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Basics

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Let me know immediately what your time frame is. That will structure how we work on your dialect. In preparation for your audition, always ask if an accent is wanted at the first audition or your callback. Get as much information as you can about the project, where and when it takes place, your character, especially in relationships, where you will be auditioning and with whom. Have your agent get this information for you (you will be paying them, right?) or do it yourself by calling the production company. They often have a receptionist or secretary who can be helpful...if you are very gracious.

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Commercial Auditions

You may get a script the day or the evening before with few details as to where you will shoot, your character, maybe what the story is and definitely THE PRODUCT. Please learn to say the product’s name correctly. I will take phone calls up to 12 midnight CST. Please leave a message. I will return your call.

If the audition is the next day, I will work with you before midnight CST. You will learn fewer sound changes so you can do well in that short time space.

         I will work through the night, if absolutely necessary and, of course, there is an up-charge for that work.

If you are working on your dialect for a first audition, an hour to an hour and a half is usually enough.

 If you are doing an accent for a callback, I suggest two hours.​

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Theatre Auditions

​    Will you be auditioning in a room for one person, in a rehearsal room for several people, in a theatre space (how large), or via video? Fortunately with video, you can redo your audition until you are happy with it.

    Is the play classical, older, 20th/21st century, drama, comedy? Depending on the language of the play, dialect coaching may take different amounts of coaching time.

    Will you be auditioning with a stage manager or another actor, or do you know? If you have multiple callbacks, we can work again to enhance your dialect. A first dialect session is usually two hours.

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Film, Video Auditions

​Will you be given the story line and information about your character before you audition? Will you be sending in a video audition? Will your audition be live with a casting director, director, cinematographer, producer, other actors, and as many other people as they can get in the room? Who will you be reading with? Will your audition be improvisational or with script? When does the project shoot? You will want to know how much time you have to learn an accent! Will they have a dialect coach on set? Ask. 

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Musical Auditions

​Will you be auditioning with sides and singing your 16 bars? Will you be auditioning on video or live with a rehearsal pianist or with your audio equipment? Will you be auditioning for only the musical director or the director as well? Will you be singing in dialect as well as acting in dialect? Seems like a silly question, but you never know what musical directors/directors want for a show. Ask. If you have multiple callbacks, we can work again to enhance your dialect. A first dialect session is usually two hours.

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Other Auditions

​Since there are many other forms of performance for which you may want an accent, please be prepared to explain exactly what you want with a dialect and why.

Please have some idea of the accent you want. If you are creating the character yourself, please have enough information or enough script to work with so we aren’t wasting each other’s time.