How Many Auditions Should You Be Getting: 7 Points To Give You Perspective

Ever been upset or confused about why you're not getting more auditions? Like many actors, you KNOW you could do the job. So why aren't you at least getting an audition? This article will give you perspective on how many auditions you should be getting, particularly for people who are not earning more than "scale." And if you don't know what "scale" is, then this is especially for you. Here are 7 points to give you perspective on how much you should be auditioning.

1. If you rely only on your agent for auditions, you will have very few.

Never leave all the work of getting auditions up to your agent. Market yourself, build your own connections, and initiate work on your own. Get as many casting directors to know your work as possible. As you move up in your career, create new connections at the next level up, not necessarily at the super high level. Contacts at really high levels can't help you when you're starting out because they don't know the middle people who can cast you, so connect to people at one or two levels up from where you are.

2. Identify a reasonable, attainable next step for you in your career.

If you have never Co-Starred on a network TV series, it is very unlikely that you will be cast in a Guest Star Role. If you've never auditioned for a TV series, you're not likely going to replace Catherine Heigl on "Grey's Anatomy." If you're trained, but you're new to television, your next step could be to have a line or two on a show. But if you've done 15 Co-Star Roles, then your next step could be for Guest Star and possibly Series Regular Roles.
Being clear about what level of role is realistic for you will help you assess how many auditions you should be getting.

3. Observe how many roles at this level are available, and how many of those you could potentially be cast in based on your type.

Either by looking at The Breakdowns or by watching TV, get a sense of how many roles for your type there are. If you see very few of your type and level, then that would factor into how many auditions you should be getting.

4. Consider how many actors of your type and level are vying for the same roles and then how your credits compare to them.

If you're a white female in your late-20s, a member of SAG, with a few indie and short film
credits, but no network credits, you are in a category of thousands. You will have to delineate yourself from thousands of others to even get an audition. (How you do that is a whole discussion that we can't do here, but if you need help doing that, you might want to consider a Strategy Session.)
If you haven't delineated what sets you apart, then that will factor toward a lower number of auditions.

5. Determine how many casting directors know you and would call you in for a role you're right for.

You will multiply your chances of getting auditions when you actually know the casting directors -- or more accurately, when you get them to know you.
If a casting director sees 2000 headshots and resumes that are basically the same, they will call in an actor they already know can do the job rather than an actor who they aren't sure can deliver.

If no casting directors know you, you can forget about getting auditions - UNTIL you take MASSIVE ACTION to get them to know you.If you've ever wondered why your friend of your same type and level is getting auditions you're not, it's simple. Your friend has something more working for them: might be a better headshot, a harder working agent, or more casting directors know them.

Unless you too get something more going on than most of the thousands of other actors in your category, your friend will keep going on the auditions, and you'll be just hearing about it.

6. How often you are putting yourself in a "space of opportunity," one that that could turn out to be "the right place at the right time?"

Actors often blame "luck" for success or lack of it. But that does you little good because it leaves you at the mercy of wherever "luck" comes from. You CAN create opportunities. The famous quote goes something like, "Luck is where hard work and opportunity meet." In other words, staying at home disappointed your friend got another audition that you didn't does you no good. You need to get out in the industry, attend screenings, join independent film groups, or go to the Hollywood Networking Breakfast. Put yourself in a "space of opportunity" where things can happen.

7. How much of "The Fate of Your Acting Career" do you believe lies in your hands?

The more you believe the fate of your acting career lies outside of you, the less likely things will happen for you. Over 98% of the aspiring actors in Los Angeles believe that they have very little to do with the real fate of their careers. (I made the number up, but it sounds right!)
Many actors believe that if they get a good headshot and resume, take a bunch of classes, do a few submissions, and simply want it really badly, then that's all they can do. But just like for Oedipus, believing this is what fulfills your fate. If you believe you have no control, you do nothing more, and nothing happens for you.

Want to exponentially multiply your chances of something big happening? Start by believing 100% that your actions can make something happen. When you are 100% clear about that, you will find new actions to take to make things happen.

So now, back to the first question: How many auditions should you be getting? You do the math. There are tens of thousands of actors and a few dozen roles each week. Depending on how much you set yourself apart from your competition, you could be going out for almost every role that you're right for or you could be going out for none of them. It is determined by the factors listed above.

No matter what, you have to get casting directors to know you, whether through your agent, through workshops, through mailing out postcards, or some other way. And you CAN get them to know you. Start by owning that you have the power to get yourself more auditions and then take actions to make it happen.

By the way, "scale" refers to the minimum wages that SAG actors must be compensated for their work.

May your number of auditions increase tenfold for the efforts you put in this month! Go out and "Live Your Great Life."

-- © 2009 Smart Girls Productions, Melody Jackson, Ph.D. Melody Jackson, Ph.D., publishes "Plugged in Hollywood," the Monthly E-zine on Marketing for Actors. She has helped thousands of actors break into show business for over 15 years. If you are ready to jump-start your career, increase your confidence, and have more fun pursuing Hollywood success, get your free subscription to this ezine and other freebies now at www.SmartGirlsProductions.com