Under most circumstances I like it when actors follow the basic rules of auditioning and Hollywood procedure. But there are times when even I suggest that a little rule breaking is necessary and advised. Let's look at some rules and some exceptions.

As many people know, I have always told actors not to make contact with the reader during their auditions and in 2020 it seems more of a rule than a suggestion. Moving forward I would say that any physical contact is just ill-advised and risky for everyone present. Let's face it, shaking hands is gong to be sketchy for the foreseeable future as we are still in the midst of a pandemic, so touching the reader in a scene is definitely not a rule I would break anymore.

Calling my office is something to be avoided unless it is an emergency and you don't have representation. Let your agent do this or if you must reach out, I suggest emails whenever possible. If you do not have representation and you need something due to an appointment with me, then and only then would I say reach out by phone.

Word perfect. I love it when actors take the time to learn the lines. It demonstrates proficiency in an important skill and lets us know how fast you can get familiar with dialogue, but it needn't be memorized. That said, I don't have anything against memorization if an actor still holds the sides just in case, and they memorize correctly. If you memorize the scene wrong, it could be a problem during adjustments. Also, be able to let go of your choice and take direction from us.

Dropping in on casting offices or talent agencies is much like touching us during your read in the audition. Moving forward, this is going to become extinct in my opinion. If you don't have an appointment, you are not even going to be able to access our offices in most cases. You will just have to limit yourself to emails and other forms of networking that doesn't bring you in physical proximity to our staff.

If we're going to chat, it is usually going to happen before your read. However, you may get an emotional scene and want to jump into the work. That's fine. Just alert us to this ahead of time. On scenes like this you will find many actors making the same request.

Crashing auditions. Not a fan of this behavior but I know in the commercial world it is not the same as with film and television. Do your best to learn which offices allow this. Mine doesn't.

No props or costumes. I can't think of a single audition where a prop or costume influenced the casting. Think about it. What producer is going to cast you because you had a prop or were going to save them money on wardrobe? It just isn't realistic. That said, I do think it wise to dress in the direction of a role. If it's an upscale character, dress nice. We don't need police uniforms to know if you can play a cop.

I usually recommend that actors arrive early or at least on time for their meetings and auditions…and this blog is going to be no exception. Sure, you may have an emergency come up. Life happens. But it is always in your best interests to arrive to your auditions early. And if you are going to be late on one of those rare occasions, please make sure your agent calls us and lets us know. The only thing worse than tardiness is tardiness without warning.

No matter which of these rules you are thinking of breaking, remember that a good attitude is a must. It's my office so it's my rules. I don't like it when actors crash my auditions so when I ask you to leave without being seen, do it. Don't beg to stay. Don't tell me I'm making a big mistake. Go with a smile. You gave it your best shot and it didn't work out.

That way we can both forget about it and have a clean slate. The alternative gets you the opposite result you desired.

Over time, actors should learn that in some situations you can bend or even break the rules of Hollywood protocol. When considering this, remember that how you break the rules will almost always make the difference.