Just a little touch of star quality...

There was so much going on last week. Between the Oscars and auditions and opening a show, I didn’t have time to post a blog. And guess what? Strangely enough all three of these things tie into this week’s online discussion.

We’ve already established that Show Business is a Business first and foremost. We ascend our ranks initially through auditioning. Since show business is a Business then it stands to reason that auditions are merely job interviews. Both have a resume. Both have an appointed time to show up. Both give you that precious second to make a first impression and both give you a moment to sell yourself.

When I first came to New York I noticed guys dressed the same at auditions. It was the “audition outfit” and very few strayed from it. It consisted of khakis, a mono-colored long sleeve dress shirt, casual dress shoes and socks, a matching belt and maybe a multi-colored sweater vest, button up or slip on. It was crisp and clean. Everyone looked professional. The only worry was if someone showed up wearing the same vest as you, and that happened a lot.

I remembered alumuns Declan's advice from my senior year about the importance of dressing for your auditions. I quickly went out and purchased my version of the audition outfit. It was expensive but worth it. My roommate Sven and I even shared our outfits so we’d have more options. You couldn’t show up wearing the same exact thing at every audition. Then the outfit quickly morphed into the jeans shirt with khakis. Again it was time to shop.

What you wear to audition says volumes about you as a person and as a performer. The nanosecond you walk in assessments are being made on what you can do and what you should do. This is all based on how you look and how you’re dressed. Dressing nicely shows the people behind the table that you have respect for yourself and your craft, and respect for the job they could potentially offer you. You look the part of a professional.

My best friend Thurston was notorious for dressing badly at auditions…not badly just in my opinion, but sloppy. He’s a super talented guy, but talent will only take you so far. One day he had an audition for a casting director whom he’d been in front of a bazillion times. I styled him for the audition. I picked out everything from the shirt and pants to the shoes and socks. I thought he looked great. He wasn’t sold. Thurston is genetically predisposed to having an amazing body (which I hate him for!). The way I dressed him covered him up more than usual.

After the audition Thurston reported back to me. Whether or not he got the job I don’t remember, but he probably did. What I do remember is that the casting director commented on how he was really maturing into his talent and thanked him for looking good and dressing appropriately.

A few years ago I did a show with a guy named Eric. He gets call backs all the time. He’s a dancer and he attributes his callbacks to not just his talent, but the fact that he wears “booty shorts” to dance calls. And yes he does have a great backside; however he has yet to break through to the top gigs. He was actually shocked that I suggested the reason he didn’t book the top gigs was because of the booty shorts. I haven’t been to a dance call in awhile so I’m not sure if he still wears them or not. I do know that he’s been working almost non-stop since our gig together…

The smart performers get it. The smart performer understand that to make a good first impression you have to first look good.  The smart ones know what colors to wear. What cuts of dresses or pants “accentuate the positive” and “eliminate the negative”. They know whether to wear heals or flats. They know how they look under florescent lighting and how to “fix” it. They know how to suggest a period or a general feel without wearing a costume. And if they have the talent to back it up, they work.

I’m currently in a show that has a wide range of performers in it, from Broadway veterans to just off the bus, ages 22 to 50. It’s actually a really cool mix of people. I enjoy my time with them so much. In the cast is Teagan. He’s one of the chorus boys. He’s new to the city only having been here for 6 months. Teagan’s got the full package, and I expect he’ll go really far in the Business. He’s an incredibly good looking young boy next door type, with an awesome body, he dances and tumbles, he can sing and he’s got a great fun personality. Everyone loves him. The one thing that separates him from the other newbies is his smarts. He knows there are things he needs to learn and he’s willing to make the effort.

The other day Teagan told me that he didn’t like the way his regular dance sweats made him look so he purchased some new clothes. He bought jazz pants. Fortunately they weren’t the 1970’s shiny Lycra flared bottomed variety, but I suggested that he return them anyway. Teagan’s a good dancer but he’s not a concert dancer nor is he a ballet boy. You wear certain things and people expect certain things. You have to deliver what you set people up to expect. If you don’t, or can’t, then at best you’re considered clueless, at worst untalented.

It’s harsh but it’s true. I’ve been behind that table. I’ve seen and heard it. I know of a casting director who won’t call you back, no matter how talented you are, if you’re not dressed nicely. The smart ones who’ve done their homework know this and dress appropriately.

A few of the other practical things I’ve learned on my journey are:

     Most dancers tend to wear black. It is absolutely false that everyone looks good in black.

     Unless you are an absolutely amazing dancer with an amazing body who tumbles never wear jazz pants to an audition.

     Guys should never wear booty shorts. Ever.

     Women should never never never wear character shoes of any type to any audition where you sing first. EVER.

     Never wear character shoes outside of dancing or singing just after you’ve danced.

     Unless you’re a foot model, don’t let your shoes upstage your talent. If the only thing the people behind the table can focus on and talk about is your shoes, then you can kiss that contract good bye.

     Unless you are physically incapable of doing so or consider yourself to be on the tallest end of the spectrum, women should always wear heals.

     Unless you are a “broad”, women should generally steer clear of wearing pants to an audition.

     Red heads should never wear red. Period. Whether god blessed you with red hair or you blessed yourself with it, wearing red downplays the striking specialness of your hair.You will be hard pressed to find a photo of the world’s most famous red head, Lucille Ball, wearing red. She knew.

     Men should never wear sweats to an audition where you sing first…or flip flops, or shorts or "wife beaters".

If by some grace of god the people conducting the audition tell you what to wear ignore anything anyone has ever told you and WEAR IT. This business is not about rolling out of bed and flinging your talent in their faces. It’s about being informed and making informed choices.

     Wear color(s) next to your face. It helps combat the fluorescent lighting.

     Find the color that makes your eyes pop. If you have lighter eyes it’s generally about matching your eye color as closely as possible.

     Find clothes that represent the best possible you. If you are a sweats and t-shirt kind of guy,there are options that mimic that look. They make you appear to be dressed casually but not like you’re on the way to the gym.

     Women should always wear makeup. It doesn’t need to be applied with a spatula though. Hardly anyone is born with naturally good clear skin and a luminescent quality. That’s why magazines pay top dollar for pictures of A-list stars “au natural”. Be an "after" picture, not a "before".

     If you are of a skin type that visibly flushes during auditions cover those parts that redden. I see this happen a lot for fair skinned women who wear lower cut tops. They wear make up on their faces but leave their upper chest area natural. It turns reddish when they're excited or nevous. From the neck down they look as if they’re having an allergic reaction.

     Men shave. You don’t have to be “clean shaven” but you should be neat and trim in appearance. There are a precious few who can actually pull off stubble and still look professional and pulled together.

     Men invest in a nice pair of casual dress shoes to wear only at auditions. Better yet have 2 pairs of nice shoes, one black and one brown with matching belts. It’s an investment but it’s worth it. And Mom will be so happy.

     Women should almost have a different pair of shoes for every audition outfit they own. It’s tough being a woman, but it’s also cheaper.

     Always wear appropriate under garments.

     Men if you dance or move you should be protecting yourself by wearing a dance belt or something that mimics what a dance belt does.

     Women who dance and have even a modest cup size should be wearing sport bras. You can thank me when your 50 years old.

There is a caveat to most of this though. If you’re auditioning for a show like Mama Mia, which takes place on a beach and you have to wear beachwear in the show, then dress accordingly. If you look under the age of 30 and show up wearing a suit and tie, casting people will know you didn’t do your homework. And they hate that almost as much as an actor being unprepared.

Above all else be clean; your clothes, your body, your hair.

When you walk into the job interview for a show, you want to impress. You want them to notice your talent. You have to know your craft of course, but you also need to know how to appear professional and put together yet casual. It gives those behind the table and or camera a sense of calm. They can relax and enjoy your work. The people who “made it big” in the Business, know all about this. One way they’re successful is because they know how they look and how to look their best.  Doing it is so important, especially for the red carpet, that it’s become a multi-billion dollar industry.

I have to admit I’m not really a big fan of award shows. When someone wins someone else has to lose. As a child I watched the Tony Awards to see the musical numbers. That was heaven to me. It’ll probably remain the same until I’m on the Tony’s myself, nominated for one thing or another. Then I hope I’m the one performs and the one who wins. I promise my colleagues they can come and visit the statue(s).

As a child I also watched the Oscar’s. I watched it to see all the glamour and elegance, the diamonds and Dior, the stunning beauty of the people who walked, no, who worked the red carpet. It was a world away from the little suburb I grew up in. It never even occurred to me then that I could actually exist in that beautifully sparkling world. The stars were born perfection personified. I was born me.

Today I still watch the Oscar’s for the glitz and glamour. I now realize designers practically beg the heavy hitters to wear their clothes. I realize that the diamonds are on loan. As an adult, I know those people weren’t born that way. They pay for their looks one way or another. They have stylists, personal assistants, dressers, publicists, nutritionists, nannies, personal trainers and errand boys. So now I know that it’s totally possible for me, a small town boy, to be there walking that red carpet right alongside them. It just takes a little extra effort in picking your wardrobe.

It’s said that “Clothes make the man”. I’d like to amend that for the Business of show: Clothes make the Star.

So keep wearing your flip flops and sweat pants if you want...

I'll be sure to wave to you from the red carpet.