FAQ

It is my first time, what do I need to know?

The reader will go over everything before your class, but here are the most important things:

• The order of the class is determined by the order you arrive
• If you are going to be late, please call (see our home page for this policy and number)
• If you need to go early, you must email us 24 hours in advance (you get 3 per calendar year)
• Bring a copy of your highlighted scene for the readers, if you are taking multiple workshops in a day each reader needs their own copy of your scene (the reader copy will be given back to you after you read). 
• Please highlight the lines of your scene for the reader before you get there (not just the character names, but the lines--it helps our readers follow along!)
• All scenes must be from our website or be approved by us via email. Each workshop has a link at the bottom of the description that says SIDES and either a genre, or "ANY" (meaning any genre), and a link to our sides in that category.  If you say sides you are bringing in are approved, and you do not have a stamp on them, the reader will ask to see the emai approving them (so DON'T delete this!). We will not allow you to do sides that are not approved and we do not issue credits if you don’t have approval and chose not to take the class.  All info on sides and how to get your own approved is under SIDES.  PLEASE READ THIS- we do not issue credits because people don't follow directions.
• We do have wi-fi available, if you are low on the list you might be there for a while, we try to make our space as comfortable as possible, but you might want to bring a book or something to do!

 
How do the waitlists work?

• EVERYONE on the waitlist is automatically emailed if a spot opens up. If the spot is still available, you will be able to sign up through the website.  DO NOT email us to take the spot. Instructions are under HOW TO SIGN UP in the menu if you are unsure.  If someone has already taken the spot, and it is filled, the website will say the workshop is full, and you will NOT be able to sign up.  If another spot opens, you will receive an email and have the opportunity to try to sign up.
• Insider trick: If you have a saved credit card or buy a pack your sign up can go through more quickly.

 
Can I sign up for two workshops that start close together in time?

• Don't worry- people do it all the time!  Just be sure to bring a copy of your sides for each reader (so if you are taking 4 on a weekend, you need 4 sets of highlighted sides for the readers). When your turn to perform comes if you are in the other q/a or performing in the other class, they will just skip you and as soon as you are ready, they will let you go (just let them know you are there)!  THERE ARE SOME WORKSHOPS THAT DO NOT allow for you to take another one at the same time.  This is clearly stated in the full workshop description (if a workshop is a classroom setting- a departure from our normal format- this is usually the case).

 
What time should I get there?

• Doors open around 20 minutes before the class start time (sometimes a little later, but we try!).

 
I didn’t write down the guest's contact information, can you send it to me?

• We don’t keep a file of addresses or emails that the guests give out in their classes. Please get their contact information the night of your class.  You can also check www.castingabout.com (which is run by breakdown services, and is the best resource we have found for this information.  They update it daily with addresses, and all things related to projects, such as who is casting what, what is on hiatus, etc.  We are not affiliated with them, but we do use them as an informational resource).

How do I sign up?

• Please see “How To Sign Up” on the menu at the top left of the site.

 
How do I cancel?

• Please see “How To Cancel” on the menu at the top left of the site.

 
Is there a membership fee?

• We do have a $12 annual fee.

 
I left a message on your machine and no one got back to me, why not?

• The “late line” number is only for if you are running late, we cannot return calls to that number. We try to be as thorough as possible on the website, but if you have additional questions, please email us (again, do NOT call with questions- email us- we return all emails within 24 business hours).

If I cancel a workshop late, can I get a credit back?

If you late cancel, you will only receive a credit if your spot is filled.  You MUST cancel on the website in order for this option to be possible. Even if it is at the last minute, cancel on the website- this way, if someone comes to the workshop on standby, they can take your spot.

If someone takes your spot, the credit will go into your account at midnight AFTER the workshop.  If you late cancel, and see that the spot has not filled (you can check this by clicking on the workshop- if the computer tells you it is full, that means the spot filled), you may come to the workshop and tell the worker that you late canceled, but wanted to take the workshop because the spot didn't fill.

PLEASE NOTE: if you late cancel and you notice your spot HAS filled, and you want to use the credit before midnight the day of the workshop, you MUST email us and we can manually put it in your account if the spot filled.  We can not refund money, and we can not retroactively use this credit for something you purchase with a credit card (the same way you would not try to exchange a shirt at a store for pants AFTER you already purchased the pants- you would need to get the credit from the shirt first, THEN make your purchase :)

 

What is standby?

If you can't get into the workshop, you are welcome to come that day and try to get in "standby" if someone does not show up.  You do still need to be a member, as you would be able to sign up on the computer.  You  can either pay cash, or sign up on the website (in rare cases, if someone just doesn't sign up and does not cancel, we will just take your name, and charge whichever credit card you have saved on the website- you MUST have a saved card in order to do this).

 

Do I have to be a member to take workshops?

You must be a member in order to view the calendar and sign up for workshops. There is a $12 per year membership fee, and contract. 

 

What if my membership has expired and I still have credits left?  What if I'm moving and I have credits left?

If your membership expires, your credits are suspended UNTIL you become a member again (so if you still have $40 in credits when you membership expires, you will not be able to use those credits UNTIL you pay for a new yearly membership).  No refunds will be issued because you do not want to continue with a membership.  However, credits ARE transferrable, so if you move, decide on a different career path, etc., and no longer wish to take workshops, you need to send us your friend's name and email, and we are happy to give them your credits.  They must be a member to use the credits.  We do not issue refunds on old credits because you are moving/changing careers/etc.

Are there ways to save by buying packs?

YES!  We sell three types of packs- 2 are offered year round, one is offered twice a year:

Minipack: pay $175, get $200 in credits to use for workshops
Megapack:  pay $320, get $400 in credits to use for workshops  
Supermega pack (offered twice a year- currently being offered until December 31st): pay $600, get $800 in credits to use for workshops

I want to use sides that aren't on the website.  What do I need to do?

 

Sometimes, we realize you can't find a scene that is "just right" for you.  If you want to do a scene of your own, you MUST have it approved by us first by emailing it to us as a PDF or WORD DOCUMENT at actorskey@gmail.com.

First- please realize we do not allow monologues (this was a request made by our guests)- the only exception to this is for commercial sides.  Commercial monologues can be used (we have a few on our website) OR you can send in commercial sides for approval.

So you have a scene, and you want it approved.  In order to do this, you need, in your email to actorskey@gmail.com, to put:

1. WHAT the sides are from (film or tv show name and episode)

2. WHEN they first aired (AIRED- NOT were released to be used for auditions.  You can not do sides UNTIL THE EPISODE AIRS or the FILM is released to the public- they are private property until then, and we can not allow you to do them.  

You can find info on air dates on IMDB.com.  If you don't know, we can not approve them. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.  We don't care how many other workshop places have allowed it, or who gave it to you- we have to approve it.  It's a rule in place to protect YOU!

In addition, no matter HOW MUCH you think your sides are fine, HAVE A SIDES FROM OUR WEBSITE PREPARED (or "in your back pocket" so to speak), so that if there is ANY problem, you will always have something ready to go. 

If you do not do this, please realize that if there is a problem with the scene, or it is not approved in time, you will be expected to choose something from our website at the workshop, and just do a cold read (we will let the instructor know that you are cold reading, instead of doing something prepared if this is the case). 

If you sign up last minute, and try to get sides approved and can't, we will not issue a credit.  We will not issue a credit because you say you didn't see this on the website (it's also in the COMMON QUESTIONS and DAY OF sections).  We will not issue a credit because you swear eight other places let you do these sides, or a worker said it was okay in the past.  We are all professionals here, and part of that is following directions, and being prepared!

The criteria  for bringing in your own scene are:

1. Must be 3 pages or under.  If the sides are from a play, it should be a page and a half or under (we recommend avoiding plays, as most of our instructors have most of their experience in working in film or television).  If you have to retype the sides, they should be in 12 font, Times New Roman (putting the script in 8 or 9 font to make it all fit on one page does NOT work).

2. Has to have aired or been released already (so, for instance, if you have sides you just auditioned with, and you love them, you can't use them until AFTER that episode airs, or that film is released).  The exception is sides from something that will NEVER be released (ie, a pilot that doesn't get picked up, or an indi film you did at some point that's never going to see mass distribution)

3. You MUST email or fax us a copy of them so we can okay them (that way, if the CD is upset for some reason, it's our fault not yours- it also helps prevent people from breaking rules 1 and 2).

4. It must adhere to the sides instructions the CD gave us (so if the CD wants to see one of their own scenes, you have to do their scene, and if they say they want to see comedy, don't choose something dramatic.  But if they say "anything dramatic or dramedy", then as long as your scene is drama or dramedy, you can do it!

Please also be aware that there is another workshop going on, so we ask that you try to pick something that can be performed without yelling or major physicality, as it is a small studio space!  

***Please also realize that we have over a thousand sides on this website for you to choose from.  If you choose to bring in you own, it may take up to 48 hours for us to get back to you with a yes or no answer (possibly a little longer if it is a weekend)- so send your sides well in advance of your workshop.  Sides that have not been approved will not be permitted and you will be asked to do something off our website as an alternative (NO CREDITS will be issued because you did not follow the rules!) 

Where can I see what to expect at the workshops?

A full lesson plan that we use for each workshop is outlined in our "About Us" section of this website.  Please click on ABOUT US in the main menu to view it.  If there is a deviation from this, or a "special" class, that class or workshop's lesson plan specialties and differences will be listed in its full description.