Rachel Rice BB9

Audition Tips

First published in The Stage newspaper online edition

You are advised to bear in mind the following before responding to advertisers:

• Bona fide auditions never charge to attend.
• If you decide to work abroad, contact Equity before you do so. The Union is there to advise performers and protect their interests.
• Don't pay money up front for anything unless you've weighed up the risks. Even if you pay to sign up with a casting agency, remember that work is never guaranteed and some agencies have few clients.
• Don't complain if photos, tapes or showreels submitted to an advertiser aren't returned - these are your promotional tools and you must expect to provide them.
• Open auditions can be very crowded - you might have to queue for a popular one and get very little time to perform. Don't go in the first place if you can't accept this.
• Don't go to a non-business address on your own for a meeting or audition. If you must, tell someone where you are going.
• Be wary of promises of work and stardom: you will usually be disappointed.