Here’s a back-and-forth between a New York actor and me, about the ever-controversial topic of CD Workshops.

Bonnie, I’m going to search your old articles about pay to play. I apologize if the below is redundant with your past articles. I understand pay to play is happening these days. I’m even willing to start doing it this season through the more reputable places in the city because it seems like a reality (I just make sure it’s someone I want to see, not an associate/assistant etc.). I just felt icky when I read a casting office is doing it for $35 for five minutes. You are seeing the head CD at their offices. I don’t know Bonnie, I feel weird about this type of thing and wish I didn’t because I want to have great relationships with the CDs out there. I’m curious to know your thoughts on this type of thing.

Yep. I’ve covered this in the archived CD Workshops piece, and the Your Turn a week or so before it (which is what generated the content for that piece in the archives). Also, you may want to watch the USTREAM video I posted in the most recent Your Turn. I talk about CD workshops toward the end of the Q&A, and I definitely have a strong opinion about them. 🙂 Good luck to you!

[For those who wish not to follow those links, read the archived pieces on CD workshops, or watch the vid from my book signing and Q&A, the gist is: I don’t like CD workshops. I did them as an actor and felt they were a huge factory of money-generating “opportunities” for the workshop facilities, rather than a way for actors to be seen or taught by qualified people who happen to be interested in building relationships over the long haul. My opinion has always been: If you’re going to do CD workshops, for the love of all that is holy, please get in the right mindset about doing them. Because there is nothing more toxic than the energy of, “I hate being here,” if that’s what you’re carrying into the room with you. And yes, some workshops do yield bookings for actors, and that’s why people keep doing them. It’s like playing the lottery. Someone, somewhere, sometimes wins. (And the “system” always makes a profit.)]

Thank you Bonnie. Watched it and loved your energy. Nice to meet you “in person.” I thought your philosophies were uncannily timely as I was talking to someone about energy in the room just today and you hit home my points. Interesting how that happens, isn’t it? Thanks again for the information. I am choosing to do a pay to play and the one thing I’ll be very aware of is not bringing in “resentment.” Love it!

Exactly. It’s so important to just get okay about whatever it is you choose to do. 🙂 So, if you can be a shining light of professionalism and talent, they’ll notice you in the right way. 🙂 Thanks for checking the vid out. Lemmeknow how these workshops go for you. 🙂

Dear Bonnie,

I wanted you to know I went to a pay to play at one of the two most legitimate of these companies in New York. I went with my energy intact understanding what I wanted from the session as per your advice. What I wasn’t aware of, however, is that it’s not just my energy, but the energy of the agents in the room that is something I must contend with. These four individuals entered the room looking like they were walking in to a firing squad, guard up, humiliation printed on their foreheads and I thought, “It’s because they know, we know, they are taking our money. It’s because they are embarrassed they need this cash and it’s all over their faces.” They had one word answers to our questions, their feedback was minimal, their written notes sparse and, all in all, doing a read in front of 30 newbie actors hoping to make a break and a panel of four agents hoping to get out of there by 9pm — essentially paying $149 for a two-minute read — let’s just say, I will never do that experience again. 🙂

Wow. I hadn’t even considered the “ick factor” of the industry participants being mired in a stew of not wanting to be there. But now that I think about it, I get it. I started getting asked to do CD workshops and “talent conventions” in other cities within three months of my name first appearing in the Breakdown Services’ CD Directory in 2003. It’s tempting. Especially when you’re between projects, which has become true for longer periods of time for more and more people in recent years. I’ve seen agents and managers doing more of these types of things. They are facing a tough decision of maybe closing the doors of their boutique companies or being downsized from big agencies to become employees elsewhere, and a few extra hundy could make a difference, one month. I get why it’s happening.

And yes, there are very definitely TV CDs who regularly call in actors after meeting them in workshops. Absolutely! They need to see so many people that this is sometimes their method of choice. That is certainly true of some CDs, and it’s why I recommend everyone keep a list of who actually calls folks in, rather than spending money seeing people who have never and will never call actors in after meeting them at workshops.

But just like I’d tell actors not to do workshops (or anything, for that matter), if they’re carrying around some negative feelings about ’em, I’d advise the same of the casting directors, the agents, the “buyers” who are allegedly there to shop for talent, demystify the process, and give some feedback. What could they possibly enjoy about their time, there, if they’re that miserable?

Well, despite the bad news, it’s a wonderful report you’ve shared. I hadn’t even considered that there might be such a cloud surrounding the non-actors in the room. That’s awful! And another reason why many actors are choosing to put their energy, their passion, their time, and their money into self-producing (and you know I’m a champion for that) rather than into CD workshops. Choose your community and get your goods in front of the buyers in the best, most “shining through” way possible!

Ah… much better!

Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!

Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001158.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.