LOOK INSIDE

So You Want To Tread The Boards by Jennifer Reischel

Table of Contents

From the beginning 

• 10 honest industry truths
• The “It” factor…finding your niche (how do you stand out from the crowd, what makes a panel pick you and not the next person down the line, what makes you different and unique as a performer)

Drama school – the myths and truths about formal training

• To Train, or Not to Train
• (includes common misconceptions about drama school)

• Drama School: The Fundamentals    
• Should I go to drama school, and which one?
• (includes training in London versus other parts of the country)  
• The application process for schools
• Auditioning for schools

• “My first professional audition” (personal story)
• Preparation for Drama School Training(includes finding a place to live and housemates, what to bring, what to expect, how to deal with problems/issues at your particular school)
• Your Time at Drama School: Tips and Advice  
• Professional Work While You Train (includes leaving early for professional work, writing to casting directors and agents whilst training, professional auditions while training at drama school)
• What Next After Graduation? (Includes help on finding an agent if none spotted you at the showcase, how to deal with working "for free", how to keep your foot in the game when out of work, etc)

The practicalities of getting seen for work

• Preparation for auditions: “Casting are not always what they seem” (personal story)
• Agents (how to find one, how to deal with them, interview questions, how to know which ones to contact and who is reputable)
• Presentation: Your CV and Photograph (including a detailed general layout of what a professional CV looks like, how to prepare for your photo session, how to find/choose a photographer and how to choose your final picture)
• Covering Letters (includes examples of letters to casting directors and agents)
• Getting an agent/Securing professional work without formal training 
• Professional auditions: the low down (includes info on where professional auditions are advertised, audition seasons,Dos and don’t for professional auditions, Cold Readings)  
• What exactly happens at a professional audition? (the process explained for MT, plays, television, film, commercials, etc described in detail including recalls)
• Alternative auditions/performance work (includes info on fringe work, student films, actor/musicians, amateur theatre, reality television)

Personal promotion

• Demo singing CDs and getting them heard 
• Voice-over CDs
• Show reels

Life as a professional

• “Be prepared for anything” (personal story)
• What’s this business really like?
• Do I have to live in London?
• Important decisions and tools (includes info on choosing a stage name, screen or stage acting, dealing with computers and the internet)
• Income (or what can I expect to earn and paying the bills while resting including an office temping guide)
• Touring (finding accommodation, travelling by train/car/plane, what to bring)
• Surviving London - the Big, Bad City (tips on where to live, how to find somewhere to live and arts-related people to share with, cheap theatre tickets, cheap eating out, cheap fun and social stuff, cheap temporary accommodation like bed & breakfast)
• Coping With Nerves and Stage Fright
• Taxes and registering as Self-Employed (including a guide on how to complete your income tax return)

“Out of the box”

• Disabled performers
• Size, height and other concerns (including ethnicity issues)       
• Parental problems (dealing with relatives and friends that don't want you to pursue performing professionally)
• Non-UK Performers
• Gap-Year advice
• Performing opportunities for teenagers (including a list of all full time stage school courses as well as part time courses offered for children/teens by accredited drama schools)
• Am I too old to?

Courses and Resources

• Summer courses
• Part time and evening courses  
• Studying and working in the USA (including a list of all acting and MT courses offered by US universities and drama colleges)
• Foundation courses (includes a list of those offered by accredited drama schools)
• Publications (includes information on Spotlight, Castweb, Castnet. Castingcallpro, The Actor’s Yearbook, Contacts, PCR, The Stage, Whose Where)
• Equity

Monologues and Acting

• The low down on audition monologues (advice on where to find audition material including links to websites and theatre companies, overdone material, how to prepare your speeches, examples of good audition speeches)
• Preparing a monologue (includes what belongs in a professional audition monologue repertoire)
• Audition coaches  

 Singing

• Types of musical theatre songs
• Practical tips for your singing audition (how to choose a song, vocal ranges, transposing songs, singing for your age range, how to stage your pieces etc.)
• Accompanists
• Backing tracks, sheet music and transposition/transcription services
• Sight singing, reading music and music theory
• Singing auditions for acting courses and actors
• Choosing a singing teacher
• Looking after your voice
• What belongs in a professional musical theatre songrepertoire

Dance and movement

• “Mamma Mia here we go again” (personal story)
• What to wear (where to find dance wear including the most common dance wear, like capezios, etc explained in detail)
• What if I can’t dance? (Also, how to prepare for musical theatre if you are not a dancer)
• The dance audition – tips and advice