Looking back on my master list of auditions I've attended / submitted for while in NYC, I've been at this for just under a year at this point, my first submission being at the beginning of April in 2023. That's CRAZY to me -- so much has happened in that span of time, and I am so proud of myself for the steps I've taken to get my name out there and to be working as consistently as possible. It certainly has not been an easy road, with many losses but some wins, and I have learned quite a lot about myself as a performer and the industry at large.
It's fascinating to me just how much the industry has changed over the course of this year. Not really in terms of what an audience sees but how the process works behind the scenes. I obviously can't speak for everyone that was auditioning this year, but for me personally and for a number of fellow non-union actors I've worked with, we have seen a tremendous shift in the holding rooms of EPAs and ECCs as non-union performers.
My working theory is that the shift is in large part thanks to the post-pandemic world we live in. Yes, we are a solid 4 years away from lockdown life, but the effects of the pandemic have majorly affected the theatre world -- producers are still trying to recoup from the losses felt during that time period, and it's a challenge to get the same numbers as pre-Covid to return to the theatre, even now. So yes, it affected the general audiences, but it also affected the pool of actors waiting in the wings. During the pandemic and during the months (even years) following lockdown, many people had to move on to other jobs to survive since theatre cannot exist without large gatherings of people in one space to occupy the house seats. Some other prospective actors had to walk away from the theatre entirely because the time away while the industry was shut down was too much of a hit financially to wait around until it came back to capacity.
All that to say, entering the spring of 2024, the theatre scene in NY is back in action, and because of that, actors that were here before the pandemic, as well as fresh-off-the-boat actors, are all flocking to NY to take their shot. It means that for all these EPAs and ECCs where non-union actors actually had a decent chance of being seen in 2021, 2022, or 2023, the city is so inundated by AEA performers today -- especially given that you can now buy into equity rather than go through the time-consuming process to earn your way in, as the system used to be -- that it's now a huge feat to ever get seen. So if, like me, you've been around to see the number of auditioners for every project rise before your very eyes, it has been a frustrating and often disheartening adjustment.
On this very blog not too long ago, I was the biggest supporter of showing up to every audition, making a point to go into the city multiple times a week for the chance to be seen. And while I do still subscribe to the idea of "showing up" and doing the work, considering the sheer volume of union auditions that are turning away non-union every single day, it's honestly hard to keep pushing that narrative. I follow an Instagram page called The Hustle (@thehustle_nyc -- this is an invaluable resource when you're just starting out as a non-union performer in the city! Highly recommend!), and every day, they post what union auditions are happening, their story posts nothing but updates in regards to whether non-union will be seen, how far they are on the union alternate list so you can gauge whether they'll get to non-union, and if/when non-union has begun to be called into the audition room. It has been so incredibly upsetting to see more and more of those updates simply say, "*This Audition* has dismissed non-eq" or "*This audition* has turned away non-eq and is not accepting dropoffs" or "*This audition* has asked non-eq to come back in the afternoon", only to then send them home after the lunch break.
So what do we do? Is there anything we can do? I wish I had the answers here; this is something I've been wrestling with for weeks and weeks and weeks. At least for now, here's what I'm doing to deal with it, and I hope it helps you too.
Be Kind to Yourself
I've said this once and I'll say it again: because of the subjective nature of this industry, you cannot base your success on the number of projects you book or the scale of those projects. Theatre is not like other industries where "THE best" always gets the job. There are a million moving variables that can be both for or against you in that audition room, and in almost every instance, those million variables have absolutely nothing to do with you or your talent. So if you're not getting seen, if you're not getting into the room where the opportunities are, or if you're feeling particularly overlooked, remember to give yourself some grace -- your time will come.
Deep Dive Into Non-Union Opportunities
Hey, there is nothing wrong with being non-union! It's obviously harder because the projects are paid less than union, but there is SO MUCH opportunity out there for non-union performers. And bonus: those union actors currently flooding the union auditions won't be considered for these opportunities. So surf the sites, find the non-union projects that interest you, support new works, and make a name for yourself in the non-union world.
Choose Your Battles
The inspiration for this post: figure out what union auditions you think you can actually be seen for and only plan your days around attending those if you're sure there's a real chance. Listen, I get it, you want to be seen for Wicked, for Hadestown, for SIX, for THE Broadway shows of today. But everyone feels that way and everyone loves those shows. So if there's a call for any of the theatre titans on Broadway right now, odds are you, as a non-union actor, will not be seen -- maybe stay home and work on something else if that's the only audition that catches your eye that day. But auditions for a brand new Broadway show (new story, not an adaptation), auditions for development readings or workshops, or season general auditions for a lesser-known regional theatre, those auditions will give you a better chance of getting in the room. Mind you, you're never guaranteed (it is sometimes staggering to discover which auditions are better attended than you anticipated, and vice versa), but those are the auditions that are more worth your time and energy as the industry is right now.
Whichever battles you do choose this week, I hope they go your way! And in the meantime, jump on Backstage or Playbill or Actors Access and start looking for what else you could be submitting for. You're worth the time, effort, and energy!
Thanks for reading, #DreamTeamHLJ, and I'm rooting for you!
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