Where Do You Hold Auditions?

Larry Rutledge

Larry Rutledge

Fest Master
I am getting ready to hold an audition for my HeroFest entry. This is not a cattle call, just calling in those who have responded to inquiries made over the past two weeks.

I am having a heck of a time figuring out a place to hold the audition. I've checked various public meeting venues (hotel meeting rooms, town halls, library meeting rooms, etc) everyone wants large sums of money, of which I have none.

Does anyone have suggestions of places they have held auditions like this in the past? Is it unreasonable to ask potential actors to travel approximately 30 minutes to the audition location?

Thanks for any and all help,
Larry
 
If you know someone living in an apartment that has a rec-room you might try that. We used a rec-room a few years ago.
 
Are there any local theater groups that would let you use their space in exchange for letting a few of them audition?
 
One of the many books that I have said to use a library room. Libraries have rooms (depending on size) that you can use free- or for a reduced fee.

I've not done this personally, but I hope it's helpful.

Jeff Patnaude
 
I never invite people into my home for auditions and the idea of holding an audition at my apartment community area is just too close to home for me.

This weekend we used a local theatre for the audition. With a lot of theatres they need PSA's done for the local university stations, so trade is really possible with them. Also, a lot of the small theatres here have acting classes, so you can offer them to come out and audition their actors in exchange for use of the space for auditions or rehearsals (I do this all the time).

I have done the hotel meeting space. It's normally about $150 for a day.

I tried to do the hotel room thing, but that get's really sketchy because you have these actors coming to meet you in a hotel room. Screams sketchy.

I have done the library thing, but depending on the space, some auditions get really loud and that's not always appreciated.

I have done the community college thing. This works great and normally helps get great promotion (for cattle calls especially).

Finally, what I like the most is temporary office space. In every city there are those office parks that are set up and you can rent them. They never have 100% occupancy and I've gotten day rates of $50 for auditions. It looks professional and it is really cheap.

Good luck!

-Jeremy
 
I'm probably gonna end up doing it in my house.

I just need a bigger couch for 'casting'

LOL I kill me ... not really.
 
There's a local bakery chain here in Colorado called Panera. They have community rooms that they let you use for nothing. I guess they figure you will be bringing in customers. So maybe check you local hipster coffehouses and stuff like that. A lot of them might be happy for some extra business.

Also check with your contacts if any of them has an in at a local college. We held auditions and rehearsla for our last film at a coolege in boulder because one of the actors had an in. It was a GREAT space for both.
 
Really temporary office space huh?
How would I go about locking that down? I would definitely front 50 bucks for something like that.
 
lucidz said:
I'm probably gonna end up doing it in my house.
/QUOTE]


Why not? Many directors have had their auditions by just eating diner w/ the actor.

I've cast at many diferent venues, from theatres to my basement. One possitive of casting at your own house is that you get to see how the actor will respond to your level money (ie - none).

I've had a couple of actors who somehow felt it was beneath them to audition in my living room. The ones who had no problem with it got the job - what a shock.

Good luck.

john
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Check out the local colleges for sure. I've done all my casting in open classrooms; one for the auditions and one next door for a "holding area". I don't think the idea of auditioning at someone's house is weird if I know the person, but if it's an open call, I could see some actors worrying about that. If I'm not offering pay I wouldn't want to cut into my already small pool of talent by having people put off by the location of the audition.
 
I rented space in a casting studio in Manhattan.

I think it helped give my production and audition process a professional quality.

They charged $17 an hour.

Chris
 
Jim Brennan said:
There's a local bakery chain here in Colorado called Panera. They have community rooms that they let you use for nothing. I guess they figure you will be bringing in customers. So maybe check you local hipster coffehouses and stuff like that. A lot of them might be happy for some extra business.
Click to expand...

Panera Bread? They're kinda everywhere. :) Free WiFi and all.
 
David Jimerson said:
Panera Bread? They're kinda everywhere. :) Free WiFi and all.
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How cool! There's a "local bakery chain" here in Oklahoma called Panera's as well. Also, we have this thing called Wal-Mart that's supposed to spread into a few other states... I think. :cheesy: :)







Sorry, Jim; I couldn't resist. :)
 
I just called Panera Bread in Sacramento and said I heard they have meeting rooms they let people use and the guy told me that was a farce (that was his exact word, "farce").

So, back to the drawing board. The library told me they have rooms in several of the branches and they are free to use, but you have to keep the meeting open to the public and the requestor has to be a non-profit organization.

I've called several theatre groups, training rooms, offices, hotels...they all want $300+
 
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