girl in the background, smiling at the lake in a ten-second NC travel commercial.
BUT
To me there comes a point when an audition just isn’t worth it. Sure, we love to work and tape, but we don’t love wasting time on roles we won’t get anything creatively out of, won’t get credit for, and will never actually see. You end up spending more on the gig than you make. They want you there the day before for a fitting, and you're only getting $40. LOL. Now you're paying for two nights in a hotel, gas to get there, and missing work—the job you actually need at the moment to pay the bills. You might make $500 for the day, and if the residual buyout is good, great. But if you don’t even get that, whats the point? Why would I drive four hours, miss work, and spend as much on travel and housing as I make on the shoot?
Being honest about your “local hire” situation is key. It never looks good to just decline if they don’t cover housing and travel, especially when you’ve said you can be a local hire in Charlotte. You meant, "Yeah, I can be a local hire for an awesome show, getting credits, screen time, and a real artistic experience!" Not so much for a non-speaking industrial where you just smile at the camera and say, “Welcome!” Some things just aren’t worth it.
Okay, but everyone’s in a different spot. If that’s something you’re into and it’s worth it to you, then do your thing and get your bag. If you can book those gigs and love doing them, you can work A LOT. But what I’m figuring out is that I don’t love commercials. They can feel forced and phony. My friend Gray (shoutout) is AMAZING at them. He can take any campy, cringe-worthy commercial script and make it fun and not awkward. I have no idea how he does it, but he's SPECIAL and enjoys that type of material.
Moral of the story? Be more like Gray.
The featured picture is me as a pimple during a commercial audition for Mighty Patch, where they made me audition FOUR times as a pimple (yes, even got popped in one scene). I didn’t land the role, so now all I have to show for it is this glorious pimple still.
You’re welcome for this. ugh
