I’m here to help. When you move out here, and get an agent to represent you, here are a few terms that’ll help you appear to be an instant pro:
On avail. After you audition and then receive a callback, you may get a call from your agent telling you you’re “on avail.” This means you’re one of the favorite choices of the people who auditioned you, and you should keep your schedule free for the shoot date. Some actors think being on avail is the biggest tease in showbiz, because you can really get your hopes up only to have them go with the other actor. But man, if you’re their choice, you’ll get a dopamine rush that feels similar to having sex while holding a puppy while hitting a grand slam while eating a dry-aged porterhouse.
Used in a sentence: “Hi, we’re calling to let you know you’re on avail for “CSI.” The role shoots next Thursday.”
Theatrical. There are two types of agents, and two types of corresponding auditions: commercial agents, who handle auditions for commercials, and theatrical agents, who get you TV and movie auditions. In New York, they call theatrical agents “legit” agents. As in legitimate. As in commercial work is “illegitimate” for a real actor. As in New York can suck my legit ass.
Used in a sentence: “I just signed with a great, new theatrical agent.”
Booking out. If your agent calls you with an audition, but you can’t make it because you’ve got something else scheduled, your agent will feel just cause to punch you in the throat. That’s where booking out comes in. All agents want is for you to let them know ahead of time that you won’t be available to audition on a certain day or at a certain time, so they don’t promise casting directors you’ll be coming in and then have to renege. My agent has a voicemail set up specifically for actors to leave booking out messages, even if we’re just running into a 20-minute teeth cleaning. Do it. Landing a lunar module is easier than procuring a good agent. Don’t blow it.
Used in a sentence: IN THE FORM OF A VOICEMAIL: “Hey, this is Matt Shevin, and I need to book out from this Monday, the 22nd, through Friday the 26th.”
Pre-read. An odd, but common term. George Carlin said, “What does it mean to ‘pre-board’ a plane? You get on before you get on? ‘Place the turkey in a pre-heated oven.’ That’s ridiculous, there’s only two states an oven can possibly exist in, heated or unheated.” But this particular “pre” is justifiable. If your agent tells you your audition is a pre-read, this means it’ll be a little more relaxed in that the casting director will have actors come in and simply audition for her, as opposed to recording it and sending the video to producers. She’ll then whittle down the number of actors who came in and call them back to audition for her with the producers in the room. This is called a producer session. By the way, if you aren’t going to be put on camera, this can factor into your choice of outfit (white looks like shit on camera; gray blends into most casting offices’ walls to give you a floating head effect; and I’ve been told you chicks gauge your makeup accordingly.)
Used in a sentence: “You have an audition tomorrow for ‘Castle.’ This is a pre-read.”
Hope that helped. Have an illegitimate day.
