AUDITION HELP
Edge Project by David Crain
Bio
Hello, I am David Crain. I am a undergrad working on my bachelor's of science in both Theatre and communications. After this project and semester I will be finished to graduate to the great unknown. I have a fondness for theatre, a joy for giving speeches, and enjoy helping people become better communicators. I am originally from Park City, Utah and came to Southern Utah University to learn acting. I feel like I am waking away with a better education in both Theatre and Communication.
Audition help overview
My project was focused on helping theatre students with their audition skills. After taking all the acting and directing classes I noticed that the school does not offer a class for auditions. I decided to offer my skills and experiences to students to boost their own auditioning skills.
The Proposal
Details
My proposal was to start an audition center for theatre students. The center was made up of five total mentors (four upperclassmen and myself) that evaluated audition monologues and resumes based on professional standards. At the center, student’s auditions were critiqued and evaluated by the mentors. Recording services were offered, but never utilized. The mentors went through the resume in detail for the best results. we asked the participating students to prepare a basic acting resume, a headshot, and a well-rehearsed monologue. If the monologue was not fully prepared, the student would have turned away until ready. We offered evaluations one-on-one or two-on-one and the mentors were available. The services were offered on a consistent basis throughout the fall and spring semester, once a week for two hours, where the mentors could have half hour appointments. The center also accepted walk ins. During audition week​ (a busy week with several university auditions), the center offered two days of time instead of one.
Press Release
David Crain
Kamas, UT
Theatre/Communication
Leadership
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Audition Help
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My Edge project was to create a service for theatre students to use for assistance on their auditions. I offered my experience and learning to the underclassmen and help them get a better chance at earning roles in plays. Most of the students coming in as freshman and some sophomores didn’t know the right etiquette for professional auditions and that how the school treats auditions. I asked other upperclassmen to assist me in this endeavor. I was able to convince five other upperclassmen to help me.
A concern came up with a teacher that I hammered out at the beginning and that was consistency. We offered our services once a week for three hours all year round. With some of the senior upperclassmen graduating and not a high demand, the second semester I went the project alone. I did all of the advertising by myself and was able to muster up six to seven students to use my service. They were grateful for the services and the feedback I gave. I am glad I had the experience and that I am walking away a richer man for the experience.
After several times of auditions at Southern Utah University I realized I needed help. I came here to learn the skills actors need in the real world. I asked professors if they had time to run audition monologues, look at resumes and headshot, or just some simple tips. All the professors gave me some tips but then said that they were too busy to get into specifics about my audition. I thought that if someone had time to show me what to do, how to do, and to tell that I was doing it right then I may have a better chance at getting parts in plays. I asked other theatre students what they thought if someone was available to critique their audition runs. Every single student I asked really wished we had that service on campus.
My first problem was that I needed to find a good model to base it by. The model for the design was already in use for a different department and different use, but the concept and ideas were similar. The speech and presentation center as people presenting in front of interns who critiqued the projects. One of the problems I saw early is having certain students watch other students. My solution was to get upperclassmen involved and excited. I asked several students who had enough experience and enough to help and most of them agreed.
The biggest issue I incountered was getting any students to use the services. I was diligent about advertising. I had made posters and hung them in all the places I thought that theatre students would see them. I made business cards and handed them out to other students. I went to theatre classes pitching my service to the students and handed out flyers. I also took to social media and made a Facebook page about the services. Out of a whole year of work and advertising I helped six to seven students.
To those students that came for help really appreciated the service I gave them. I went through their resumes, watched their monologues, and gave them tips on how to audition better. I did follow up with the students after their auditions, and they all claimed that they felt more confident about their approach. I know of one student landed a part in a main stage roll after the auditions. The students said that they were really thankful for the services and wish there was something more permanent for future auditions. When I was talking to those students recently they were still using some of the tips I had showed them.
What I have taken away from this project is the ability to organize a service project and make it successful. I do wish more people participated but at least I reached six students that are better in their auditioning skills. In any of my next project I will use more verbal tactics like talking it up with any students. I have also taken away advertising skills that some classes don’t teach. I came up with advertising material like posters, business cards, and flyers that I used to get the word out. I am also walking away with casting director skills because I just watched auditions and critiqued them without going through a production. ###
suuaudhelp@gmail.com
Student's words
DAVID CRAIN’S AUDITION PREP WAS SO HELPFUL. I WAS ABLE TO GO IN AND PERFORM MY MONOLOGUE AND HE GAVE ME SOME AMAZING POINTERS TO HELP ME IMPROVE. IT WAS ALSO NICE BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SEE QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE REHEARSE AND THE CRITIQUING AND HELP BECAME ALMOST A GROUP EFFORT. WHEN I WENT IN FOR MY ACTUAL AUDITION I DIDN’T FEEL NERVOUS AT ALL, AND I WAS ABLE TO FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY PERFORMANCE. THE AUDITION PREP WAS SUCH A GREAT ADDITION TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT SEMESTER, AND I’M SO THANKFUL.
Reflections
Closing Remarks
Coming Soon...
