Expert: Kitty Kavey - 6/12/2008

Question
Hi Kitty,
I was wondering if I am doing the right thing here.  We have been trying to get my duaghter into acting/commercials but have had no success.  As a matter of a fact, we have had many auditions with only 1 callback.  Is this usually what happens or are we just just wasting our time.  My daughter really enjoys it, but I really hate to see her not get what she is trying for?

Answer
That you have had many auditions is a good thing.  Quite often there can be many reasons why someone would go on many auditions, but have a low number of callbacks.

You (or in this case your daughter) is being sent out on the wrong auditions for her look/type.  If you are submitting on your own, or if your agent is submitting your daughter to castings where she doesn't quite fit what they are looking for, the chances of getting a callback are less.  Of course if the audition is for female children who look around age 5-10 to play the part of a granddaughter, it's probably a good fit if your daughter looks to be that age.  If the casting is for a young nerdy girl around age 10, and your daughter is cute, age 10, but appears to be already a teenager, she may not get a callback.

If your daughter is not coming across well on camera at the auditions, that can be a reason for so few callbacks.  Perhaps working with an acting coach or taking a class in auditioning techniques can help improve her odds. Sometimes the look is perfect for the role, but on-camera the talent comes across as "acting" or not being natural.  Children usually are better than adults at being natural on camera, but if nerves or stiffness get the best of them, they too can benefit from acting training.

Since many children don't use professional headshots until they are around 12 or so, this may not be a factor - but something to consider.  If the headshot (or photo) your daughter is using does not look like the person who walks into the audition, that can often be a problem.  Of course the photos one uses for modeling or pageantry can bear little resemblance to the in-person look, or how the model looks on days when she or he is casually dressed without professional hair/makeup.  

Sometimes actors make the mistake of using a photo/headshot with a look they cannot recreate in person.  Casting directors are known to sometimes lack imagination - if they ask a little girl to come in for an audition whose headshot looks like snow white, and the talent who shows up looks more like the girl from Little Miss Sunshine, no matter how talented, it may be unlikely that the actor will get a callback.

Perhaps it would be something for your daughter to do some community theater, or to organize a school production to help her broaden her experience of not just auditioning, but "working" in front of an audience.  It's not too likely that she'll become rich and famous that way, (although it has happened) but if acting is something she enjoys, at least she'll be gaining experience and confidence in front of audience, and having fun.

Good luck to you both,
~Kitty