When you walk on set in Pittsburgh, you should already be confident. This comes with having some understanding of set directions before you make that move and to pay attention to any set directions that the manager or casting director have passed on to your agent before an audition. Knowing where to stand and when you are to step onto the set can give you natural confidence. Lacking confidence on set will not make a good impression with the casting director or manager. You will typically see an x that is marked out on the floor in one way or the other. The x is called the mark in the industry, this is where you are expected to stand on camera or even for on camera auditions in Pittsburgh.
Now that you understand what the mark is, you will need to be aware of where the mark is on set and that is even for auditions in Pittsburgh. Be sure to enter the set with confidence and make your way to the mark. For auditions, once you get to the mark you will make your introduction and be sure to make it a strong opening by clearly stating your information to the auditor or casting director. The casting director will ask for your SLATE first thing and this is usually your name, age, the character you are portraying and the agency you are working with. Your introduction should be kept simple however should also carry some charisma as well, this will help you leave an impression with the casting director in Pittsburgh.
When auditioning in Pittsburgh, you should make sure that you are adding personality to your introduction. This introduction is the casting directors first impression of you and a flat introduction really will not spark the casting directors interest in you. Just really avoid just saying something like “Hello, my name is Josh.” Try being more personable as you audition in Pittsburgh by saying something more like “Good morning, I am Josh. I am 18 years old and this morning I will be giving you an excerpt from the Shakespearan play Hamlet, my part being that of Hamlet.”
You don’t want to sound like you are reading lines or reading information from a teleprompter when you introduce yourself in Pittsburgh. Remember a first impression can be made within the first thirty seconds of your audition and you want the impression you leave to be a positive one. A good tip to work with; is before you introduce yourself take a pause and also take a second pause before starting on the piece that you're auditioning and be sure to even portray the small physical changes that make your character who they are in the story.
You will make a good first impression with the casting director if you already know the expectations and some stage direction before you go to your first audition in Pittsburgh. This allows you to let your real skills as an actor or actress really shine through and that you can get along with others on set as well. The set can be a very busy place and doesn’t need someone that is unsure just bumbling around and having no idea on what the director is asking of them in Pittsburgh.
