the audition that kept it up like a lovesick crackhead

I had an awesome audition on Wednesday. Probably the most fun audition I ever had. It was to host an internet-based, music video countdown show. I had only a little hosting experience, and even less teleprompter experience, but I thought that was enough to audition. And it was. It was even enough experience to get a callback.

At the audition I read a prepared script, but had room to add my own jokes. That I have plenty of experience in, and it was definitely where I really shined. I had the room laughing, I was playing with the script in the style of The Soup, as if bantering with the crew. It was a blast! I loved doing that. They had me follow that up by winging an entire read, just making sure I hit the important bullet points. Well, I hit the points no problem, but making stuff up on the spot wasn’t nearly as smooth as inserting jokes here and there. But it was no problem too. The people I was auditioning for were such great, and fun people, they liked it regardless. They were fun to read for, and even when I was screwing up, it’s like we were friends joking around. Even after the read, I was still cracking jokes with them, they were firing back. It was exactly like we were all friends, I had the role, and we were just having fun shooting ideas back and forth.

The callback was good too. It was a little less casual, probably because of the two new people in the room, who I assume were the important powers that be. But like I said, it was like I had my friends there behind the table. This time I had my own script prepared, as requested, and read that. They were cracking up behind the camera, which is the feel I was going for in my audition, so that worked out well.  It was a great read, and I was having too much fun to be proud of myself. but I was proud of myself. Anyway, yeah, great read, then they threw the curve ball at me; that the show had switched channels and was going to have a different feel to it. I read again, with the adjustment, and apparently took their note very well. Still, I had the attitude and look all prepare for a more ‘rock star’ attitude, and I’m pretty sure that I was no longer the perfect choice.

The callback continued with five minutes of original material, so that they might get an idea of my style of humor and acting for sketches. I decided the best way to show them that was improv. I did a scene with one of the auditioners, and I gotta say, I could’ve done improv way better, but it was still a great scene. And it was still a lot of fun. The guy, PJ, said that he hadn’t done that in a long time and he had fun too, and I could tell in the middle of the scene he was having fun playing. Then I did some air guitar, cuz PJ wanted to see that.

So yeah, I haven’t gotten another call from them, but I’m just happy the audition and callback went so well. It was ass-kickingly kick-ass.

That might’ve been why I didn’t get the gig. Oh well. Rock on!

There's nothing like coming home from an audition you're not sure of, and seeing a commercial you didn't book, changing the channel, and then immediately seeing it again.

Expected Income?

Yesterday morning I gave my time to help a friend film a spec commercial. I got up before 10 for the first time in probably two months, went to the other side of the 405, and dressed up in my coattail tuxedo. It was a quick little shoot with a few good people. The way the plot and the shoot went was each person adding on their bit, one after the other, until all of us were gathered and having fun. The crew just started filming whatever ideas came to mind, the cast was pitching in and playing, and by the end there was plenty of footage for them to use. We all had a good time and somehow, we ended only a half hour off schedule.
This wasn’t a paying thing by any means. It was an acquaintance-produced submission for a contest that might pay off for the filmmakers. For me, however, it was an opportunity to help a friend out and play in front of a camera. And it didn’t pay, but I got to meet with some very nice and talented people. And who knows, maybe they’ll do very well for themselves and hopefully I’ll get to work with them again, and sometime down the road, I could get paid to help them out.
This morning I woke up even earlier and went to the other side of Magnolia Boulevard, and dressed up in a borrowed Jedi padawan outfit. I was watching a fencing party for Best Action Events, who I started training with four weeks ago. I attended a five year old’s birthday party to see what exactly I’ve been training to do. I went as a padawan assistant to the Jedi performer so that I could help out and not be some fly on the wall, but I was there to watch and learn. With all my time spent at Disney, and having done birthday party entertainment with kids before, it was still somehow odd to be there thinking that performing for younglings is how I’ll be making money.
I’ve been training with them to add to their talent pool, not working for any pay yet, but I’m learning fencing stage combat. It’s completely worth it to me. Today, however, the idea of getting paid finally made it into my head. I don’t actually know how much I’d be making at each party, but it seems like it’s a good amount. I joined for the perks of learning sword fighting skills I’ve been after for a few years, and working with the skilled people there, but now that I need employment I’m noticing how profitable this might turn out to be.
Tomorrow I have an interview for a day job, doing retail at a shopping plaza. I haven’t had a day job since I started what I call the ‘theme park circut’ in Orlando six years ago. The last time I had a job interview was earlier that year, spring of 2004. Even applying for a job is something out of my element, and I’m nervous to have an interview. However, I need employment. I expect that a day job would pay, consistently, and well. Nothing from this job would really a long term gain, unless I needed another day job. But like I said, I need money, and jobs get you money.
So, this weekend I’ve got the three examples of how I could pursue my career and an income. I could either continue pursuing straight up acting and really not get any pay for it, I could pursue it as a part time thing and see how that works out, or I could just forget it for a while and be alright.
Might as well see how the interview goes first.

It's Kevin Allen!

He's blogging!

I’m blogging.

Two days ago was the fourteen month anniversary of my moving to Los Angeles. Yesterday was the end of my entertainment day job. I spent the night at the cast party and ended the night talking with a friend who was moving to Hollywood to pursue an acting career about what it’s like being an actor in Hollywood. Today I figured it would be a good day to start a blog.


It should be pretty good.