Photography by Bree Beal

BEAT Policies

BEAT Casting & Audition Policy

BEAT is committed to creating an environment that fosters both growth and an enjoyable experience for participants in all BEAT programs. To this end, BEAT acting workshops that require an audition also include an audition preparation workshop. The goal is for participants to approach auditions as a positive, learning experience.

Nonetheless, we realize auditions are hard. It takes courage to put yourself on the line and to risk what may feel like rejection if you don’t get one of your preferred roles.

Because it is impossible for everyone to be cast in one of their favorite parts, casting decisions may occasionally, and very understandably, greet some participants with an initial feeling of disappointment. However, once the workshop begins taking shape, students who are open to discovering how directors are knitting each student’s unique talents and traits together into a team, will experience such reservations naturally being replaced by the joys of learning and contributing.

The following guidelines will help students and their parents know just what they can expect from BEAT before and after a cast list has been posted, and what, in turn, BEAT expects of them.

What BEAT will do

1.       Give every actor a fair opportunity. BEAT strives to provide as many actors as possible with the chance to personally stretch as both a performer and as a team member in a way that will also help the entire cast achieve the artistic vision of the production’s directing team. This balance is achieved by having all casting decisions made by a well-qualified team. To gird BEAT's high standards of professionalism, promote fairness, and avoid the possibility of favoritism, BEAT staff ensures the casting team includes two members who can serve as impartial parties throughout the casting process. The impartial parties are not part of the production's directing team and must be clearly free of any conflict of interest that could unconsciously gender unfair preferential treatment of any student on the audition list.

2.      Provide feedback to inquiries about the audition. If a student wishes to receive feedback after an audition, the student or parent is welcome to email info@beatonline.org. A member of the casting team will respond with kind and constructive criticism regarding a student’s audition, and specific advice about where to most effectively direct efforts for improvement. This may take several days so please be patient with us.

3.      Help describe what goes into casting a show. BEAT audition workshops explain the Casting process, which is very challenging and complicated due to the wide variety of variables that must be considered. Many key elements of a casting decision are simply out of a student’s control. However, we would like all students to learn which aspects they can influence by improving their skills. To help, our web site offers a page with TEN SINGER/ACTOR QUALITIES THAT INFLUENCE CASTING.

4.      Encourage ongoing training. Finally, we urge students to continue their training through workshops, classes, private instruction, and other appropriate opportunities available in the community. BEAT encourages all students to pursue skill development in environments that do not require an audition because we believe it is much more productive and effective to work on one’s performance skills when the pressure of auditioning is not looming ahead. BEAT not only offers such classes but will also help students identify other sources of quality artistic development.

What BEAT will not do

1. Reconsider a casting decision. Once a casting decision has been made, it is final. The casting team will not make changes to a cast list based on post-audition complaints.

2.  Discuss the rationale for the casting decision. The casting team will not discuss the reasons a specific casting decision was made.

3.  Allow the director to be distracted from teaching the workshop by someone dissatisfied with a casting decision or audition feedback. Students or parents who have a grievance must follow the instructions provided in the BEAT grievance policy.

4.  Refund deposits or tuition. Dissatisfaction with a casting decision will not be entertained as an exception to the BEAT refund policy.

Thank you for auditioning for a BEAT workshop!

Approved by the Board of Director 10/06/2014
Updated and Approved by the Board of Directors 2/10/2015

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