Audition Question...

Ted Arabian

Ted Arabian

Member with Ladder
Hey guys, I have a bit of a weird question.

I am holding auditions and have about 30 people showing up from the Boston area. I live in NH and these folks would have to drive about 50 miles to audition for me. With the price of gas and the fact that this is a no-pay gig, I really feel like I should take the auditions to them.

SO... I have tried to find a cheap place near Boston to rent for the auditions. I am not finding it. I am not finding a place at all! I've tried community centers, theatres, rehearsal halls... every place is either not interested or expensive.

THEN, all of a sudden, it dawned on me. Why not drive my RV down to the Boston area and have the auditions in my RV. Sounds like a great idea BUT it also sounds creepy. "Hey, come in to my RV and give me your best performance!"

I am a bit desperate. I want to find a place more local to all of the actors who are auditioning but I am not finding a place that is affordable.

My question to you all is, is this just plain creepy? I know that I've worked on a film before where we had an RV as a mobile production office/dressing room. Is it too weird to ask people to come into my RV and audition?

Thanks. Your thoughts are appreciated.
 
Not sure. Used to hold auditions in my house, but that was for student productions. Now we're planning on holding them at school just for more professionalism. It might be a bit wierd to be honest, but I can't answer that with any certainty.

Maybe just stick a big star on it and dress it up like a movie trailer? ;)
 
I thought about that! Putting a big banner on the rig.

Yeah, I wish I could just find a place.

I am guessing that if it feels creepy to me, then it probably is creepy!

Thanks for chiming in Jon.

Anyone else have an opinion???
 
Funny this should pop up today. I am working on memorizing a monologue for an audition I have early this coming week. I think if I were told to audition in an Rv my first thought would be, "hmm...kind of strange" but they have to understand that you are trying to help them.

I don't really know what they would think, but I will say this: if they want to audition so bad that they are willing to come all the way to where you are, that's their choice, right? I don't know, maybe I am being to rude. Best of luck, man!
 
You could rent a room in a hotel, and use their facilities (maybe something like $100 for the day). i'd get the room in advance, - maybe a residence inn or something, and make sure you've posted your casting call well in advance with directions and room number.
 
Wouldn't they have to travel to NH for filming? Can't see how one day for auditions will matter to them if they later have to travel up for filming. Having the auditions in NH will help weed out those that will be unwilling to travel up there in the future

The above is assuming you are filming in NH. If you are filming your film in Boston than I would hold the auditions in Boston and find a small rental hall (small catering hall or something)
 
Ha ha, I used to hold auditions in the back of a 70s van with bubble windows and shag carpet and a sign that said "If this van's a'rockin...we're just rehearsing." :) Then I had to cast for the role of a 12 year old boy and I got arrested.

Ted, do NOT use your RV. I don't know how much these places want to charge, but in NYC, it's pretty easy to get audition rooms down as low as $15/hr. If you have a lot of people coming, show them you're a pro and just fork over for a good legit audition space. In my experience, the more you look like you know what you're doing, the more they are willing to work for free.
 
Ted Arabian said:
Hey guys, I have a bit of a weird question.

I am holding auditions and have about 30 people showing up from the Boston area. I live in NH and these folks would have to drive about 50 miles to audition for me. With the price of gas and the fact that this is a no-pay gig, I really feel like I should take the auditions to them.

SO... I have tried to find a cheap place near Boston to rent for the auditions. I am not finding it. I am not finding a place at all! I've tried community centers, theatres, rehearsal halls... every place is either not interested or expensive.

THEN, all of a sudden, it dawned on me. Why not drive my RV down to the Boston area and have the auditions in my RV. Sounds like a great idea BUT it also sounds creepy. "Hey, come in to my RV and give me your best performance!"

I am a bit desperate. I want to find a place more local to all of the actors who are auditioning but I am not finding a place that is affordable.

My question to you all is, is this just plain creepy? I know that I've worked on a film before where we had an RV as a mobile production office/dressing room. Is it too weird to ask people to come into my RV and audition?

Thanks. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Click to expand...

I'd check out a dance studio...like this one--

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/sub/671049403.html
 
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Ted Arabian said:
Sounds like a great idea BUT it also sounds creepy. "Hey, come in to my RV and give me your best performance!"
Click to expand...

haha! reminds me of some "directing" i did. in a completely non-sexual scene you can hear me guiding the actress thru it with the following direction... "now put your hand on it... give it a squeeze.... okay, now climb on." my editor (who is also my girlfriend) found this take particularly entertaining.

as for your predicament, i haven't read the thread but I would continue to seek out other venues. auditioning in an RV is likely to kill an actor's faith in the filmmakers' intentions, if they aren't completely creeped out in the first place.
 
Great advice and comments guys! Thanks a lot.

I knew that it seemed like a weird idea. I am glad that you all confirmed this.

As for the comments about traveling to NH to shoot... to me that is a different thing. I would drive/use gas if I was an actor traveling to be on a shoot and used for several hours. But for an audition that will be last more than 10-15 minutes... I feel that is a lot to ask with today's gas prices.

The hotel idea is good. Didn't even cross my mind.

And I wish that I could find a space for $15/hour. Sheesh! The people I've talked to want $200 for 4 hours. I know that is NOT a lot of money (for a film budget) but I could do so much more with that dough!

Thanks again guys. I will take these comments and find a space!

Best,

Ted
 
Ted, the Residence Inn that's about a mile from me, includes a (nearly) full kitchen, living room and dining area - for around $80-$100 a day. You could pack the fridge with a case of bottled water and give it to the actors. Actually, if it's cheap enough, if you had to accommodate actors that couldn't get there until later, but had a lot of actors to read for your parts through out the day, you could get two rooms, side by side (with a connecting door), and have the ones waiting, wait in the other room while your readings continue in your room. Afterwards, if you feel brave, you could even wind down and go for a swim (assuming it's warm enough).
 
Thanks John! I will consider this idea.

Mark, Yes... I did ask Jim. He had a lead for me but the guy no longer has the space.

I have a few emails out that I wrote over the weekend. I am hoping that I get some responses today. I have to get these auditions done! I have a ton of actors standing by.
 
Library!

There are usually meeting rooms in libraries. They also rent them out on the cheap, especially for non-profit stuff.

I use them all the time.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Libraries have crossed my mind! Thanks Mike.

I think I may have found my solution. I emailed a theatre that I have designed for several times. Though it has been 2 years since I've worked for them, I wrote them for use of their lobby. They've written back this morning and we are working out the details.

Thanks again! Hopefully others can benefit from the useful feedback.

-Ted
 
I don't think that they would let me have the space unless I did like we did and use it over night! Plus, I might get trashed in the process!

Good thought, though!
 
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