Online Casting – are you being taken for a ride?

Posted on April 1, 2012 by admin

In today’s modern world where technology develops at an ever increasing pace and most advertising happens online, as a performer it’s vitally important to have a visible online presence! The days of buying envelopes, paying for hundreds of hard copies of your headshots and spending a small fortune on postage are long gone! Now everything happens with a copy, a paste, a click and a send! Over the past fifteen years the changes and progressions within the industry have been immense, and as a professional artiste struggling to establish a career with some longevity, you must keep up with this
progression or run the risk of being left behind!

Spotlight remains the industry standard (having been established since 1927 this is not likely to change!) and the majority of top castings will be advertised here and nowhere else. And as such, it’s vitally important that as a serious performer you obtain a Spotlight membership. Even if you don’t have representation with an Agent or Personal Manager you can still access some of these castings yourself. But if Spotlight are the industry
standard, why should you use alternative casting sites?

With the rise and popularity of reality TV and this awful ‘celebrity culture’ we now find ourselves living in, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon! We are producing an entire generation of young people who are becoming blinded by Saturday night television and who deem themselves to be the next major superstar, with no concept of the talent, training and dedication it takes to forge a career as a performer! All they see is the glitz, glamour and money that seem to go hand in hand with becoming an overnight celebrity    Z-lister, and a passion for learning a serious craft and maturing into a successful confident performer seems to have become secondary, if non-existent.

There is a plus side to this. Even with the severe cuts that have taken place throughout the arts during the financial downturn, interest in the industry continues to grow at an alarming rate! Dance and stage schools are flourishing, and some amazing young talent is being discovered, particularly amongst young people who may never have been given a platform to show what they can do! New Production Companies are on the rise and are always recruiting performers for a continual stream of short films, music videos, commercials, virals, stills and live events, and young directors are always graduating and searching for talent for their future projects. This is the kind of work that will usually bypass Spotlight with breakdowns being passed straight on to alternative recruitment sources.

However, this has led to a major increase in so called online casting companies, many of whom do not support their members and who are only interested in one thing – MONEY, obtained by exploiting the dreams and passions of young and impressionable performers! Everyday a new company seems to materialise, advertising their services on Twitter and Facebook! So how can you discover whether a particular online casting company is worth signing up to?

Here are a few tips: by asking yourself some questions and with just a little research you can usually discover quite quickly whether a company is there to support you or fleece you!

WHO ARE THEY? Who has set up the company and do they have any experience within the industry? Look for a ‘who we are’ or an ‘about us’ page. If the Company Director has experience in and a good knowledge of the industry they will want to inform you of this. If there are no background facts stated regarding the Director, the team or their history within the industry, then more than likely they will have NO previous experience or knowledge, and the person who has set up the company will only be interested in one thing, after thinking they’ve found a gap in an overcrowded market that can be exploited!

WHERE ARE THEY BASED? It might sound crazy but check where the company is registered and run from! I recently came across an online casting company who had numerous spelling mistakes and bad grammar in their text, and they were registered and run from the Bahamas (the heart of the Broadway and West-end Theatre industry!) Not a good sign!

HOW DO THEY SUPPORT YOU? Apart from the obvious service of listing castings, auditions and jobs, how else do they offer support to you, the performer? Do they promote career development? Do they provide other services within the industry? Do they offer help, advice and information? Or do they simply list second rate jobs and promote themselves with some enticing strap line along the lines of ‘The greatest online casting service!’

CAN YOU CONTACT THEM? Look for some contact information. Is there a visible email address and/or telephone number of a point of contact within the company? Do
you feel confident that you can speak to an individual should you have a complaint or require any help? Or is there simply an automated email system where someone will supposedly contact you once you’ve submitted your enquiry?

WHO ELSE HAS SIGNED UP? Check out other profiles and view the calibre of the talent who have already registered! The quality of the performer will tell you a lot
about the kind of website and the standard of work that is likely to be posted! If the site is filled with aspiring wannabees who have little or no experience, the site will probably list reality television and audience participation work with a few modelling and extra work opportunities thrown in for good measure. Not that there is anything wrong with these kind of jobs, but as a professional within the industry this is probably not the kind of work you would want to pay to apply for!

DO YOU HAVE TO BE APPROVED TO BECOME A MEMBER? Does the company list any requirements for membership for example: a professional headshot/Spotlight
membership/professional training or credits etc, or do they accept anyone onto the website? Again, this will tell you how they operate and the kind of performers and work they are interested in promoting

ARE THEY TRANSPARENT? If you have a question regarding their company, the service they provide or their company history you should be able to find the answer by reading through the relevant pages on their website. Look for some FAQ’s! Or at least a point of contact with whom you can communicate to find an answer to your question. The chances are, if something is not visibly stated in black and white on the site, they don’t want you to question it!

With the UK’s ‘Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment
Business Regulations Act 2010’ many rogue Agencies have been stamped out,
however, an increasing number of online casting companies continue to take
advantage of struggling performers! We at In House Casting hope you find this information useful and that you will always check out a company who promises you opportunities of work before signing up with them!

If you have any concerns regarding any online casting company or agency please contact Spotlight or Equity who will be glad to offer you advice!

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director, In House Casting

Posted in Agency, Castings and auditions, Musical theatre, Teachers, Theatre, Tuition, Workshops | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fighting for more than just an audition and a job!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

Our Executive Agent reveals his personal story, and why our In House Counselling Service is necessary!

When you have just graduated and you embark on a journey into a career for which you are so driven, focused and passionate, you think you are ready step out and take on the world. Little did I expect only eight months after graduating I would face a surreal and life changing challenge.

Like so many fresh graduate dancers, I had spent my first weeks after graduation standing in line at open and private calls for anything and everything that was casting at the time. Finally the hard work and waiting paid off and accepting an offer which seemed too good to be true, I embarked on a contract with Royal Caribbean Productions.

What began as an incredible experience: six weeks of rehearsals in Miami Florida, sailing the Caribbean, being paid to dance which was my passion and seeing the world at the same time, it seemed as if life couldn’t get much better. Then one evening everything changed, an evening which still is imprinted on my mind to this day!

As per my usual pre-show preparation I was shaving in the bathroom of my stateroom. With my head turned slightly to the right I began to shave very carefully around my Adam’s apple (an area all guys need to be cautious of when shaving) and it was then I noticed it. To the left hand corner of my Adam’s apple, a lump. Through curiosity I started to gently run my fingers over the surface area adding a little pressure against the lump, also checking the opposite side to see if a similar lump existed. The other side appeared
normal.  The only sensation I did feel was a slight bruising. Putting this to the back of my mind I finished getting ready and continued on with the evening performances.

The following day I raised my concerns regarding this with the onboard Doctor and within forty-eight hours, when we docked at the island of Cozumel Mexico I was sent to the American Hospital based there. Upon discussion with the specialist we agreed to carry out an immediate ultra sound scan of the area and twenty minutes after having the
ultrasound run around the base of my neck and Adam’s apple the specialist returned
to the consultation room.

“The scan is showing a worrying tumor which is the size of a golf ball inside the left lobe of your Thyroid Gland, I would advise you stay here in the hospital whilst we run further tests”.

Taking into account I was in an American Hospital on a Mexican island, and due to our current itinerary the vessel would not be returning to Cozumel for another sixteen days, should I agree to remain here in the hospital? I paused for a moment and having to make a quick decision I thanked the Specialist and informed him “If this is the case then I will return to the UK to have this dealt with”.

Taking the scans from the ultra sound back to the ship I went straight to the on board hospital and speaking with the Senior Nurse, I looked at her and said “It’s in my best interest that I return home”. Two days later I was medically disembarked and flown back to the UK from the US, where during the following week I was seen by a specialist whose
expertise was treating Thyroid Conditions.

I had to undergo a small, simple procedure (Fine Needle Aspiration) which would tell us precisely if we were dealing with a serious tumor. A needle was placed directly into the tumor in my neck and samples were withdrawn.

Two days later I received an urgent telephone call from the specialist who advised me that, through rigorous laboratory testing and at the request of the specialist having had the tests
repeated three times to ensure accurate results, we were dealing with ‘abnormal cells.’

I was only twenty years old at the time and normally any proposed surgery on the Thyroid Gland would involve removing only half of the gland. However, in this case a complete Thyroidectomy was proposed. It was clear the Specialist was aware of the seriousness of my test results. So in less than six days I found myself in hospital where I underwent a complete Thyroidectomy.

During my three day hospital visit I was informed that due to having my Thyroid Gland removed I would need to take a daily dose of Thyroxine for the rest of my life. Thyroxine is the hormone which is produced naturally within your Thyroid Gland and I soon learnt, rather an important one.

Following hospital protocol, two weeks later I returned to see the surgeon and specialist who had carried out the procedure.

Surgeon:

“The pathology results on the tumor have confirmed you had Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland. Whilst in surgery I also noticed the cancer had broken through the walls of the gland and had spread to one of the surrounding lymph nodes. A thorough inspection of all surrounding lymph nodes and para-thyroid glands has been carried out and they are deemed to be safe. This is very rare to be discovered in males, more so in regards to the fact you are so very young to encounter this. At this point we will need to prepare you to undergo a specific form of radiotherapy known as Radio-Iodine treatment.”

Due to the nature of everything that had taken place I half expected this! Surprisingly I found myself not shocked but more determined than ever to carry on regardless. My mental focus suddenly became all about myself and nothing was more important than facing up to what had happened and what I might have to endure next. Sadly however when breaking the news to my family (and being brought up in a single parent situation) the overall news was just too much for my Mum, and looking back she didn’t cope or
deal with the news of this event particularly well.

In preparation for the proposed treatment of Radio-Iodine I had to starve my body of the aforementioned Thyroxine. Why? In order to ensure the treatment is successful a person must be starved of Thyroxine following a complete Thryoidectomy, so when the Radio-Iodine treatment is administered any remaining thyroid cells are obliterated (naturally
your Thyroid Gland absorbs iodine from foods we eat).

The most challenging aspect in all of this – my physical body shape rapidly began to change.

Any dancer will appreciate that the mirror is our honest companion throughout our careers and lives. We neither love the mirror nor hate it. It merely shows us the truth: how we look and how our lines are positioned when held or when dancing. Physically I was in peak condition before the surgery. Then I started to gain the pounds. Why?

Thyroxin plays a very important role with regards to metabolism and without Thyroxine my body encountered a very slow metabolic rate. This played on me mentally and I became increasingly paranoid as I literally began to swell up.

After three months and having no intake of Thyroxine my face had swelled to the size of a football and my eyes became almost like slits: I was beginning to resemble a Sumo Wrestler!  It was incredibly challenging accepting these physical changes and feeling continually tired and sluggish. I still found the determination to drag myself to the gym six days a week, where I would try for at least forty five minutes to sweat off the weight. But it was very difficult finding the motivation to remain active while constantly feeling as if my batteries needed to be continuously re-charged.

Eventually the final stage of treatment was due and I found myself back in the hospital, this time in a private room just off the chemotherapy ward. I witnessed a lot of brave people in that particular ward but once again it was all too much for my Mum to witness. The room I was placed in was different; it had been specifically designed for procedures
concerning Radio-Iodine treatment.

Quite simply I had to remain in isolation for forty-eight hours due to the fact that once you have been administered Radio-Iodine (which is presented in large vitamin tablet form) you can actually begin to emit radiation should there be any remaining Thyroid Cells which could absorb this. If not then the Radio-Iodine will pass naturally through the body.  As safety and preventing contamination of metals was paramount, it meant forty-eight hours of eating and drinking using plastic knives, forks, spoons, cups, and even paper plates. After the initial forty-eight hours, two scientists came into my room with a Geiger counter and proceeded to scan it all around my body to see if it would pick up any traces
of radiation. Luckily no radiation was detected and within one hour I was allowed to return home.

I was advised that I should not try to father children due to the treatment having an adverse effect on my reproductive system, and to keep contact with young babies and infants to a minimum for a further six weeks. Of course, these were just some of the guide lines given to me. So I returned home and finally took the time to re-evaluate what
had happened during the previous five months. Looking at myself in the mirror, so much had changed in my physical appearance and there were a few areas of myself I could barely recognize. I had a fresh scar across the base of my neck at the font which at the time was 10-15 cm long.

At first I found it difficult to speak and I could feel my left vocal chord doing its own thing, the best description I can offer: it was flapping. And then I realized I could no longer sing!

It has taken time for my voice to return. What can sometimes happen during this particular type of surgery is when they remove the Thyroid Gland (which lies on top of a membrane that contains the nerve endings to the voice box) in some circumstances it can pull or strain the nerves.  Suddenly I had quite a lot to reflect on and rethink.

Randomly my agent at the time called me five days later and enquired as to how I was doing, and would I be interested in attending a private call for the musical called ‘Tonight’s The Night.’

I hesitated at first knowing I felt out of condition both mentally and physically, but a bout of determination came from nowhere and I suddenly found myself on an overnight coach down to London. Turning up to this private call, I was in a room with Professional male triple threats some of whom I already knew from work or previous auditions, and others I had not met. They all looked so physically healthy and happy, and inside I was actually crying to see myself wearing slightly baggy clothes to try to hide my physique while trying to camouflage myself even more by wearing all black. However, I was determined not to show how poorly I had been and felt at that time!

The audition started and two hours later I still had not been shown the door. I was extremely tired to the point beyond exhaustion and I really do not know how I continued. But now I know looking back, it was sheer DETERMINATION! What was even more rewarding however, was being approached by the show’s choreographer who actually complimented me on my dancing throughout the audition.

If I had been offered the position I would have been faced with the question: what if the present treatment does not work? Would I take the job and carry on with further treatment while performing twelve shows a week? The way I was feeling I couldn’t have achieved that. I was looking to see if I could still dance and yes, I could, although I was
disconnected from myself physically.

For me, the entire year of 2003 was a major continuous audition regarding my health, my career and myself!

So the next time you are feeling a little sorry for yourself that you didn’t get offered the role or the show, don’t give up. It will happen for you in the future! Try having to face looking for a job whilst knowing your health is in the balance at the same time!

This is why In House has introduced a counselling service! So we can offer help and guidance to professional artistes when they need it most. I was not offered any such help during that period of my life and I only wish it had been available.

However, I am still standing and I am still here.

Liam Knight

ExecutiveAgent, In House Agency

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Launch of the In House Casting Agency

Posted on July 2, 2011 by admin

Finally, and after months of preparation, In House Casting are very pleased to announce the upcoming launch of In House Agency. Operating under the In House Casting umbrella, In House Agency represents only the strongest performers in the Industry, from all round dancers and triple threats to singers and actors.

In House Agency will only consider artistes who have received professional training and have graduated from one of the recognised CDS/NCDT accredited colleges or similar
vocational establishments, and we place as much importance on professionalism
as the development of talent. In today’s Industry it is not enough to be talented in purely one discipline and performers need to be versatile. In House Agency actively promotes career development and we encourage our Artistes to continually improve their skills and learn new disciplines.

In House Agency has developed a unique method of auditioning its Artistes who seek representation. Auditions are by invitation only and every potential candidate will undergo a rigorous process:

• Dancers are auditioned in several disciplines of dance including commercial jazz,
street, barre, ballet and tap, and must demonstrate a strong technical ability. They are also required to perform two contrasting songs of their choice and a short monologue. This allows us the opportunity to identify any potential triple threats.

• Actors are not only required to prepare two contrasting monologues but must also
perform two contrasting songs and take part in a basic movement workshop.

• Singers are asked to prepare three contrasting songs of their choice, a short
monologue, and must also take part in a movement workshop.

By developing this audition process it enables In House Agency to represent and provide
the most collective group of talented professionals within the industry who will not only be suited to an employers requirements, but will also demonstrate complete professionalism with a positive attitude.

The Artistes we exclusively represent will have their profiles uploaded to the In House Casting website, and will enjoy all the benefits of a premium membership while paying no subscription charges.

In house Agency refuses to send Artistes to unsuitable auditions under the intent of “just to be seen.” This is unfair, time consuming and can be costly to both the Artiste and Casting Director. Any suggestions we submit will be completely appropriate for an employers casting requirements.

Our first auditions will take place in London on August 20th and 21st, 2011. If you are seeking representation and you adhere to the criteria mentioned above, please submit your current CV & Headshot to:

agency@inhousecasting.com

We will then contact you with further details and an invitation to the auditions should your application prove to be successful.

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director, In House Casting

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In House Casting for teachers & instructors!

Posted on June 14, 2011 by admin

One of the unique features of the In House Casting website is our comprehensive ‘Classes & Tuition’ tool. We believe that career development and preparation are major keys towards achieving success which is why we actively promote the continuation of training, the enhancement of a performers current talents and the learning of new skills.

Our Classes & Tuition service is offered completely FREE to teachers and instructors, and any class that is remotely connected to the arts may be advertised! The process is incredibly simple and once you have registered as a teacher you can upload your class details in no time at all.

Using our drop down menus choose whether you would like to advertise a class, master class, workshop or private tuition then click on the particular genre and specific type of class. There are several different genres to choose from incorporating every element of performance from acting and vocal technique, to dance, fitness & stretch, singing and voice development, music, behind the scenes, specialist skills and martial arts. After choosing your genre and locating your specific type of class from our menus, simply add your class details. If your class is held in a commercial or public venue then you can include a Google Map showing the exact location. If you are advertising private tuition, you do not have to disclose your address and any interested persons will have to contact you directly for further information.

You can even upload a link to your personal or company website (please note: there is a small nominal fee for including your website link)

Our Classes & Tuition service will be launching soon so teachers and instructors, if you haven’t already make sure you register now!

We will also be holding regular workshops led by established professionals within the industry, and the details of the first In House workshop will be advertised soon with the workshop being held shortly after we officially launch.

www.inhousecasting.com/register

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director, In House Casting

 

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In House Casting for employers!

Posted on May 22, 2011 by admin

If you are a casting director, producer or production assistant, choreographer, director or any other potential employer in the industry and you are searching for talent, what are the major problems and issues you encounter?

Are you becoming increasingly disillusioned with Spotlight, not only for the fees they charge but for the service they currently provide? Have you been reluctant to use online casting websites due to receiving countless numbers of unsuitable responses and for not being able to control how your listing is advertised? Have you also found some of these websites to be difficult to navigate and not particularly productive to fulfilling your casting needs? And is your current view that many of these websites are not support services but purely money making schemes for their creators?

In house Casting has been devised and created to act not only as a true support service for performers but also as a new, modern, and much needed casting tool for employers. This is achieved very simply by giving you, the employer three different options for talent recruitment, all of which are absolutely FREE!

1. Advertise your casting or audition - and completely control the suitability of your responses. Posting an ad on the In House Casting website is incredibly simple. Begin by placing a basic ad then if you wish, include more specific casting criteria. Only those members who meet your requirements may apply. If you are casting for multiple roles under the same production, simply add further characters to your advertisement. The more specific you make your ad the more appropriate your responses will be, so rather than receiving 230 applications for a role, you might receive 23 with every application being from the exact kind of performer you were originally searching for. And once you begin receiving your responses, begin building your call sheet! Save the performers profile or simply ‘drag and drop’ to your call sheet where you can view the performers contact information, allocate time slots, and organise your entire casting.

2. Search our talent database – every performer who applies to In House Casting must meet certain criteria before their memberships are approved and their profiles are uploaded onto the site. So you can rest assured that our talent database is exactly that – talent! Performers can upload their ‘ident’ allowing you the opportunity to view them infront of the camera and to also hear their native accent. The performers registration process is quite in depth but that’s why you will find your search for suitable talent to be so much easier. Using our live filter system, simply click to add more search criteria and begin to filter your results! Utilising the latest web design and technology, our search engine exceeds anything you will have previously used and rather than searching purely via gender, age, height, weight and hair, begin to narrow your search even further by including categories such as performers talents, specific playing range, location, eyes, hair length & type, accents, languages, specific vocal range, BMI, dance & specialist skills, stage combat experience, tattoos & piercings, facial hair, previous experience…the list goes on. With over thirty different filter options you can make your talent search as broad or as particular as you need to, and once you’ve narrowed your search then save your results to your call sheet. It’s that simple!

3. Deal with our In House agent – with the way the industry works, many auditions and castings are never advertised in the public domain, they are sent straight to agents. Unfortunate for those performers who have not managed to find representation but a necessary system. If you prefer not to advertise your casting on the website then simply contact our In House agent. Our agent represents a small number of clients who are seasoned performers or who we believe have great potential, and you will only be sent suitable suggestions from this group our agent exclusively represents. The agency is run as a separate entity from the In House Casting website. As an employer, nothing is more annoying than receiving double submissions which is why our agency clients are signed under exclusive contracts and are not represented by anyone else.

In House Casting has been developed to help you the employer as much as the performer, and because we appreciate that time is such a precious commodity, that’s exactly what we can save you!

Register now to receive further updates prior to our official website launch or contact us for further information: info@inhousecasting.com

www.inhousecasting.com/register

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director, In House Casting

 

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The benefits of using the In House Casting ‘piano accompaniment’ service.

Posted on May 15, 2011 by admin

As a performer and regardless of whether you are an actor, singer, dancer or a triple threat, at some point you will have to sing. You may have chosen a career in musical theatre or as a recording artist / session singer in which case you will already be used to working with a vocal or musical score and will probably have your own system of learning and practicing songs. Or you may have no interest in singing but have had to learn or perform a song for a particular role or audition. Whether you are a seasoned vocalist or a novice lacking confidence, nothing is more important than being able to practice and rehearse in a way that will develop your confidence with a particular piece, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability! And what better way to practice than by simply using your iPod or laptop?

This is where the In House Casting piano accompaniment service can help you!

More often than not as a struggling performer you really can’t afford to pay £40-£50 for an hours private singing tuition no matter how much you might want to. Sometimes it’s just not a viable financial option. And occasionally you might have to quickly learn a new song for an audition or recall and your usual vocal coach may be unavailable. So how are you able to rehearse your songs or learn new material?

All you have to do is follow our simple two step process:

1. Send us your sheet music – either scan and email, or fax using our online fax number

2. Choose whether you require the vocal / melody line, the full piano accompaniment, or both

Our classically trained pianist will then record your music, and we will return the tracks to you as an MP3/WAV file so you can upload the files and rehearse using your iPod or laptop. You could even burn the files onto a CD and play on a stereo. And we guarantee to return any accompaniments to you within a 24 hr period.

So if you have songs to prepare and need help, just contact us: info@inhousecasting.com

Our unique support services have been specifically designed to assist with your career development, and everything you need can be found ‘In House!’

Our accompaniment service will be launching soon. For further information please visit our website: www.inhousecasting.com

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director, In House Casting

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Your most embarrassing moment in an audition, rehearsal or performance?

Posted on May 8, 2011 by admin

As a performer, how do you deal with those awful moments of embarrassment when you wish the ground would swallow you whole and you could just fade away into oblivion without a single person noticing? We’ve all suffered those humiliations, from tripping and falling flat on our faces, to blanking lines, giving the worst ever auditions, uncontrollable corpsing, costume disasters, dropping a partner and every other imaginable source of humiliation, where you begin to question your ability, your confidence and professionalism as an entertainer!

I’ve certainly had a few of those embarrassing moments and mishaps during my career, but one in particular sticks in my mind as being particularly traumatic…

The year was 1999, the show ‘Saturday Night Fever’ at the London Palladium, and it was a matinee performance. I was a member of the ensemble and for anyone who is familiar with the characters from the musical I also covered the roles of Fusco, Frank Snr, Frank Jnr and Jay/Becker, as well as acting as swing for 3 other male ensemble tracks. The performance in question, I was swinging a different male track that I’d performed several times before.

Stood in the wings and with a skateboard under one arm the houselights dimmed, the overture began, the two pillars parted to reveal the wonderful Mr. Ben Richards in his white satin Night Fever costume, and to rapturous applause from the audience we were off and running. Not feeling nervous but with the same excitement and adrenaline rush that I always felt when the curtain went up, I eagerly awaited my cue….wait for it…fellow cast members began to enter on stage and interact…first one, then another….wait…one girl walks upstage centre…and that’s my cue….deep breath, quick wig check (it’s still attached) step onto the skateboard and push off…travelling on four wheels towards the beckoning spotlights and another successful performance…or so I thought!

Now, having ridden a skateboard for years as a child and at the age of eleven being relatively proficient, I automatically assumed I would still possess those skills. And feeling in a particularly confident mood I decided to add just a little more ‘swag’ to my 1970′s streetboy character by including a little skateboard ‘flic-flac’

I headed DSR from the USL wing and gaining a little momentum…flic…flac…flic…flac…crossed center stage…then it happened, and the following 10 seconds seemed to last for an eternity…

I’d suddenly placed too much weight on my back foot and in a ‘matrix’ slow-motion moment, I levitated 5 ft in the air. The skateboard took on a mind of its own and as it hurtled at rocket speed towards the orchestra pit I landed flat on my back with a huge thud! Then reality took hold and for a millisecond I wasn’t the cool 70′s street kid character, but myself wearing a wig and lying winded smack bang in the middle of the stage, in the most prestigious theatre in London’s West-end! The skateboard continued on its path of destruction and diving nose first into the pit, almost decapitated two of the band members! As I jumped to my feet and tried to regain a little composure, the only sounds I could hear were the shrieks of laughter and cheers of ridicule coming from the front three rows of the stalls. I wanted to die, and for a split second I considered running off stage and out of the theatre, jumping on a plane and emigrating to some distant land where no-one knew me. But professionalism took over, I immediately resumed my characters persona and headed DSL as if nothing had happened!

To make matters worse two other cast members entered from DSL and we struck our poses in the first freeze of the opening number. These guys had seen the whole episode from the wings and while trying to remain frozen in a serious action pose, their shoulders were rising and falling uncontrollably as they attempted to regain some composure and not corpse. Because I was facing downstage I was not only aware of this but from the corner of my eye, I could also see several members of the audience pointing in my direction, whispering and laughing. So not only had 2000 audience members witnessed me fall flat on my arse, half the cast had clocked it too! Certainly not one of my finest moments!

I’m sure I gave a good account of myself for the remaining duration of the show even though I felt completely deflated, and as a sign of support and ‘no hard feelings’ the two band members who were almost taken out by the skateboard decided to wear builders hard-hats for the second act. Suffice to say, my ego was bruised a lot more than my backside!

And the moral of this story…there isn’t one! When dealing with those awful soul destroying moments all you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on. The show must go on and tomorrow is another day…that’s entertainment!!

So what’s been your most embarrassing moment?

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director, In House Casting

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As a performer what are the benefits of joining In House Casting?

Posted on May 6, 2011 by admin

As the founder and Managing Director of In House Casting I previously worked as a professional actor, dancer and entertainer for 16 years in a career which encompassed West-end musicals, TV & film, commercials, cruise ships, as well as teaching and freelance choreography. I then made the transition into casting and have been fortunate enough to finally sit on the other side of the table as it were!

A former graduate of the Guildford School of Acting, I very quickly realised that once you graduate and step out into the ‘scary world’ of trying to forge a successful career in the industry, the support system you so heavily relied on during your 3 years of training  stops and you really are on your own! It’s a daunting prospect and even if you are lucky enough to gain agency representation relatively quickly, as a performer you will continually worry about the choices you make, the direction your career is taking, who you can turn to for advice and how you can develop and improve your performance skills.

Fortunately with the technical age we now live in, the information we require seems to be far more accessible and online casting services have become a major business. But how many of these services actually offer true support? Having used several of these companies both as a performer and as a casting tool, it quickly becomes apparent that they act as advertising platforms and listings services, but very little else. Great for the marketing gurus who set them up, not so great for the struggling performer.

So what makes In House Casting different?

The answer is very simple – we are not an advertising service but a support service and we care about your progression, not your wallet!

As a performer, career development is vital to improving your skills and our bespoke range of services will provide you with the tools and opportunities you need to progress. We will be holding regular worshops led by established professionals in the industry and you can also search our listings of classes and private tuition, which will encompass every genre of the entertainment industry. By using the latest cutting edge technology your online profile will allow you to market yourself in ways not offered by other sites! Not only can you upload headshots, showreels, voicereels and credits, you can also upload your ‘ident’ which we strongly recommend. Your ident is a short video clip, maximum 30 seconds, where you can introduce yourself to the camera, giving casting directors and other employers the opportunity to view you in a live fashion and hear your voice and native accent.

If you need an MP3 piano accompaniment to rehearse for an audition, who can do this for you? If you’re searching for digs, where will you look? If you’re suffering from audition nerves or you’re not coping too well with rejection, who will you turn to? If you need an answer to an industry related question, who will you ask? This is why we are unique and all the help and support you need can be found ’In House!’

Communication is also incredibly important, and as well as receiving emails and text alerts to notify you about auditions and castings, you can also communicate with other members in real time via our live chatroom.

We appreciate that for 90% of performers it’s a constant financial struggle, and because of that our membership prices are incredibly affordable. We also donate a percentage of every membership subscription to the Actors Charitable Trust, to try and give a little back to the profession that we all so passionately care about, and to hopefully offer other young performers the opportunity to pursue a career in the industry.

We aim to officially launch in a few weeks and our marketing site is now live. If you are a serious performer and are passionate about your career and the entertainment industry, please take a few seconds to register your interest so we can keep you updated prior to our website and agency launch!

www.inhousecasting.com

Thank you for your continued support.

Mark Pettitt – Managing Director

 

 

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Talent, Castings and Support Under One Roof!

Posted on February 25, 2011 by admin

Welcome to In House casting, the only truly dedicated support service for performers and employers who are working or involved in the entertainment industry. Our aim is very simple, connecting talent with opportunity while providing the necessary support, tools and information every performer needs as they develop their careers.

Our website is currently being developed and further updates will be posted as we approach our official launch date.

If you require further information regarding our company and the services we provide, please contact us:

info@inhousecasting.com

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