Auditioning for unpaid role in Community Theater?

[Captain Kathryn]

I am thinking of auditioning for two plays in my area for a couple of local community theaters, both are open auditions, non-union, and unpaid.

Has anyone ever done this before?

I do not have any acting experience except for a small production I was in during high school.

I just want to see how I do, feel the exhilaration of it. If I fail, I fail. I just want to try it. I cannot sing or dance, but luckily enough both plays are straight-up comedies and do not require singing or dancing.

Has anyone else ever tried this before? How was it?

Both of the roles would be unpaid. One of the places actually requires you to pay a membership fee. So I am not thrilled about that. But I am thrilled at the prospect of the experience whether I get a role or not.

Even though I am excited and I do not care if I fail (that does not mean that I will not try of course, but I won't be broken up about it if I fail), I am getting more and more nervous thinking about it and keep wondering why I want to do this in the first place? It would be tons of work for no pay. I would have to give up every single weekend (on the off-chance they even consider me, which I doubt they would). But for some reason I want to do it anyway.

But I suppose what is the worst that could happen? They say no? I can deal with that.

Anyone else ever have this experience?

 

[auntiehill]

^I'm not terribly sure that paying a membership fee to volunteer at a community theater sounds right at all.

However, that said, being in a play is fun---hard work and long hours, but fun. Go for it. I hope you have a great time. Like you said, nothing bad can happen. Give it your best shot and see what happens. Maybe you won't get this role but you might get the next one. If you audition, there's a 50/50 chance you'll get it, as opposed to the ZERO percent chance if you don't even try.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

True.

Even though I know it doesn't matter if I fail or not, my tummy feels all twisted in knots now. D:

Another one of my concerns that it might conflict with my work (on the off-chance I get the role) since I tend to work late hours sometimes. However, the productions only run mainly on weekends for about 1 month, so I think my job could be understanding if I need to leave 1 hour early on a few Fridays. That would be really unfortunate if I GOT the role then had to turn it down or something. That would just be horrible...

Anyway I hope it turns out well. Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[auntiehill]

I did a lot of theater, way back in the Jurassic era, when I was in college. I only got small parts in the big productions, or medium parts in tiny productions. It was lots and lots of hard work, but tons of fun.

Audition thinking you won't get it anyway, so you'll be less inhibited. Sometimes it's easier to throw yourself into it when you think you're never going to see those people again.

 

[nightwind1]

I am thinking of auditioning for two plays in my area for a couple of local community theaters, both are open auditions, non-union, and unpaid.

Has anyone ever done this before?

I do not have any acting experience except for a small production I was in during high school.

I just want to see how I do, feel the exhilaration of it. If I fail, I fail. I just want to try it. I cannot sing or dance, but luckily enough both plays are straight-up comedies and do not require singing or dancing.

Has anyone else ever tried this before? How was it?

Both of the roles would be unpaid. One of the places actually requires you to pay a membership fee. So I am not thrilled about that. But I am thrilled at the prospect of the experience whether I get a role or not.

Even though I am excited and I do not care if I fail (that does not mean that I will not try of course, but I won't be broken up about it if I fail), I am getting more and more nervous thinking about it and keep wondering why I want to do this in the first place? It would be tons of work for no pay. I would have to give up every single weekend (on the off-chance they even consider me, which I doubt they would). But for some reason I want to do it anyway.

But I suppose what is the worst that could happen? They say no? I can deal with that.

Anyone else ever have this experience?

I've done thirteen community theatre productions in the last 10 years.

I guess you could say I've had experience in this.

(Just got off of a run of "Fiddler on the Roof" that set attendance records for a fall musical at the Des Moines Community Theatre. L'Chaim!)

That said, I've never heard of a community theatre where you have to pay to perform. Something doesn't compute there.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I am thinking of auditioning for two plays in my area for a couple of local community theaters, both are open auditions, non-union, and unpaid.

Has anyone ever done this before?

I do not have any acting experience except for a small production I was in during high school.

I just want to see how I do, feel the exhilaration of it. If I fail, I fail. I just want to try it. I cannot sing or dance, but luckily enough both plays are straight-up comedies and do not require singing or dancing.

Has anyone else ever tried this before? How was it?

Both of the roles would be unpaid. One of the places actually requires you to pay a membership fee. So I am not thrilled about that. But I am thrilled at the prospect of the experience whether I get a role or not.

Even though I am excited and I do not care if I fail (that does not mean that I will not try of course, but I won't be broken up about it if I fail), I am getting more and more nervous thinking about it and keep wondering why I want to do this in the first place? It would be tons of work for no pay. I would have to give up every single weekend (on the off-chance they even consider me, which I doubt they would). But for some reason I want to do it anyway.

But I suppose what is the worst that could happen? They say no? I can deal with that.

Anyone else ever have this experience?

I've done thirteen community theatre productions in the last 10 years.

I guess you could say I've had experience in this.

(Just got off of a run of "Fiddler on the Roof" that set attendance records for a fall musical at the Des Moines Community Theatre. L'Chaim!)

That said, I've never heard of a community theatre where you have to pay to perform. Something doesn't compute there.

Well that is only one of the theaters.

The other one I'm going to does not require it.

They are non-profit theaters that rely on both admission fees of course, but also on membership funds in order to stay open. However, the 2nd theater does not require actors to pay a fee.

The theater that requires a fee is actually the more distinguished of the two and several famous people have performed there, so even though I think the fee thing is petty, I know they are legitimate. But still...yeah, not thrilled about having to pay that when you know going into it how much work you'll have to do anyway.

Can I ask...do you have a full or part time job while you perform at your community theater? I was worried about conflict with my work.

 

[Melakon]

I did a lot of plays in high school and college, and one community theatre production. Theatre was my passion, and I wish I had stayed with it.

The fee to audition business sounds very questionable. Is that particular group also running an acting school? Doesn't make sense to me either.

My usual tendency was to set my sights low and try out for a small part, but I got cast in major roles at least 4 times. The community theatre play cast me as the romantic lead which I didn't want at all, as I don't have romantic lead looks, and he was the dullest character in the comedy. There wasn't much I could do with him.

But if your heart yearns for theatre, go for it. What's really going to cut into your work schedule possibly are rehearsals. Find out when rehearsal nights are first to see if you can work those in. Again, the fee to perform doesn't make sense.

 

[JiNX-01]

Do it. It's a great experience. And it could lead to something bigger. I loved performing on stage.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I did a lot of plays in high school and college, and one community theatre production. Theatre was my passion, and I wish I had stayed with it.

The fee to audition business sounds very questionable. Is that particular group also running an acting school? Doesn't make sense to me either.

There is no acting school involved nor do I need to pay to just audition. The audition is open and free.

They just want anyone that is "involved" with the production (whether it's backstage or on-stage) to become a "member" of the theater, which requires a small fee of 48 dollars per year. So if I was cast, they would ask me to become a contributing member.

The other theater (that I would be more likely to get a role in anyway) does not require this and it's closer to my work. So in all honesty if I get anything at all I would probably end up at that one.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Audition thinking you won't get it anyway, so you'll be less inhibited. Sometimes it's easier to throw yourself into it when you think you're never going to see those people again.

This.

The only time I've been in a play since about sixth grade, I was supposed to be the producer. But when one of the actors didn't show up for the first reading, the director asked me to fill in for the evening. She showed up for a couple rehearsals and then dropped out completely, and the director asked me to take the role for real. I was terrified and exhausted -- acting and producing on top of a full-time job -- but it was totally worth it! It was so much fun!

I hope you give it a try, and I hope you get it.

 

[nightwind1]

I am thinking of auditioning for two plays in my area for a couple of local community theaters, both are open auditions, non-union, and unpaid.

Has anyone ever done this before?

I do not have any acting experience except for a small production I was in during high school.

I just want to see how I do, feel the exhilaration of it. If I fail, I fail. I just want to try it. I cannot sing or dance, but luckily enough both plays are straight-up comedies and do not require singing or dancing.

Has anyone else ever tried this before? How was it?

Both of the roles would be unpaid. One of the places actually requires you to pay a membership fee. So I am not thrilled about that. But I am thrilled at the prospect of the experience whether I get a role or not.

Even though I am excited and I do not care if I fail (that does not mean that I will not try of course, but I won't be broken up about it if I fail), I am getting more and more nervous thinking about it and keep wondering why I want to do this in the first place? It would be tons of work for no pay. I would have to give up every single weekend (on the off-chance they even consider me, which I doubt they would). But for some reason I want to do it anyway.

But I suppose what is the worst that could happen? They say no? I can deal with that.

Anyone else ever have this experience?

I've done thirteen community theatre productions in the last 10 years.

I guess you could say I've had experience in this.

(Just got off of a run of "Fiddler on the Roof" that set attendance records for a fall musical at the Des Moines Community Theatre. L'Chaim!)

That said, I've never heard of a community theatre where you have to pay to perform. Something doesn't compute there.

Well that is only one of the theaters.

The other one I'm going to does not require it.

They are non-profit theaters that rely on both admission fees of course, but also on membership funds in order to stay open. However, the 2nd theater does not require actors to pay a fee.

The theater that requires a fee is actually the more distinguished of the two and several famous people have performed there, so even though I think the fee thing is petty, I know they are legitimate. But still...yeah, not thrilled about having to pay that when you know going into it how much work you'll have to do anyway.

Can I ask...do you have a full or part time job while you perform at your community theater? I was worried about conflict with my work.

I've got a full-time job. 9:30 - 6 M-F. In most community theatres, rehearsal call time is somewhere between 6 and 7 pm, with (at least around here) call usually at 6:30. Normally Sun-Thu for the first six weeks or so, going to six days a week during the last few weeks of rehearsal. Tech week is every evening through opening night.

Most community theatres ask you to list your "conflicts" when you first audition. Conflicts are the days you know you can't make rehearsal. Most are perfectly aware that actors have real life commitments also, as long as they don't make you miss too many rehearsals.

I'm debating right now if I'm going to audition for "Les Miz".

 

[lurok]

As others have said, if it's something you really have a passion for, then do it . And the fee does sound iffy, but it's really up to you. I did some acting at school and college, including some quite big lead parts (MSND, Titus Andronicus, Look Back In Anger). I was terrible . And got awful stagefright. But it gave me a much greater respect for actors who can go out there and nail it night after night.

 

[Captain_Nick]

I don't know that the fee is necessarily dodgy. I used to play in a community orchestra a few years ago. We all paid membership subscriptions - they were our primary source of income. Doing community theatre sounds like it could be even more expensive.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I don't know that the fee is necessarily dodgy. I used to play in a community orchestra a few years ago. We all paid membership subscriptions - they were our primary source of income. Doing community theatre sounds like it could be even more expensive.

Well, I used to be in my town's Community Band (I play the clarinet) and it was free. Of course we never got paid haha, but it was free.

The theaters are not expensive to join. The one is like 48 dollars per year, plus promising to usher or make flyers for a few shows. Doesn't sound too dodgy to me.

I guess it depends on the country or state. I was searching around and in my state it seems like the norm. I mean they aren't exactly charging a lot for admission (like 20-30 bucks?), so they seem to heavily rely on membership.

Of course if you do theater in NYC, that's a whole different thing. They charge the viewers a lot and the actors often get paid if it's a legit place.

New Jersey (where I am) isn't the same deal. Good thing is there is less competition though.

 

[Misfit Toy]

I've done loads of community and college productions. Do it. It's fun, it's work, and you'll learn all kinds of new ways to drink!

 

[wissaboo]

I think it sounds like a lot of fun. It would be a great hobby and you would probably meet lots of people you wouldn't normally. My son is and actor (so far unpaid lol) but he was in a community theatre play with a judge once. Normally an 18 year old doesn't get many opportunities to socialize with judges.