LA Fitness

 i had an audition for an la fitness training video this afternoon. four months ago i would have thought that was rediculous, yet there i was this afternoon, sitting in starbucks, faithfully going over my lines "Wow, a really fantastic workout? It's probably been three, four, five years. That's not so good is it?" That was the height of my character's arch I'd say. The weirdest part? Objectively it's not weird, but in my head it is: I was super nervous! I got there 20 min early so i could get settled and use the restroom, but as soon as i came out they were waiting for me. An actor who was also auditioning read the scene with me. There was a large room with a camera and three people behind a long desk. It was just like i would excpect an auditioning room to be. I had this moment where i was reaching into my plastic folder for my headshot (that i had just picked up from the printer 40min prior)--like "wow, so this is it. this is what i'm going to be seeing a lot of soon--hopefully." this moment, like i've arrived, at the fate of any person trying to get anywhere in the entertainment industry in this city. I'm there now too. Before when I could hear actors talking about auditions, and call backs an agents and SAG and on and on, I could kind of distance myself. No longer. It's sobering, and exciting too. Then I had a moment where  I was like --"doh, i shouldn't have had my headshot in a folder--wasting precious time taking it out". In retrospect I saw about three people outside of the building on the street leaving the audition I suppose just holding their headshots. And I thought "well, that's weird that they're not in an envelope or anything". Now I see this is a trick of the trade: take as little with you as possible. I will never again carry my headshot in a  clear plastic folder. The LA Fitness audition itself--not so hot. I got through the lines, but that was about it. They said "have fun with it" but what does that mean? Does that mean I should ad lib, or does that just mean they want me to look like I'm having fun with the very unnatural dialogue?  I don' t think I embarrassed myself, but if I were on the other side of the table I wouldn't have remembered my audition. As we were leaving the office the actor I was reading with tells me that it was great to work with me, etc--a great 1.5 minutes--then he says "Were you a little nervous?" "Yeah" I say "a little" then he says "I could tell, but I think it's okay because it kind of works with the character--you know, she's kind of nervous about just starting to work out again and...". At that moment I hate all actors, why do we say things like that? He was a nice guy though. I'm taking a commercial workshop starting tomorrow and i'm actually looking forward to learning about how to audition for commercials--I never thought I would say that.