Katy Schutte
  • About
  • VIDEO
  • Workshops
  • Corporate
  • The Improviser's Way
  • Contact

The Improviser's Way

A blog for improvisers
subscribe

12 Tips on Casting for Improv Shows

15/9/2016

9 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve been asked a handful of times over the last week if I have advice for how to do well in improv castings. I coach, teach and direct improv shows and I’m also an actor, so I know the stresses that can come with auditions. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can tell you what I would be looking for in an improv audition.

1. It starts on the way
You never know who you will bump into on your way to the casting, so be in polite and lovely mode the whole time. Make a point of saying hello to other people at the venue and in the waiting room. You want them all to be allies and it might be the only connection you get with your fellow players before you’re put in a scene with them.

2. Be on time
Duh! Leave lots of time for disasters en route. Be early. Get a cuppa and walk around the block. Being late is the stupidest reason for not getting a job. Even if it’s the only time you’ve ever been late, they will think you’re generally a late or unreliable person. If you do have a series of disasters that makes you late, try to take a breath before you go in. Don’t be flustered, just apologise and join in with a minimum of fuss.

3. Dress appropriately
Make sure you’re wearing something you can move in and something that won’t show off your bits when you do physical work. Scrappy clothes indicate that you don’t care or that you’re super poor because you’ve NEVER got a job EVER (even if that’s the case, you don’t want them to know that).

4. Bring water
Some people don’t. Amazing.

5. Support, not showboating
Your instinct will be that you want to be seen, to stand out, but if you have a good improviser running the casting, they will notice how good or bad you are at support. Even in auditions, it’s super important to make the other person look good by really listening to them, building on their ideas and editing at a time that serves the scene. How many people are playing? Work out the % you should show up on stage. Don’t hang back or be in every single scene. You don’t need to do every single idea you have, but serve the scene or the set you are performing in.

6. Be a great audience
If you are watching other people at any point in the casting, there is nothing nicer than laughing and smiling and caring about the other improv that’s happening. It may feel counter intuitive because you want to get the job, but you’ll look like a nice human that enjoys improv and who doesn’t want that person on their team?!

7. Show your range
Just like a good show, you’re going to need variation in your performance. If you’re initiating a lot, make sure you do some scenes where you’re responding and reacting off someone else’s initiation. If you’ve played a lot of big, cartoonish characters thus far, play some real-world characters that are close to you, play honest and truthful over funny. Do talky scenes after doing a lot of quiet scenes and so forth.

8. Do your research
Who are these guys? What is their style? Where do they play? What do you like about them? Get ready to answer questions about why you want to be in this group. Also, check in with yourself; is this where you want to be?

9. Be yourself
If you’re very adaptable and you can blag your way into a show without it really suiting you and how you like to play, that’s not going to be much fun. Make sure that you make choices because they’re exciting to you, not because you’re trying to prove anything. If you get it, they will be casting you for you and you’ll have a much nicer time. I have found that being myself has got me a lot more work that trying to guess what a casting director wants and trying to please them.
However...

10. Take direction
Listen out for what you are being asked to do; it sounds simple, but SO many people just can’t take direction. If your director wants you to play in a different way, or try something out, go with it; that’s less decisions you have to make! The director really wants you to be the best. They are not looking for anyone to fail. The best outcome for them is that everyone is brilliant.

11. Be kind to yourself if you don’t get it
There are three main reasons for not getting a job
  • You aren’t good enough… yet
  • You are good enough, but you were too nervous and it threw you off your game
  • You are totally good enough; you're just not a ‘fit’ with that group
The solutions are
  • Get better at improv – but we all want that anyway, right?
  • Hey – you’ll be less nervous every time. This one is prepping you for another one in the future. I tell myself that castings are a ‘free workshop’ (because they are) and that stops me being nervous.
  • They may even love you and your work, but already have someone that has similar superpowers to you. That’s cool. They may need you in future. Or you could have knocked it out of the park, but they didn’t like it. So you probably wouldn’t have a great time working as a team anyhow. Never mind

12. Above and beyond
You are much more likely to be liked and noticed if the group have seen you at their shows. It indicates that you really enjoy what they do. Go say hi, but don’t hang around them awkwardly! See if you can help on lights or sound or tearing tickets. If going to their shows feels like a chore, it’s probably not a group you really want to be a part of anyway.
 
My favourite advice (I think I learned this from a Brian Cranston video):
Auditioning is the whole of the job. You came and you did your best. It’s just a bonus if you actually book the work. Think of it that way and you’ll be satisfied before you even know the result. 

Bonne chance!

​Katy Schutte is a London-based improviser who plays in Destination the improvised podcast, a whole bunch of live shows including Project2  and The Maydays and teaches improv classes.  

9 Comments
Neil Goulder
15/9/2016 16:08:35

Number 1 is great advice. Waiting for an audition for a group at the Rag Factory, I bumped into an improvisor I had met once at a workshop ... who was going to a workshop for another group. To cut a long story short, I was offered a place in both groups and had immense fun with both!

Reply
Owen Choules link
5/10/2016 01:27:51

Though I'm not an improviser, this seems like amazingly practical advice. I'd feel a lot more at ease getting involved with improv at any level forearmed with these nuggets! Great stuff!

Reply
Jason Bennett
27/10/2022 22:03:26

I really want to thank Dr Emu for saving my marriage. My wife really treated me badly and left home for almost 3 month this got me sick and confused. Then I told my friend about how my wife has changed towards me. Then she told me to contact Dr Emu that he will help me bring back my wife and change her back to a good woman. I never believed in all this but I gave it a try. Dr Emu casted a spell of return of love on her, and my wife came back home for forgiveness and today we are happy again. If you are going through any relationship stress or you want back your Ex or Divorce husband you can contact his whatsapp +2347012841542 or email [email protected]
Https://web.facebook.com/Emu-Temple-104891335203341

Reply
Manuel Franco
26/5/2023 10:56:11

I just want to say Thank You to everyone who supported me through the years. My name is Manuel Franco, New Berlin, Wisconsin. My story of how I won the Powerball lottery of $768.4M is a bit of a tale. I have been playing Powerball tickets for 6 years now since I turned 18. I bought my first ticket on my 18 birthday. I was feeling very lucky that day because I had contacted Dr. Odunga Michael to help me with the winning Powerball numbers. I really had that great great feeling that I looked at the camera wanting to wink at it. I only did a tiny part of it and trusted him. He gave me the numbers after I played a couple other tickets along with it for $10. I checked my ticket after the winnings came online and saw the numbers were correct including the Power play. I screamed for about 10 minutes because it felt like a dream. I had won $768.4M. You can check my winning testimony with the lottery officials just with my name search. Thank you Dr Odunga. Well, his email is [email protected] and you can also call or Whats-app him at +2348167159012 so you guys can contact him

Reply
Stephanie Sally
30/8/2023 09:37:37

Hello everyone, I am from Wembley, Britain. I want to write this testimony to tell others and thank Dr. Odunga for what he has done for me. The first 12 years of my marriage I had 5 miscarriages and I was called all sorts of names by my mother-in-law and this made my marriage life very hectic and a burden of sorrow. I contacted Dr. Odunga for help and I will say that he is a very strong and honest man and he indeed helped me solve my problem. I saw his email in a testimony and I contacted him, little did I know it would be the end of all my problems. After 2 days of contact, I received a fertility herb and he told me to use it. The herb worked and my husband even loved me more and bought me expensive things. One afternoon, I went to a nearby hospital and came back home with the positive result of my pregnancy and after 9 months I gave birth to a baby boy. Ever since I contacted Dr. Odunga, my story has been different. I have 3 children at present and I am very happy in my marriage. Please, contact him at [email protected] OR Whats App him +2348167159012 to help you too

Reply
Sarah Love
21/1/2024 09:46:20


Hello, My name is Sarah Love Tover. I live in Dover, Delaware. My boyfriend Juan Tover and I have been dating for the past 4 yrs we were to get married in September of this year but it never happened..he constantly messes around with his ex's and other females every time he got caught he apologized and me to forgive him and I keep taking him back because I'm truly in love with this man but after a while he started messing around again...what can I do to make this man to love me and stop the messing around so we could get married and start our family? I went online and saw various testimonies of how people got their ex back but one testimony of Dr Odunga helped me find the right solution and I am very happy I contacted Dr. Odunga regarding my problem. My boyfriend is now my HUSBAND. We got married 2 weeks ago in United Church in Dover. My problem was solved. I am extremely happy to put his email [email protected] to anyone out here looking to solve his/her relationship problem. You can also Whats-App him with his mobile number +2348167159012

Reply
SHAW fred
23/6/2024 23:38:42

I never thought i could smile and be in a happy marriage again if not for the help of DR Moses . I got the doctors Email and i emailed him, he got back to me with some encouraging words, he got me some herbs cream which i use for just 8 days and i began to feel the male enhancement , and without surgery. This went on for a little period of about 10 days and to my surprise my wife keeps screaming that she love my big dick now. Now my wife no longer cheat on me, and my male enhancement is now about 10.5 inches long on erection and off course very large round. And now my wife uses breasts, hips and bums enlargement. I and my wife are very happy for the help rendered to me by DR Moses HERBS, and i want to say a big thanks to Doctor for the help. you can call/whats-app him directly on +2349060529305
website:https://bubaherbalmiraclem.wixsite.com/website
Facebook page ;https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559577240930


DOCTOR Moses Buba CAN AS WELL HELP THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS
1. HIV/AIDS SPELL
2. HERPES SPELL
3. CANCER SPELL
4 IF YOU WANT YOUR EX LOVER BACK SPELL
5 IF YOU NEED A BABY SPELLhim to solve
6 LOW SPERM COUNT SPELL
get all your problem solve. No problem is too big for him to solve.

Reply
william wirtz
17/7/2024 22:49:02

I recommend you to get your herbal medicine through Herbal Miracle Medicine . He cured me from my herpes outbreak and now I am free . All thanks for your care and giving me my life back . If you are suffering from any illness you can get your medication from Doc Moses Buba on his .
email him on ( [email protected] )
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559577240930
website:https://bubaherbalmiraclem.wixsite.com/website

Reply
obodubu monday
18/7/2024 16:08:31

Dr. Obodubu Monday is recognised all over the world of marine kingdom, As one of the top fortunate and most powerful spell casters doctor of charms casts from the beginning of his ancestors ship until now Dr. Obodubu Monday lives strong among all other spell casters, there have never been any form of impossibility beyond the control of Dr. Obodubu Monday it doesn’t matter the distance of the person with the problems or situation, all you have to do is believe in the spell casting Dr. Obodubu Monday cast that works, he always warns never to get his charms cast if you do not believe or unable to follow his instruction. it is the assignment of the native doctor Dr. Obodubu Monday to offer services to those in need of spiritual assistance not minding the gravity of your situations or distance as long as water, sea, ocean, lake, river, sand, etc. are near you, then your problems of life would be controlled under your foot. if you need any spiritual help on any of these WhatsApp Doctor Obodubu on : +234 705 993 7909

Get Your Love Back

Fruit Of The Womb

Fibroid

Business Boom

Financial Breakthrough

Get Rich Without Ritual

Do As I Say

Bad Dream

Promise And Fail

Epilepsy

Land/Court Case

Mental Disorder

Political Appointment

Visa Approval

Cancer

Examination Success

Spend And Get Back

Good Luck

Natural Neath

Hypertension

Stroke

Sickle cell

Impotency

Win Court case

Promotion At Work

Commanding Tone

Protection Ring

Marriage Success

Love Ring

Favour Ring

Recover Lost Glory

Spiritual Power For Men Of God

Travel Success Ring

Job Success

lottery/ win

And Many, More

make haste to Dr Monday on WhatsApp +234 705 993 7909 for spiritual problem today and you will surely get solution to all your predicament

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Buy the Book!

    Picture
    Enjoy my blog? Fancy buying me a cuppa to celebrate?

    RSS Feed

    There are many blogs! Search here for unlisted topics or contact me. 

    Author

    Katy Schutte is a London-based improviser who teaches improv classes and performs shows globally. 

    Recent Posts

    widget @ surfing-waves.com
  • About
  • VIDEO
  • Workshops
  • Corporate
  • The Improviser's Way
  • Contact