HOW TO CREATE YOUR RÉSUMÉ From The Complete Professional Audition by Darren Cohen, Back Stage Books, New York, 2005

Your calling card is your résumé Photo and résumé (stapled together at all 4 corners, back-to-back) Photo and résumé (stapled together at all 4 corners, back-to-back) The casting persons first glimpse of you The casting persons first glimpse of you Should be honest, professional and a current representation of yourself Should be honest, professional and a current representation of yourself It lists for auditors your credits and experience, and gives them a tangible piece of you to keep on file. It lists for auditors your credits and experience, and gives them a tangible piece of you to keep on file.

LENGTH Should never be longer than 1 page! Should never be longer than 1 page! As you progress in your career/ experience, move the smaller roles to the bottom until you can eventually leave them off As you progress in your career/ experience, move the smaller roles to the bottom until you can eventually leave them off (Only designers, directors, choreographers, musical directors can sometimes have more than one page) (Only designers, directors, choreographers, musical directors can sometimes have more than one page)

COLOR Résumés should be white! Résumés should be white! (Color makes the actor look desperate to be noticed) (Color makes the actor look desperate to be noticed) (A well-prepared audition will get you the job, not the colorful résumé (A well-prepared audition will get you the job, not the colorful résumé

DIMENSIONS Standard 8x11 Standard 8x11 Photos are 8x10, so you need to trim the paper to fit the photo Photos are 8x10, so you need to trim the paper to fit the photo

NAME Should always be at the top center Should always be at the top center Typeset in boldface Typeset in boldface

HOME ADDRESS Not really needed or safe for certain instances. Not really needed or safe for certain instances. For community theater, its fine, but for professional work there is no reason to have it until you are hired For community theater, its fine, but for professional work there is no reason to have it until you are hired

TELEPHONE NUMBER You should list your cell phone number, not your house number (if you are on the road a great deal) You should list your cell phone number, not your house number (if you are on the road a great deal) You dont want to miss the call You dont want to miss the call

ADDRESS Do use your address! Do use your address! You can be contacted for other jobs, or to get other information, mailings, etc. You can be contacted for other jobs, or to get other information, mailings, etc.

UNION AFFILIATION You are expected to list your affiliation You are expected to list your affiliation Right below your name Right below your name 3 major affiliations are: 3 major affiliations are: Actors Equity Association (AEA) Actors Equity Association (AEA) Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Screen Actors Guild (SAG) American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)

REPRESENTATION If you have an agent/management company, you need to list its: If you have an agent/management company, you need to list its: Name Name Address Address Contact number Contact number (Very often agencies will give you a sticker with all the information that you can place at the top of your résumé)

AGE There is no need to include it There is no need to include it It causes casting committees to be biased It causes casting committees to be biased At an Equity audition they are not allowed to ask your age by law. At an Equity audition they are not allowed to ask your age by law. If you are asked your age you can say, Onstage I usually read between….. or I am as old or as young as you would like me to be (see p. 122) If you are asked your age you can say, Onstage I usually read between….. or I am as old or as young as you would like me to be (see p. 122)

HEIGHT Do put your height on the résumé Do put your height on the résumé It is helpful when the panel is trying to pair up couples. It is helpful when the panel is trying to pair up couples. Be honest Be honest

HAIR COLOR Listing it is helpful, but not as important as stating your height Listing it is helpful, but not as important as stating your height (Wigs are often used, or they may ask you if you would dye it…) (Wigs are often used, or they may ask you if you would dye it…) It can, however, help them remember you. For example…Oh, the guy with the long blonde hair and big bass voice… It can, however, help them remember you. For example…Oh, the guy with the long blonde hair and big bass voice…

EYE COLOR Color of eyes cant be seen by audiences Color of eyes cant be seen by audiences Really only matters in film and television Really only matters in film and television

WEIGHT Not necessary for theatre auditions Not necessary for theatre auditions Appropriate for film, commercial or t.v. Appropriate for film, commercial or t.v.

VOICE RANGE List your voice type: (Common ones:) List your voice type: (Common ones:) Soprano/belt Soprano/belt Alto/belt Alto/belt Bari/tenor Bari/tenor Know the range of your belt and head voices Know the range of your belt and head voices Know the range of your highest/lowest notes that you can perform at any time of the day and under any level of stress. Dont lie! Know the range of your highest/lowest notes that you can perform at any time of the day and under any level of stress. Dont lie!

COMMERCIALS If you include this category, instead of listing each product, you should simply write: Conflicts available upon request If you include this category, instead of listing each product, you should simply write: Conflicts available upon request If you filmed for Pepsi, the producer of a Coke commercial probably wont hire you. Even if your contract is done, they may not want to use an actor from their competitor If you filmed for Pepsi, the producer of a Coke commercial probably wont hire you. Even if your contract is done, they may not want to use an actor from their competitor

RESUME FORMATTING Most common is the 3 column format Most common is the 3 column format Dont get too fancy Dont get too fancy Heading needs to be very clear and easy to follow Heading needs to be very clear and easy to follow At a busy audition, assume that the panel will only have time to glance at the top third of your résumé. At a busy audition, assume that the panel will only have time to glance at the top third of your résumé. List all important credits first, including leading roles and noteworthy theatres. List all important credits first, including leading roles and noteworthy theatres.

SOME HEADINGS: Broadway Broadway National Tours National Tours European Tours European Tours Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Regional Theater Regional Theater Summer Stock Summer Stock

Dinner Theater Dinner Theater Community Theater Community Theater Educational Theater (High School, College) Educational Theater (High School, College) Revues/Theme Parks/Cruise Ships Revues/Theme Parks/Cruise Ships Television Television Film Film Commercials Commercials Vocal Experience (All-State Choir, a cappella singing group) Vocal Experience (All-State Choir, a cappella singing group) Education, Training Education, Training Dialects Dialects Special Skills Special Skills

LISTING CREDITS It is common to list in order of importance, rather than chronoligically. It is common to list in order of importance, rather than chronoligically. (A leading role from a year ago holds more clout than a chorus part you just did) (A leading role from a year ago holds more clout than a chorus part you just did) NYC casting directors want to see stage credits first NYC casting directors want to see stage credits first L.A. directors want to see film and tv first L.A. directors want to see film and tv first

NAME DROPPING Listing directors name next to each show is not necessary, unless a given director is very well known throughout the industry. Listing directors name next to each show is not necessary, unless a given director is very well known throughout the industry. (Most likely your local dance teacher will make no impression on anyone in the professional world!) (Most likely your local dance teacher will make no impression on anyone in the professional world!)

JOB LOCATION When listing a theatre you performed in, note its location by either state or nearest large city When listing a theatre you performed in, note its location by either state or nearest large city This validates the credit, and if someone on the panel happens to know the area, it can start a conversation. Any conversation gives the panel a sense of your personality This validates the credit, and if someone on the panel happens to know the area, it can start a conversation. Any conversation gives the panel a sense of your personality

UNDERSTUDYING If you have understudied a role, you can write it on your résumé in two ways: If you have understudied a role, you can write it on your résumé in two ways: Never performed role: Never performed role: name of role u/s: Tony u/s name of role u/s: Tony u/s Performed role: Performed role: name of role u/s (performed): Tony u/s (performed) name of role u/s (performed): Tony u/s (performed) If you were also in ensemble: If you were also in ensemble: Ensemble/name of role (u/s): Ensemble/Tony (u/s) (acceptable for both performed and not performed) Ensemble/name of role (u/s): Ensemble/Tony (u/s) (acceptable for both performed and not performed)

SCHOOL CREDITS Its ok to use them when youre first starting out! Its ok to use them when youre first starting out!

OTHER CREDITS YOU CAN INCLUDE When first starting out you can include: When first starting out you can include: Choral festivals and awards: (These tell the musical director that you have experience singing in harmony) Choral festivals and awards: (These tell the musical director that you have experience singing in harmony) Pageants Pageants A cappella singing groups (suggest you have a good musical ear) A cappella singing groups (suggest you have a good musical ear) Scholarships to schools, performing arts camps or festivals Scholarships to schools, performing arts camps or festivals Master classes with notable artists Master classes with notable artists Cruise ship and theme parks Cruise ship and theme parks High School Band and Orchestra (These tell the musical director that you have skill reading music) High School Band and Orchestra (These tell the musical director that you have skill reading music)

SPECIAL SKILLS Gives the auditors more insight to who you are Gives the auditors more insight to who you are Technical skills, painting, sewing etc. are valuable and summer stock theatre require actors to be able to do them Technical skills, painting, sewing etc. are valuable and summer stock theatre require actors to be able to do them Sometimes directors will add your skills to the character to make him/her more interesting Sometimes directors will add your skills to the character to make him/her more interesting Be able to follow through if asked to demonstrate! Be able to follow through if asked to demonstrate! Dont list skills you can barely pull off. Dont list skills you can barely pull off.

REFERENCES When you list the names of people youve trained with, its often assumed that they can be used as references. When you list the names of people youve trained with, its often assumed that they can be used as references. If you studied with someone who possibly wont remember you, its best not to list them. If you studied with someone who possibly wont remember you, its best not to list them. Write at bottom of résumé: References Upon Request and keep a separate list with names/phone numbers Write at bottom of résumé: References Upon Request and keep a separate list with names/phone numbers Make sure your references know you are using them; refresh their memory as to who you are! Make sure your references know you are using them; refresh their memory as to who you are!

FABRICATED CREDITS Dont make up credits! Dont make up credits! Everyone knows everyone else: youll get caught! (p. 129) Everyone knows everyone else: youll get caught! (p. 129)

JOHN SMITH Height: 60Hair: BrownVoice:Tenor Community Theater Fiddler on the RoofPerchikLong Island Players GreaseDannyPlainview Dinner Theatre Damn YankeesEnsembleBradford Road Theatre Co. Arsenic and Old LaceMr. GibbsRembrandt Playhouse Vocal Experience All-State ChorusTenorNew York State Madrigal SingersTenorJFK High School Show ChoirSoloistJFK High School Educational Theater OklahomaCurleyNYU Anything GoesEnsembleNYU Training NYU Theater Major JFK High School Voice: P.C. Epstein Acting: Ryan Drew Dance: Allie Nicole Special Skills Southern accent, gymnastics, jazz singing, juggling, piano (8 years)

JOE SMITH AEA - SAG Broadway WickedEnsembleGershwin Theatre A Chorus LinePaulShubert Theatre 42 nd StreetBillyMajestic Theatre Me and My GirlEnsembleMarquis Theatre Off-Broadway Little Shop of HorrorsSeymourOrpheum Theatre The FantasticksMattSullivan St. Playhouse Regional FootlooseRenSacramento Music Circus ZorbaDancerNorth Shore Music Theatre Television Law & OrderLawyerNBC Third WatchFiremanNBC Commercials Conflicts available upon request Dialects Standard British, German, French, Southeaster United States Special Skills Jazz scatting, gymnastics, martial arts, hip-hop dancing