Thursday - The Day of Backstage

For anyone who has even the tiniest spark of interest in dancing, singing, or acting - whether on stage or on film - Thursday is a glittering day of possibility. Because today is the day when the weekly Backstage comes hot off the presses! It may seem like a rogue news cycle, but Backstage editions cover Thursday-Wednesday weeks, and give you almost every kernel of information there is to know about upcoming auditions and opportunities in New York, Los Angeles, and other places nation wide. You never know when the submission you make to a director today might land you your first feature film role tomorrow!

For me, Thursdays are the one day a week that I designate to do all of my research, submissions, and calendar-organizing for the upcoming week(s) of auditions. I pick up a Backstage at the subway station newstand, then spend the subway ride figuring out what things I am suited for (i.e. I can't submit a headshot resume to a call for 69 year old Asian man). Usually I'll sneakily spend most or all of my down time at work plodding through various resources for performers, including

• www.actorsequity.org (technically you have to be part of the union to attend these calls, but often times directors are willing to see non union performers, as there is a good amount of talent as of yet undiscovered)
• www.playbill.com (occasionally lists a few nonunion auditions that Backstage doesn't)
• answers4dancers.com (a good source for all dance specific auditions, including dance companies and installation works, even music videos and celebrity tours)
• Metoperafamily.org and search "audition" if I know they should start auditioning for their next season (usually these occur in April and May the year prior to when the shows are scheduled to run)

For people who are more interested in acting/singing, there is also www.actorsaccess.com, but I've yet to feel inclined to foray in that direction.  Recently, though, I took an introduction to commercial acting seminar, and have been seriously considering playing around in that particular pool. The Verizon Wireless guy who asks "Can You Hear Me Now" has made some multiple millions from a catch phrase and a nerdy pair of glasses... sounds awesome to me!

Here's to a day of research and prep. All responsibilities aside, it's a gorgeous day here in New York, and I would love to be outside basking in the sun, despite the reprieve offered by my office's tall ceilings and wall-high windows.

Romance thy name is sunny, summer day!