This page is for performers looking to sign up for the in-person song/monologue drive on Thursday 5/12 in NYC. If you’re looking to donate essential care items without signing up - THANK YOU and CLICK HERE for those instructions.
The following is a lot of information, BUT reading thru it will help make sure the event runs smoothly, stays organized, so PLEASE read thru before signing up for a time. Thank you!
WHAT IS THIS DRIVE?
Great question!
For starters, it’s an all-too-rare FREE opportunity for performers to get their work in front of casting/talent rep community members. You sign up for a time to perform a short cut of a song or a short monologue for a panel of casting/talent rep community members and showcase your talent. It’s that simple! It’s not a class, so there’s no feedback or adjustments, you just meet some new industry folks, do your thing, and get to go on with your day! And while there’s no feedback, there will be clapping because these events cultivate an intentional space for lower-stakes performing, unlike typical auditions, which can sometimes feel cold and clinical. If interested in signing up to perform, keep reading!
PLEASE NOTE: This is a drive to gather essential care items for our unhoused siblings in NYC. The event is open to anyone who wants to participate - donations are greatly appreciated, but not required. Many people remain out of work, so if you or anyone you know is interested in just donating without signing up to perform, visit the Donation Superstars Info page - every bit of generosity helps!
EVENT INFORMATION
BY ADVANCE APPOINTMENT ONLY
WHEN: Thursday 5/12/22 from 2pm-4:30pm Eastern. PLEASE NOTE: In order to help the day run smoothly and be respectful of everyone’s time, you must have signed up for an appointment in advance. Please do not show up to this event if you aren’t able to sign up for an appointment. I appreciate your understanding!
WHERE: Pearl Studios - 500 8th Avenue, 4th Floor - Studio 403 will be our holding room, so head there to check in. PLEASE NOTE: You must show a photo ID to enter the building - this is building policy; if you forget to bring a photo ID, you will not be allowed to enter the building. Pearl Studios has very generously donated space to help make this event possible - they’re long-time supporters of all my events - many thanks Rick Battaglino and everybody at Pearl!
ACCESS and EQUITY: More on this below, but this in-person event is for PotGM (people of the global majority), Deaf/disabled, TGNC and performers from additional communities that are historically excluded from these kinds of opportunities. If you are not a member of such a community but are interested in supporting this even and donating essential care items anyway, THANK YOU and please CLICK HERE for those instructions.
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT PROOF OF VACCINATION IN ADVANCE IN ORDER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT. MAKING SURE THIS EVENT IS SAFE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY!
PLEASE NOTE: An ASL interpreter will be available from 3:30pm-4:30pm. Participants using the ASL interpreter must be signed up by Tuesday 5/10 at 12pm.
PROOF OF VACCINATION
Everyone attending this event needs to be fully vaccinated and submit proof of vaccination in advance. All the industry members, the accompanist, interpreter(s), and any additional volunteers will all be following the same protocol. Making sure this event is safe is our top priority!
Please EMAIL a photo of your vaccine card/other proof of vaccination to AFCastingOutreach@gmail.com when you sign up for a time. To help keep things organized, please make the Subject line - 5/12 Drive Materials - [your name]. Pro tip: Click my email address in the previous sentence, and it’ll auto-populate an email for you with that subject line ready to go and a reminder of what to send.
ACCESS AND EQUITY
Listen… I’ve been running these events since 2013 and was averaging about 2 or 3 per year. These events are mostly attended by cis, able-bodied, hearing, white people. There are lots of contributing factors, but access and equity are some of my core values, so please keep reading about the intentional space we’re creating for this event.
Because our time at this in-person event is very limited and because access to free, in-person opportunities for performers to get their work in front of the casting/talent rep community are also limited, we’re going to prioritize signups for PotGM (people of the global majority), Deaf/disabled, TGNC, and performers from additional communities that typically end up excluded from or underrepresented at these kinds of events.
What does that mean? Cis, able-bodied, hearing white folx, hang back. Other white folx, do some critical thinking about your identity and how that typically affects your ability to access these kinds of events, and make an informed decision - able-bodied, hearing, white queers especially, I’m looking at you… consider hanging back for a beat. That doesn’t mean don’t sign up at all ever, it just means maybe look at how quickly spots are filling up, etc and make an informed decision. White TGNC/Deaf/disabled folks who haven’t gotten to participate in one of these in person, by all means, sign up now! I’m just asking people to engage in mindful, intentional exclusion at this event to make the tiniest movie toward leveling the playing field.
And if you’re a member of one of these communities, BUT you participated in the toy drive in December, maybe hang back for a minute so that people who haven’t recently participated can have a chance to - space at these is pretty limited! And if there are still open spaces as we get closer, great - sign up then. But maybe wait a beat first.
REMEMBER - if you want support this cause, you can still donate without signing up to perform - CLICK HERE for more info on how to do that.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Please prepare a 16-bar cut of a song of your choice or a short monologue (approximately 1 minute). Piano accompaniment will be available - just make sure to bring sheet music! You’re also welcome to accompany yourself on an instrument - it’s your time, use it how you want!
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a class - there’s no feedback or adjustments given. Performers simply meet some new industry folks, present a song or monologue, and then you’re on with the rest of your day - easy breezy!
>>> PLEASE RE-READ THE PROOF OF VACCINATION (above) AND HEADSHOT/RESUME PREP (below) INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT EVERYTHING - IT’LL SAVE US BOTH A LOT OF EXTRA EMAILS, I PROMISE! <<<
HEADSHOT/RESUME PREPARATION
Please bring 4 copies of your headshot/resume with you. Remember doing things in person? Fun! If there are more than 4 industry volunteers, we can share - it’ll save some trees and save you some money. Also, if you don’t have 4, don’t stress too much… again, people can share!
WHO WILL BE IN THE ROOM?
The panel for this event is open to members of the casting/talent rep community at all levels of experience. Because schedules are subject to change, I don’t announce who’s attending ahead of time; but signs will be posted at the event and I’ll be posting to my IG story, too. Make sure to follow @castingbythem on Instagram, so catch all the action.
INTERESTED IN DONATING?
THANK YOU! Every little bit helps! Just note that we are looking for donations of NEW essential care items. We’re especially in need of the following items:
PPE (masks, mini hand sanitizer)
Baby wipes
Snack packs (bars, pretzels, etc) to offer unhoused fam
Tampons/pads
But all essential care items are greatly appreciated!
There are a few ways for you to donate:
There are a few ways for you to donate:
If you want to support Marsha’s Closet on Monday 5/16, select some items to donate from our COSpace Amazon Wishlist and use Prime shipping to have it delivered before Monday! Just select the address that says Marla Louissaint/COSpace at checkout - it might be under “Other Addresses. And don’t worry… if donations arrive on/after Monday, they’ll be used at the next Marsha’s Closet or at an event before then - nothing wasted!)
You can stop by the drive on 5/12 from 2pm-:430pm to JUST donate items. Address is Pearl Studios (500 8th Avenue, 4th Floor) - the holding room to drop off donations is Studio 403. A volunteer will be there to greet you and even tell you a little about the work that Claim Our Space Now is doing.
Unable to make it on Thursday 5/12? You can also drop off donations at COSpace’s event Marsha’s Closet on Monday 5/16 (click on the image below for more info)
You can also send donations directly to COSpace any time! Send an email to admin@claimourspacenow.org to connect directly with the folx at COSpace and they’ll take it from there.
ADDITIONAL SIGNUP INFORMATION
The time you sign up for is your appointment time. Please do not show up more than 15 minutes before your appointment time - this will help insure the waiting room doesn’t get too crowded and that the day remains organized and flows smoothly!
If you sign up for a time and will no longer be able to make it, please release your spot so that someone else can sign up for that time!
To keep things organized, you must sign up for an appointment time in order to participate.
WHERE IS THE SIGN-UP LINK?
Great question… it’s right here!
May 2022 Drive for Essential Care Items - Performer Signup Page
PLEASE NOTE: Signup links will close at 5pm Eastern on Wednesday 5/11 - this will give us some time to make sure everything is organized for the day of without having to work too late.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions, email us at AFCastingOutreach@gmail.com. And make sure to follow on social media to stay up-to-date - @castingbythem. And make sure to follow @ClaimOurSpaceNow to stay up-to-date on all their amazing programming and additional ways for you to support their work!
