Looking for the Actor FAQ? Click here!

The Basics

  • Unlike previous years, pre-registration is not required. However, depending on the partner organization handling the event registration, producers may need to pay to attend. Please see their registration pages for information on prices and refunds (as applicable) for non-members.
  • Stonehenge is a “mass audition” where about 30-40 actors will deliver a 90-second film or TV monologue over the course of one comic/dramatic afternoon or evening.
  • The pace of a mass audition is very fast, with 5 actors in every 15-minute block, one actor delivering a monologue after another. Depending on the length of the overall auditions for that session, there will be a 15-minute break in the middle of the afternoon or evening session.
  • Auditions resume promptly after all breaks.
  • Check your specific session for when producer check-in begins. A producer briefing –including sharing WiFi info– will occur about 15 minutes before the auditions begin. For 2020, that will be around 6:45pm. Therefore we urge you to check-in and get settled well before the auditions themselves begin at 7pm. If any producers arrive late, we will check them in at the earliest window of opportunity.
  • There is no limit to how many people may attend from each production company, but producers must register individually.
  • Unlike previous Stonehenge Auditions, there will be no physical headshots and resumes. You will be provided with a link to a DropBox folder where all the headshots and resumes will be available. Headshots will be JPG, PNG, or PDF files — and resumes will be PDF, DOC, or DOCX files. We will also send a spreadsheet of all the attendees and their timeslots after each session as we have for previous Henges.
  • WiFi will be provided at the venue. While we do not anticipate any problems, Team J cannot guarantee WiFi access we don’t own. If you plan to access the actor headshots and resumes during the audition, do what Team J does and have a plan B (access via mobile hotspot) and a plan C (the ability to take notes offline).
  • Space at each session is available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be limited. Check the your particular Stonehenge Auditions info page for details about when registration opens.
  • Producers will be notified when the audition videos are posting on the Stonehenge Auditions YouTube channel.

Producer FAQ

1. What are the Stonehenge Auditions?
2. What’s the difference between Stonehenge Auditions and Stonehenge Casting?
3. Should I attend the Stonehenge Auditions?

a) …if I’m going to be in a film competition?
b) …if I’m a student filmmaker?
c) …if I’m am independent filmmaker?
d) …if I’m a casting director?
e) …if I’m a talent agent?
f) …if I’m a production company that does a lot of our own casting?
g) …if I’m staging a Fringe production?
h) …if I’m a theater company with a season full of shows to think about casting?

4. How many people may we bring from our company?
5. Can we substitute people?
6. How do the discounts and rebates work?
7. How does producer access to StonehengeCasting.com work?
8. What’s the company profile?
9. What do I need to know about producer check-in?
10. What if I can’t make it to Stonehenge that day?
11. What if I’m registered and I have to cancel?
12. What if I’m late?
13. How do I get there?/What’s the deal with parking?
14. What should I know about SAG-AFTRA (union) actors?
15. Can you make sure only good actors audition?
16. May I give adjustments to the actors?
17. May I tape or photograph the auditions?
18. What should I bring to the auditions?
19. How do I view the headshots and resumes on StonehengeCasting.com?
20. So I’ve seen all these actors. Now what?
21. How do the headshot and resume downloads work?
22. When and where can I see the audition videos?
23. What should I do about callback auditions?
24. Do you have any suggestions based on previous Stonehenge Auditions?
25. What if I have other questions about Stonehenge not answered on this website?

1. What are the Stonehenge Auditions?
Stonehenge Auditions are mass auditions where actors deliver a short monologue to dozens of local filmmakers.

Mass auditions are common in theater, where theater companies watch over 100 actors each deliver a brief monologue over the course of an afternoon or evening. The format allows you to see a wide array of talent in a relatively short amount of time. You’ve heard of speed interviews? This is “speed-casting.”

To make the format even more relevant to film and video, we project the actor onto a large screen or monitor so you can see how they’ll really look on camera — and we ask that the actors pick a monologue suitable for film and video.

Since Stonehenge Auditions started in 2005, producers of 600 different projects have told us they’ve cast over 1,500 roles from actors they first saw at the Stonehenge Auditions.

It’s an ‘old-school’ method, but it’s helped scores of producers tap into the wealth of talent here in the DC area. For those of you who are unable to attend all the different sessions, all the auditions will be posted on our Stonehenge Auditions YouTube Channel.

2. What’s the difference between Stonehenge Auditions and Stonehenge Casting?
Stonehenge Auditions are in-person events historically held in the Washington, DC area. Up until we had a casting website, the event was known as just “Stonehenge.” Now, to cater both to producers who can’t make it to the events and to producers outside the Mid-Atlantic region, we’ve created an online web database called Stonehenge Casting.

Both Stonehenge Auditions and Stonehenge Casting are services of Team Jabberwocky (Psst! that’s the production company whose web site you’re reading right now). Bear in mind that the staff working on the Stonehenge Casting web site may be different from the event staff working Stonehenge Auditions, so if you’re contacting us, always be sure to be give us details so we get the right people helping you.

3. Should I attend the Stonehenge Auditions?
Short answer: Yes, if you think it will help your casting process… and we’re certain that, in most cases, it will help your casting process.

We’re obviously biased, but we’ve also seen from over hundreds of projects in the past 15 years how Stonehenge Auditions helps producers time and again.

We’ll break down how different types of producers and organizations have used Stonehenge Auditions below, but regardless, we find it’s important to remember these two overall points

  1. Stonehenge Auditions are a beginning, not an ending, of casting.
    As mentioned above, the event is essentially “speed-casting.” You’ll get an idea of an actor’s ability by their monologue, but to know whether of not they’re right for a particular role, you’ll want to call them back for another audition.
  2. Stonehenge benefits are cumulative and support building a roster of performers.
    Most producers attend Stonehenge Auditions when they’re ready to cast a project shooting in the next six months. However, it’s most useful for producers, casting directors, and others who are casting throughout the year and also want to see new faces. If you’re looking for one particular actor or specific actor type, spending a few hours to see 30-40 actors who may or may not meet your needs and isn’t a good use of your time. Stonehenge Auditions are a way to kickstart your casting: they are not a silver bullet.

If you accept these two points, you should have a good idea whether or not Stonehenge Auditions is a good use of your time. Beyond that, we know the Stonehenge Auditions benefit producers differently:

a) Film Competition
Dozens of teams competing in the 48 Hour Film Project, the 72 Film Fest, and other film competitions have used Stonehenge Auditions to add experienced actors. As an added benefit, many of these filmmakers have commercial projects or indie web series in the works, and now they have dozens more actors they’re aware of.

If this sounds like you, rest assured, your colleagues consistently find actors at Stonehenge Auditions — and it shows in their films.

b) Student Filmmakers
One of the biggest downfalls of many a student film has been a limited world, evidently populated by 20-something actors. For that reason, many student filmmakers have attended the Stonehenge Auditions over the years to see the wide range of talent in the DC area and, more often than not, find some veteran actors who are open to working with new directors with exciting scripts.

Odds are that your student film is designed to be a calling card. Yes, you probably have friends and colleagues ready to help you, but there’s also experienced actors who are ready and willing to help take your film to the next level — and many of your fellow students have found them at Stonehenge Auditions (hint: we’re biased, but only because dozens of student filmmakers have told us we’re right).

c) Independent Filmmakers
Independent filmmakers are one of the core reasons we started the Stonehenge Auditions, because we knew that more actors were likely to show up and audition for lots of producers rather than just one production. Stonehenge is especially useful if you’re casting within the next three to six months, as you’ll see over 100 actors and always find people you want to call in to round out your cast.

Stonehenge Auditions have been used for web series and independent features. Note: at StonehengeCasting.com, you can easily see the actors who are up for background work or have special skills that your script might call for.

d) Casting Directors
Casting directors have attended every Stonehenge Audition since the beginning as they know mass auditions have a good mix of actors in terms of age ranges, ethnicity, and union versus non-union. While we can’t promise “that specific type” you’re looking for, you will have a chance to see over 30-40 actors per session — and since actors come and go to the region every year, many fresh faces show up at the Stonehenge Auditions.

e) Talent Agents
Much like casting directors, we find that many a talent agent we’ve spoken to likes to see fresh faces, as they’re always updating their roster of clients or potential clients. New actors are seen at every Stonehenge Audition.

f) Production Companies
If you do your own casting, whether it’s for actors, dramatic reenactors, voiceover artists, or on-air hosts, those actors show up at every Stonehenge Audition. Stonehenge Casting was designed in great part to accommodate the last-minute needs of many a commercial production. However, for the production companies that have attended, we’ve heard kudos about just how valuable the Stonehenge Auditions have been to building their roster, so that when a client wants Actor X, the production company says, “We know just who to call.”

By the way, our record for someone being cast off a Stonehenge Audition is 18 hours — and it was exactly that scenario.

If you’re a production company that does your own casting, we encourage you to check out Stonehenge Casting in any case. But if you want to kickstart building your roster, consider attending a Stonehenge Audition session.

g) Fringe productions
To date, we have not had many fringe productions attend the Stonehenge Auditions. Those producers who have attended are also film and video producers. Theoretically, this might help kickstart your casting process as well, though we do want to point out that, if actors have followed directions, they’re delivering monologues in a film and TV style and may not be what you’re looking for.

Stonehenge Casting is, by design, open for all sorts of performers, from stage to screen actors, to dancers, singers, and stage combatants.

h) Theater Companies
Much like the fringe productions above, we’re certainly open to any theater producer or casting person attending, especially if you wear a casting hat for both screen and stage.

As above, we do want to point out we’re hoping that the actors appearing have followed directions and are delivering a monologue in a more understated TV or film style, so they may not be giving you what you’re looking for.

Also, as above, we encourage you to check out Stonehenge Casting, which does not have the limitations of the event. Many of the actors in this area rotate between screen and stage projects, so we know you’ll find experienced stage actors on the site.

4. How many people may we bring from our company?
As many as you’d like. We recommend two from your organization — or that you at least know one other producer colleague attending. We find comparing notes during the auditions is educational and fun.

Remember, each person must register separately and space for each session is usually limited.

5. Can we substitute people?
Yes. Check with the partner organization for that registration. Partner organizations for each year (and per session) can be found at StonehengeAuditions.com when they are known.

6. How do discounts and rebates work?
Unlike previous years, we are letting the partner organizations handle registration, which includes discounts and rebates (if applicable). Check your particular Stonehenge page to see if you qualify.

7. How does producer access to StonehengeCasting.com work?
Team J has an online casting database Stonehenge Casting. Creating an account and an actor profile is free. Being able to search the database or post casting notices as a producer costs a fee. To turn on access, contact us, let us know what company you’re associated with, and you’re off and running.

8. What’s the company profile on StonehengeCasting.com?
Just like the Stonehenge Auditions of old, Stonehenge Casting has a company profile section where actors can learn what your company is about and what sort of projects you generally cast for.

If you have paid for producer access in Stonehenge Casting, you’ll definitely want to be sure to note the types of work you cast for:

  • Acting (TV/Film/Video)
  • Acting (Theater)
  • Narration/Voiceover (Off Camera)
  • Host/Spokesperson (On Camera)
  • Model/Print work
  • Model/Promotional Events
  • Singer
  • Dancer
  • Musician
  • Extra or Background Work
  • Stage combat or Stunt work
  • Role Player (for Training, etc.)

As well as the different payscales you offer:

  • Pro-Bono
  • Deferred Pay
  • Low Pay/Stipend (non-commercial/non-profit)
  • Commercial/Market rates (no union agreement)
  • SAG-AFTRA Basic TV, Theatrical and Related Agreements
  • SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Agreements (includes New Media)
  • Actors’ Equity Contract
  • Actors’ Equity Code or Plan

Definitions for types of work and payscales are on the website. We know the same production company that might do a “fun and glory” project or a weekend film competition may also do commercial work. List everything that applies, and don’t forget to talk yourselves up.

9. What do I need to know about producer check-in?
Please aim to check in no later than a half hour before the auditions start for that session. For 2020 sessions, this will be at 6:30pm.

We will be giving a briefing to producers around 6:45pm. You’ll want to be sure you’re well settled in and have a good seat.

Actors will also begin checking in at 6:45, so it will get louder and more hectic at that point (if they’re late, they lose their audition slot, you see).

10. What if I can’t make it to Stonehenge that day?
We’re sorry you won’t be able to join us. Check to see if one of your colleagues can attend and make sure they register before the event sells out. Stonehenge Audition dates are usually announced months in advance via our blog, our mailing list, our Twitter feed, and our Stonehenge Casting page on Facebook.

Remember, you can always check out the Stonehenge Auditions YouTube Channel for over 800 previous audition videos.

If you have a project and want some support running your auditions, contact Team J and we’ll talk about what we can do for you.

If you want to handle the casting yourself, but want an electronic filing cabinet where you can collect submissions and organize them, well, that’s what we built Stonehenge Casting for (check there for exact pricing).

If you’re being thrifty, but still want to run your casting calls better, feel free to check out our over 70 pages of free casting articles.

(Everyone benefits from better casting: you, actors, baby pandas. Everyone.)

11. What if I’m registered and I have to cancel?
Please check the event pages for that particular Stonehenge Auditions session. The partner organization controls the registration.

12. What if I’m late?
We will seat you in between the flurry of actors (i.e. the changeover of the 15-minute audition slots).

Please let our check-in staff know you are there in between the actor flurries. The check-in staff will then let you know when they can complete check-in and seat you. Bear in mind that the ongoing processing of actors takes 8-10 minutes out of every 15 minutes when the auditions are in full swing, so we will have to fit you in at just the right moment.

You will receive the link to the DropBox folder at the event as well as a spreadsheet of everyone who auditioned after the event. Plus, once all the videos are edited, you’ll be notified when they’re up on our Stonehenge Auditions YouTube channel.

13. How do I get there?/What’s the deal with parking?
Check the specific Stonehenge Auditions info page for location details.

Essentially, depending on other events going on that day, parking may be sparse to downright awful. Please budget plenty of time and/or money for parking or plan to take mass transit (if applicable).

14. What should I know about SAG-AFTRA (union) actors?
Note: This answer is more for student and indie filmmakers, but even if you’re a commercial production company, we have some links for you.

More than likely, you’ll find the union actors are rather good and you’ll want to use them in some of your projects.

To use SAG-AFTRA actors, you will need to have signed an agreement with the union or become “a signatory” as they like to say. This process generally takes 4-6 weeks, so plan for it in your pre-production schedule. You can learn about the various low budget agreements at SAG’s indie film web site in addition to resources meant for independent filmmakers.

Since SAG and AFTRA merged, the SAG-AFTRA site has created a really handy Production Center, which has all the contracts including the ones above and more. So, commercial producers, if you’re curious what the rates and rules are, you can find out!

Plus, the DC area has the benefit of a very friendly local SAG-AFTRA office that is used to fielding inquiries from producers. If you’re shooting sooner than the 4-6 weeks mentioned above, they’ll probably have suggestions.

When contacting SAG-AFTRA actors, (who as a rule, happily put “SAG-AFTRA” prominently on their resume), they may well ask you if you are a “signatory”–so be prepared to let them know you are or are planning to become a signatory for the project in question. The term may seem like jargon, but for many union actors it’s something of a shibboleth that tells them you’re a serious producer in the know. Also, bear in mind that many SAG-AFTRA actors are looking for paid or commercial work. They may be entirely happy to do a “fun and glory” project, but they also may say no. It never hurts to ask.

Remember, any contract with SAG-AFTRA will involve a modicum of paperwork. As with any business, when you hire employees –which is what you’re doing when you’re casting actors– you’ll have to do some paperwork. So roll up your sleeves and enjoy!

15. Can you make sure only good actors audition?
Short answer: No, Stonehenge Auditions are truly open.

Let’s unpack some of the motivation behind this question (yes, we really get this question in myriad forms).

The concern for producers is that they’ll be wasting their time. We get it. That’s a valid concern. Spending a whole afternoon or evening doing anything is an investment of time and to seeing 30-40 actors you won’t use is certainly a waste of one’s time.

But here’s the thing: in the 13 years of the Stonehenge Auditions, 100% of the producers have told us they’ve seen actors they want to use.

Not 50%. Not 75%. Not 99.9999%. One Hundred Percent.

So if you’re looking for actors for film and video projects, you will find actors you can use 100% of the time.

However, we will also guarantee you will find actors you do not want to use 100% of the time.

In fact, if you told us you wanted to cast all 30-40 actors you saw, we would question your sanity. Every Stonehenge Audition, some actors are great, some are “meh” and some are absolutely bad.

This is the nature of a mass audition.

You may ask, “Well can’t you do any sort of vetting?”

The nature of the mass audition means we do.

You might have noticed that the Actor FAQ is even longer than the Producer FAQ. We guarantee that you will quickly find out if the actor in question has read the FAQ: especially the part about picking a monologue suitable for film or television. In fact, you will find that the whole Stonehenge Audition process weeds out actors who don’t follow directions or clearly shows how they don’t pay attention to directions.

Oh, and flaky actors who blow off the Stonehenge Auditions after they’ve gotten a guaranteed slot? They go on the Mud List and generally don’t ever appear again.

So in other words, the format of the Auditions themselves does vetting for inconsiderate actors who can’t be bothered with the details.

At this point, you might add, “But what about vetting for the quality of the actor? Don’t you know who’s good and who’s not?”

Yes, we do… but in this case, we do not do any vetting — and we’ll explain why.

When Team J is asked to run casting for a specific project, we will absolutely screen actors based on how right we think they are for a particular role and even throw in some actors we know are very flexible with great acting chops that might fit the tone of your project.

However, for Stonehenge Auditions, we don’t know what your specific projects are. The Stonehenge Audition format is much more like an ‘open call,’ though of course we don’t have walk-ins. We want to see people we’ve never seen before. Every year, new actors come into the area or graduate from some of the local colleges and universities. Every year, established actors decide to make the move to New York or Los Angeles. If we restricted who could attend based on “who we know is good,” we’d be missing out on a key benefit of the open auditions.

Besides, at any given Stonehenge Audition, a veteran actor may stumble or a actor we previously saw and thought needed to work on their craft will stand up and shine.

The fact that the actor picks the monologue that best displays their talent and the actor is ultimately in charge of how much they will wow us is something we’ve come to find invaluable. (Yes, they can get help, but do they know when to get help?)

We learn so much about how an actor carries themselves and presents themselves in this format. It’s great to know if we’d call them in or know not to call them in for the sort of projects we do.

And that saves us time in the long run.

We know that some TV and film professionals might have encountered the “showcase” format which can be very similar to the mass audition format employed by Stonehenge Auditions. These “curated” presentations are often put on by talent agents for the benefit of their clients — and while Team J would theoretically be happy to help talent agents organize such a showcase, that’s not the format of the Stonehenge Auditions.

We want to see new faces. We understand the old faces may improve or be good for new roles we hadn’t thought of before. We like the format open and we know other producers benefit from it too.

By now you should have a good idea of the open format of Stonehenge Auditions and the logic behind it — and hopefully, you’ll know whether the Stonehenge Auditions will be a good use of your time.

But remember, even for curated “showcases” and for regular auditions, casting directors are always asked for “just the good actors” — often after the producers have seen dozens of actors. Casting is not an exact science.

And don’t forget: actors ask us if we can make sure only the good producers attend.

16. May I give adjustments to the actors?
No, because that’s not the format of a mass audition.

In most auditions, there’s only a handful of auditors and you should have time to chat with an actor, ask them to perform their monologue, and then ask for adjustments to the monologue — maybe even have them read for another character. For the Stonehenge Auditions and any other mass audition, there’s 50 or more producers in the audience and the actor has 90 seconds. This is why we liken it to speed-dating.

But while there’s no time for adjustments with this kind of “speed-casting” we fully expect and encourage you to do just those sorts of adjustments with actors you call in for your own auditions.

In fact, we’ve written a whole series of articles about casting that you are welcome to read including one that specifically goes through tactics for how to handle auditioning an actor.

Team J is also happy to organize your auditions depending on our schedule and your scope. Feel free to contact us.

17. May I tape or photograph the auditions?
No. Because you would need each actor to sign a release — and then all the other producers would want the actor to sign their release. It wouldn’t be pretty. So please, no taping or photos.

All the actors who are appearing have agreed to being taped by Team J and their videos will appear on the Stonehenge Auditions YouTube channel unless they opt out.

In addition, during the audition, we will be projecting the camera image onto a large screen or monitor. Producers have said it has been useful to watch the actor live and on the monitor in that moment.

Remember, you are welcome to tape or photograph actors at any callback audition you arrange.

18. What should I bring to the auditions?
Many of us at Team J are current producers and former scouts, so much of this list is all about being prepared. With that in mind, plan to bring:

  • Your well-rested self, ready to make sharp observations about the actors.
  • Layers of clothing as needed just in case the venue is too hot or too cold and it takes us awhile to adjust the temperature.
  • A tablet or computer capable of WiFi access so you can access the DropBox folder to review headshots and resumes. (Note, to download said headshot and resume, your computer or tablet will need to be able to open the following standard file types: .jpg (.jpeg), .png, .doc, .docx, and .pdf).
  • Something to write down impressions of the actors in case your computer conks out or WiFi service is interrupted due to evil gremlins.
  • Business cards or the like in case you want to network with your colleagues.

19. How do I view the headshots and resumes on StonehengeCasting.com?
Note that we are not requiring actors to have a Stonehenge Casting profile this year. However, if you want to check actor profiles there… once you have logged into StonehengeCasting.com, you may find actors already placed in folders or from a search you do yourself.

To view the profile details, click on “view” and you’ll see all the nitty-gritty details of the performer, plus have downloadable links to their headshot and resume.

Note, to download said headshot and resume, your computer or tablet will need to be able to open the following standard file types: .jpg (.jpeg), .png, .doc, .docx, and .pdf.

20. So I’ve seen all these actors. Now what?
Short answer: move on to your next phase of casting.

Some of you have definite projects you know you need actors for in the next few months. By now, you should know if any of the actors you’ve seen are ones you’d like to call back for that projects’ auditions (aka callback auditions).

Some of you are using the Stonehenge Auditions to update and expand your roster of potential actors (that’s what Team J does).

In either case, we encourage you to take an hour or so soon after Stonehenge (a day after if possible, definitely within the week) to review your notes. Revise, rewrite, or expand them so they’re comprehensible to you and your colleagues later. Nowadays, Team J enters our notes under that actor’s profile in Stonehenge Casting. They’re only visible to us. In the past, Team J would simply put Post-Its® on select headshots.

Whatever your system, don’t delay in making sure your thoughts on each of the actors are recorded. You will thank yourself later.

21. How do the headshot and resume downloads work?
Previously, we had provided a zip file on the Team J website of all the headshots and resumes. Now, we just provide the link to the DropBox folder. This will be good for 60 days after the event.

22. When and where can I see the audition videos?
Several weeks after a given Stonehenge Audition, we will post all the auditions of the actors who attended, minus any who opted out of having their audition put online. These videos will be seen at the Stonehenge Auditions YouTube channel. We will notify all the producers who attended and, if you’re subscribed to the YouTube channel, you’ll also get a notification.

23. What should I do about callback auditions?
Unless you are simply attending for a film competition such as the 48 Hour Film Project, you will want to conduct a follow-up audition or “callback” session.

Actually, if feasible, a callback session is a great idea for 48 Hour teams anyway–you’ve seen a bit of how they play, now you want to see how they play with others.

“Play” is the operative word here, and as mentioned elsewhere in the FAQ, we have a whole article about how to get the most out of your audition time with actors.

When you see an actor at the Stonehenge Auditions, you’re hopefully seeing them in their best light. They should have chosen a monologue that shows their talents. In a sense, they have something of a “home field advantage.” However, we’ve found time and again that it’s good to do that extra audition for an actor we love at Stonehenge to make sure they’re right for a particular project.

Here’s a few possible scenarios with Stonehenge actors:

  • Sure, that one actress did a great sultry monologue—but will she have any chemistry with your intended male lead?
  • He has the look and the voice for the training video. How is he with dense scientific jargon?
  • Both those two women had great comic timing, but do they have the improv skills you know you’ll need?
  • You’ve seen a particular actor create a character and deliver lines with nuanced precision, but can he do that and handle a camera one foot from his face?

There are any number of approaches to test these actors (and Team J is more than happy to give you suggestions). Best of all, this type of auditioning is fun for the actors because they get to play—far more fully than they did at Stonehenge.

Stonehenge, or any mass audition, can never accommodate the testing and experimentation you will want to introduce to thoroughly get to know the actors. But we’re certain it’s a great help in kicking off the whole casting process. That’s one reason that Team J produces Stonehenge.

Remember the maxim that the more time you spend in casting, the less time you stress in directing.

24. Do you have any suggestions based on previous Stonehenge Auditions?
For the event? Make sure you’ll be comfortable and bring backup. In general? Use the Stonehenge Auditions as a way to build or re-build your roster.

For the event, you want to make sure you have layers in case the temperature gets wacky. Just with the WiFi mentioned above, we don’t expect anything bad to happen, but like good producers and former scouts (at least some of us), we like to be prepared.

Also, have two people from your organization attend the event. Or, if you’re a solo filmmaker, attend with a colleague. It’s great to compare notes… and in fact, you really should use the occasion between audition slots to chat with your fellow producers and network a little. You’ll find a lot of you are working on some cool projects… and you might even be able to help each other.

Level-set your expectations. If you’re hoping to see that one particular type of actor, you may come away disappointed. If you want everyone to be good, that’s natural, but they won’t be. Be open to what any of the actors will bring. Write down roles you picture them in as they’re monologuing. Even if you realize you won’t use them for your projects, you might remember them for a colleague. Besides, knowing what an actor can’t do can be as valuable as knowing what they can do when you’re doing casting submission triage.

The biggest lesson we here at Team J have learned from Stonehenge Auditions is that you should have a roster of actors. It saves time and allows you to enter a casting call with confidence.

If you are in the business of using performers in front of the camera, on stage, or on a microphone, you need that roster. Stonehenge Auditions has given Team J a deep and useful roster of hundreds of actors in the DC Area. Now with Stonehenge Casting, we’re trying to make the process of keeping that roster up to date even easier, but we still enjoy seeing the actors in person.

Producers make excuses for not having a roster of performers all the time — usually claiming they have limited time. They’re not wrong about the limited time, but they often forget that they can save time in the long run by knowing some good actors. Producers habitually do this with shooters, editors, and other crew positions. If you have to hire cast, and you can’t afford the time and expense of a casting director, you should cultivate your own roster.

You will see a variety of actors in terms of experience and age. Every Stonehenge Audition, Team J sees actors we’d love to work with, but we don’t know what project we’d use them for. And then someone asks us to cast this or that project and that actor gets a call.

That could be you at Stonehenge, seeing a great actor and then, months later, a client asks for an actor who’s just so — and you know exactly who to call.

25. What if I have other questions about Stonehenge not answered on this website?
Email us at stonehenge@teamjabberwocky.com.

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