In a previous issue of the ActorNation Newsletter Casting Director Stuart Stone addressed the issue of "NOT BEING PREPARED BACAUSE YOU WERE TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE". If you missed it, please go here.

It’s true! How you look and smell can matter when it comes to commercial casting (or pretty much any type of casting). Here are #3, #4 & #5 of Stuart Stone's "What Not To Do!" series where he offers some valuable tips that you think you might know, but unfortunately since it’s a “what not to do” perhaps some of your fellow performers could use these tips! Wink, wink!

#3 - "PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LOOK LIKE THEIR PICTURES"

If you color, cut or lose your hair, if you gain 20 pounds or lose 20 pounds this calls for new headshots! It’s a big problem if performers have photos that do not look like them when they walk in the door. Performers have been sent home because they did not look like their picture. Likewise if your photos are too glamorous, you’ve removed a facial mole or you’ve had your wrinkles airbrushed out of the pictures this too is a big problem.

Make sure your headshots represent the real you! If your hair is thinning or you put on a few pounds and your pictures honestly represent you, remember this might actually make you a perfect fit for a character description. Saves us all time, embrace how you look and be sure your headshots show the real you!

 

#4 - "WEARING PERFUME OR COLOGNE"

While you want to represent the best you at the audition, it’s important that your scent isn’t overbearing and that it doesn’t linger on after you’ve left the audition space.Many people are allergic to perfumes, body oils, colognes and other toiletry scents so be considerate of your fellow performer, the casting director, client and others in the room and leave anything with a scent at home, for your personal time, not when you are essentially interviewing for a job. It’s a rule of thumb that if you can smell what you have on, that the scent is just too much. Overpowering scents can actually be a disadvantage as all we can think about is how to get you in and out of the audition.

#5 - "NOT WEARING THE CORRECT WARDROBE"

Read your character breakdown and follow any specific wardrobe instructions that your agent or the casting director has provided you with. If you are asked to wear shorts or a skirt and you wear jeans then we cannot see your legs and the commercial may require that. It is also helpful if your character is a specific type and your wardrobe suggests this. For example if you are going in as a stock broker, consider wearing a business suit, if you are going in as a medical professional consider softer colors rather than bright bold ones, if you are going in as a sports coach dress more casual. The more you pay attention to the character description by looking or closely resembling the part, the better it is for you, and the casting director won’t have to request that you come back with the correct wardrobe, cancel your audition, or become frustrated with you and note that in their files.

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ABOUT STUART STONE

STUART STONE has been casting for over 12 years and has cast hundreds of television commercials and booked thousands of actors. Stuart casts union and non-union commercials as well as Voice-Overs, Film, Print and Television.

Stuart began teaching when he realized the information he had would be useful to help actors audition so that they would get callbacks and book more jobs. His classes rose to recognition when those who took his workshop found top agents and were signed by them. Stuart's techniques were what helped his students gain more auditions, callbacks and then Bookings on the jobs they were auditioning for.

While Stuart continues to work as one of today's top casting directors he is aware of what actors need to know and that is what gives him the edge to teach what the advertising agencies and directors are looking for from the actor in today's market.

Stuart has created many opportunities for actors to forward their career which you will find in the workshop section on his Web site. He is commited to providing the best training and assisting the actor who is either new to the business or a Veteran so that they may have a rewarding career as a working actor.

Click here for more information on CommercialActing.info

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