backstage-2012-11-29

ILLuSTR ATION: THOMAS PITILLI
[ The Working Actor ]
Thanks Giving
By Michael Kostroff
Most of us recently celebrated thanksgiving,
the american holiday when (in theory at least) we reflect
on things for which we’re grateful. But for some actors,
giving thanks is a yearlong promotional activity, aimed (in
theory at least) at keeping their names
in the minds of casting people for whom
they’ve auditioned and encouraging
those casting people to audition
them again.
on our message board, “mkajka”
posts: “i went in for a co-star role on a
cable tv show. i read with the casting
associate.... i booked the role, and now i
am wondering who i write the thank-you
note to? Do i write three, one for each of
the cDs and for the associate? or just
the associate?”
there’s no set protocol on such things,
so there’s about zero chance of getting
it wrong. whether you send a thanks to
the specific person who auditioned you
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This week
should an actor
send a cd a
thank-you note?
nexT week
explaining the ins
and outs of sagaftra’s
cap
get answers!
submit your questions on
the backstage.com forum or
email theworkingactor
@backstage.com
or to everyone in the casting office, no one’s going to be offended
by being thanked. for that matter, no one’s going to
be offended by not being thanked. it’s neither expected nor
required.
Many actors i know express thanks after each audition;
some, like the message board’s “LuckyMe73,” when they’ve
booked a gig: “i usually just send a gift to the office. spend
$30 on some muffins or
we’re both
professionals doing
our jobs. i don’t think
that calls for one of
us to send the other
a thank-you note.
something…and put in a
thank-you card to everyone.
Less than 5 percent
of what you made on
this project will go a very
long way.”
Me, i never send
anything. the way i see it, when someone auditions and/
or casts me, we both win. i get an opportunity; they get a
viable candidate. we’re both professionals doing our jobs. i
don’t think that calls for one of us to send the other a thankyou
note, and certainly not a gift. But that’s me.
what do casting folks think? “thank-you notes are
good business,” says casting director gwen Hillier, “especially
if they’re on your photo postcard. i don’t think a gift
is necessary—starbucks cards are sometimes included
and certainly appreciated but don’t necessarily remind
me of the actor.” “i think gifts should be discouraged,”
casting director g. charles wright says, “but i do appreciate
a thank-you note. it’s my experience that the actors
that are coming up and making a name for themselves
are usually the ones who send gifts or cards. More-established
actors, working career actors, very
rarely, if ever, do.” another casting director
reluctantly concedes that while she’d
never expect gifts—like the mug and
mousepad on her desk—they do make
her think of the actors who sent them and
might even remind her to call them in, if
she likes their work.
My advice boils down to this: Do what
feels right. if you’re sincerely grateful and
want to express it, that’s never wrong. if
you want to send cards or gifts to remind
people you’re out there, that’s valid too,
and clearly can be quite effective. But try
not to seem desperate, don’t expect guaranteed
results, and never let the practice
of giving thanks stress you out.
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ON TOPIC
This Week’s Thre ad
should actors
give other
actors notes?
“there are times
when it is valid. i
recently worked
with an actor
with much more
stage combat
experience,
and he gave me
pointers on how
to take a punch
from a certain
angle a little more
realistically.”
—HARLEMHIPPO
“other actors
resent it because
it puts your
acting up against
theirs. you’re
acting with them,
then critiquing
their work, while
they don’t get to
make comments
about yours.”
—MICHAEL KOSTROFF
“i’ve had actors
try to give me
notes before,
even in front of
the director. it’s
an ego move. the
director is directing
for a reason.”
—WORKINACTOR
talk to twa
Join the fray at backstage.com
11.29.12 backstage 15