All The World's A Stage

What theatre auditions and a restaurant stage have in common.

My favorite view from the audition table: an empty stage filled by my husband.

Casting directors often know whether or not they are interested in an actor within 30 seconds of an audition. In my own casting work, I’ve found that I know whether or not an actor is worth a second look within 10 seconds, and a good candidate for callbacks within 30 seconds.

Sometimes, you just know.

If an actor is prepared, kind to the theatre staff and the team behind the table, and shows what they can do to the best of their ability, I’m automatically interested in hearing more of what they can do.

Which is exactly why I was not surprised to learn that I was not hired for a sommelier job where I recently worked as a stage.

Within 10 seconds of greeting the manager on the floor, I had stumbled over my words, admitted to the fact that I was nervous, and almost tripped walking through the door of the restaurant.

Not exactly a great first impression.