Jenem
|
Too young to be old; yet too old to be young?I just got some feedback from some recent auditions in which I gave my most rehearsed, confident performances and oddly got the same response:
"You gave an excellent audition, and in particular, the panel adored the quality of your voice, but unfortunately you appear too young for our older cast/chorus; and yet too old for our younger cast/chorus."
Has anyone gone through this? Is it simply an easy excuse? How does one get through this?
I'm currently 25 and have been told I can look anywhere from 17-30, so I always thought I had a versatile look, but apparently it's working against me now?
I'd love to hear thoughts from others on this.
|
jazzygirlsings
|
It sounds like I've been through this convo with you before! LOL!
I definitely went through a transitional period!
When I graduated from conservatory, I was 20...My voice was mature enough to be leading lady material, but my look was WAY too young! I would get callbacks at auditions and when I looked at the others called back, I realized that they were all in their mid-upper twenties/early 30's...
I wouldn't take it as a slight at all...They are complimenting you, but you just don't have a place in their production yet...Just know that things will turn out okay for you. Be patient!
If I wouldn't have been patient from the age of 20-24ish and thrown in the towel...I would have missed out on some great roles! I was smart enough to see that my best roles wouldn't come until I was older...
You'll get some great breaks here and there while you are in transition, so don't get down on yourself! 
|
Jenem
|
Yeah I suppose you're right; we have dicussed this!
I guess having gotten the break I got to be in my curent show made me think otherwise...I thought I was out of this wierd stage!
And I guess it's just funny that my awkward stage is starting at 25. I pretty much got everything I auditioned for between the ages of 21 and 24; what I figure would me the more awkward age bracket.
It's just frustrating, and I didn't know if they were simply trying to be nice; but I have pretty good bullcrap radar and it didn't seem like it.
I hope you're right Jazzy.
|
jazzygirlsings
|
You have a super young look to you and I think that you are in a bit of transition, even at 25...I've seen pics of you and you certainly don't LOOK 25!
So just be patient and yes...you will get some wonderful breaks here and there...so celebrate them and appreciate them and know that you are definitely on to better things in the long run!
|
itsaboutonemoment
|
Doesn't this period suck? I've ALWAYS been told, over and over, that my roles wouldn't come until I was at least 35. My professor at college even said to me one day in class, "When everyone else's career in here is ending, yours will just be beginning. You need to promise me that you'll hang in there." And that's what I intend to do.
However, I have been blessed with work, and I love it. I think my favorite was playing the Wicked Stepmother in a children's tour of Cinderella. With me being 5'10", and the rest of the girls being 5'5", 5'6", it was a perfect fit.
It's tough, but just keep on auditioning for anything and everything, somewhere, you will be right for a project. And all those auditions will help you get even better, along with taking classes!
|
jazzygirlsings
|
^I miss you! Where have you been?!
PM ME!
|
Jenem
|
Aww, thanks guys!
Jazzy, thanks for the feedback on my pics. It's hard to be objective about yourself, and I always thought I looked my age, but I value your opinion and it eases my mind a bit that you are also maybe seeing what the CD's are seeing.
IATM, you're also probably right. Now that I think about it, I'm usually the youngest in the cast. Duh!  Even in shows where Ive played a teenager (which is pretty much every show), my love interest is usually about 35.
I think I'm gonna take a break and just learn for a bit. Thanks for the feedback ladies; It honestly does make me feel better about this. 
|
Brigantine
|
I'll be taking some of this^^ advice for myself too.
What I don't understand is how I can look 5-8+ years younger than I really am 'in person', and look older on stage. I'm 27 and have had a lot of "mature" roles, but at work, LOTs of people think I'm in my first few years of college.
I guess because I'm tall? (5'8")
|
jazzygirlsings
|
| Brigantine wrote: | I'll be taking some of this^^ advice for myself too.
What I don't understand is how I can look 5-8+ years younger than I really am 'in person', and look older on stage. I'm 27 and have had a lot of "mature" roles, but at work, LOTs of people think I'm in my first few years of college.
I guess because I'm tall? (5'8") |
^That's most likely the case...
I think another important thing to remember is that you SHOULD NOT try to get into the casting director's head! You'll drive yourself nuts!
It could be that they've already cast the role, it could be that you're too short, it could be that you remind them of someone who used to pick on them in grade school, etc...
LOL!
So just do your best and be patient! That's the best advice I can give!
|
Brigantine
|
Haha!! I've already decided that one director at my community theater must cast on trivial whims, like "I likes her shoes".
|
jazzygirlsings
|
^LOL! EXACTLY!!!!!!!
You never know! 
|
Bianca.
|
I'm 16 years old.
I just did a professional dinner theatre where my character was "late twenties early 30s'
So.. I.. am a bit afraid of what's to come for me!
I'll be 19 and too old!
haha.. oh man...
|
Jenem
|
^ Wow; I thought you were about 28-30 from your pics online! I can see why you would get cast. Also, from your posts, you just seem older.
|
jazzygirlsings
|
^Looks older than you! 
Now I'm just being a stinker! LOL!
|
Jenem
|
LOL; I know! I'm insanely jealous!
And yes, you are a stinker!
|
Amber
|
| Syrso2yrsAgo wrote: | I'm 16 years old.
I just did a professional dinner theatre where my character was "late twenties early 30s'
So.. I.. am a bit afraid of what's to come for me!
I'll be 19 and too old!
haha.. oh man... |
Oh, gosh, I totally emphasize. Sometimes I feel the same way, that I'll be twenty-five and look eighty or something. At my community theatre (not for just kids, it's a mix of people age 6 to...well, 60), I'm ALWAYS playing the older roles. I think I was the youngest Fastrada ("pippin") ever, in my theatre's production a year or so ago, at the old decrepit age of 15. 
|
jazzygirlsings
|
| misericordiae wrote: | | Syrso2yrsAgo wrote: | I'm 16 years old.
I just did a professional dinner theatre where my character was "late twenties early 30s'
So.. I.. am a bit afraid of what's to come for me!
I'll be 19 and too old!
haha.. oh man... |
Oh, gosh, I totally emphasize. Sometimes I feel the same way, that I'll be twenty-five and look eighty or something. At my community theatre (not for just kids, it's a mix of people age 6 to...well, 60), I'm ALWAYS playing the older roles. I think I was the youngest Fastrada ("pippin") ever, in my theatre's production a year or so ago, at the old decrepit age of 15. |
LOL!
Don't despair, peeps!
I'm sure you'll be fine in the long run!
|
MaryMag
|
| jazzygirlsings wrote: | ....
It could be that they've already cast the role, it could be that you're too short, it could be that you remind them of someone who used to pick on them in grade school, etc...
LOL!
So just do your best and be patient! That's the best advice I can give! |
I think the reason I was cast as Betty in my current show is because I was the only girl with short hair. Despite how easy it is to change one's hair, this seems to be what it came down to, (according to the way I've heard the directors talk.) Not kidding.
|
