A little 'splainin to do

I promised I'd explain what the hell One on One is, so to do this I'm going to insert an article I wrote a few months ago. It goes a little like this:

In the biz, it’s all about who you know. Every actor hears this, but the problem is figuring out who it is you need to know. In New York City several flourishing businesses are touting the promise that they can introduce you to those people.

These studios are all set up similarly hosting, for a price, classes and seminars with casting directors, managers, agents, and the like. To clarify: actors pay the studios and studios pay the guest casting directors, managers, agents, etc. While it’s a little hard to swallow the fact that you’re essentially paying for an audition, there are advantages and opportunities to be had. Classes are a great way to get to know an instructor better and prove yourself over the course of a few weeks. Seminars usually offer a group question and answer session followed by short individual meetings where you’re given the opportunity to strut your stuff. Here’s a little overview to distinguish one studio from another:

Actors Connection
Actors Connection has an established home just west of Times Square with plenty of well-equipped studios. There are numerous events happening 5-6 days/nights per week covering film, television, theater, commercials, industrial, and voice over work. Depending on whether you commit and buy a package, seminars will run about $30 a pop, and in general you can count on spending $300 per class. Actors Connection also offers a complimentary consultation with a seasoned actor to help gauge and direct each individual’s training.

For seminars, private appointments are assigned in the order you register. If you are the 16th person to register, be prepared to sit tight for an hour plus. However, appointments are strictly timed and a system of external door knocks is used to get everybody in and out of the room swiftly.

While Actors Connection focuses on professionally trained working actors, there is no screening process for admission so talent level and experience run the gamut.

PROS: Being mixed in with a group of just-ok actors could make a good actor seem really good. AC, by far, has the most variety in programming to choose from.
CONS: Being in a class surrounded by just-ok actors does not provide a ton of motivation to push yourself to the limit. Actually it gets downright painful watching mediocre work over and over and over for an entire 3-hour class. Also, getting paired with a neophyte actor for scene work can be tragic for a good actor. Avoid cold-reading partnered scenes at all costs! Watch your back and stick with a monologue or scenes with readers.

The Network
The Network does not have a permanent space, rather their classes and seminars are in various locations around town. They are not yet the well-oiled machine that Actors Connection is, however they do offer a plethora of events and classes covering similar genres. Seminars run a little bit cheaper at $25 each and as low as $16 each if you purchase a package. Be prepared to spend $300 per class and keep an eye out for surprise bargains in the mix.

What sets the Network apart from the rest is warmth and personal touch. The Network offers ongoing complimentary career consultations and personal phone calls from the staff when an auditioner is seeking actors of your type. At seminars, there is no external, rigid, timed end to individual meetings; you are free to wrap up in your own time. As a warning, this can become problematic and time consuming for the 10th, 11th, and 12th actors in line. The Network also produces its own One Act Festival in the fall, cultivating its talent and then giving it a chance to shine.

There is no screening process at the Network either. It is newer and smaller than Actors Connection so outliers are not as extreme.

PROS: The Network is kind of like Grandma serving you milk and homemade cookies. Here you truly feel supported, looked after and cared for.
CONS: More than 5-10 minutes with an auditioner is not only excessive but awkward! People can tell within the first minute whether they’re holding onto your headshot or trashing it. Spare everybody some embarrassment and relinquish the brown-nosing in favor of concise confidence.

One on One Productions
One on One has a beautiful brand-new facility in Midtown brimming with oodles of technology including stage lighting in each studio. It follows a similar model to the others with classes and private appointments (not seminars). Of the three, One on One is the most respectful of everybody’s precious time by assigning actors a specific 10-minute time slot.

One on One screens its members. Before being allowed to attend any events or on the full website, you must schedule and pass a monologue audition. The audition is not just a formality: not everybody is admitted. Naturally, this screening process gives One on One an edge prestige-wise both to auditioners and actors.

Once accepted, members pay a one time $50 fee and then pay anywhere from $25-$39 per private appointment and similar competitive prices for classes.

PROS: More so than at other venues, auditioners are in a more receptive mindset at One on One. They’re not just going through the motions for some quick pocket cash. And in class work, watching other high-level performers work can be very helpful, plus stiff competition really ramps up everybody’s game!
CONS: For a relatively new actor, the initial audition could be somewhat traumatic. Secondly, in this arena a good performance will be forgettable; it will take an excellent one to catch someone’s eye.

All of these studios are great because they empower the actor to take initiative and meet whomever they would like to meet instead of waiting around to get noticed. Influential, diverse guests visit all three places. Truth be told, if someone likes what they see, they will hold on to you regardless of where you meet them. Go where you feel the most comfortable and if there are specific individuals you want to meet, follow them to whichever studio they may be on a day that works for you.

How's that? You got it?