A cold reading is a term used by actors and other performers in theatre, television, film, and performance fields. A cold reading is a reading aloud from a script or other text without any rehearsal, practice or study in advance. It is also sometimes referred to as sight-reading.  Cold readings are employed frequently in actor auditions, to allow the employer or playwright to get a general idea of their performing capabilities.

They are also used for performance classes and by playwrights who need to hear their play read aloud by actors. Many actors and other performers and public speakers take classes and practice at length to improve the quality of their cold readings.
Cold reading can also be used in conjunction with improvisations to gauge a performer’s ability to perform new works. A good dramatic cold reader is able to communicate with fluency and clarity and to project speech rhythms and rhymes well. He or she should also be able to bring out the intent, mood and characterization of a piece through appropriate articulation and body language.

An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. It involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously-memorized and rehearsed solo piece: for example, a monologue for actors or a song for a singer.

For actors, the audition piece is typically not from the show being considered; an actor wishing to be cast in Hamlet would not likely do a monologue from that play. However, most performers do have a range of audition pieces and select something appropriate; an actor auditioning for Hamlet would have a dramatic Shakespearean monologue ready, and not perform a monologue from an Oscar Wilde comedy, or a contemporary playwright. Similarly, a singer auditioning for a role in a musical theatre production would not, unless instructed otherwise, singopera or country music, and a musician auditioning for a seat in an orchestra would not perform rock. Occasionally a musical theatre audition may require the performer to sing something in the genre to which the musical pertains. For instance, someone auditioning for Destry Rides Again may be asked to sing a country-western song or a rock/rock musical song for The Rocky Horror Show.

For actors, the audition piece is typically not from the show being considered; an actor wishing to be cast in Hamlet would not likely do a monologue from that play. However, most performers do have a range of audition pieces and select something appropriate; an actor auditioning for Hamlet would have a dramatic Shakespearean monologue ready, and not perform a monologue from an Oscar Wilde comedy, or a contemporary playwright. Similarly, a singer auditioning for a role in a musical theatre production would not, unless instructed otherwise, singopera or country music, and a musician auditioning for a seat in an orchestra would not perform rock. Occasionally a musical theatre audition may require the performer to sing something in the genre to which the musical pertains. For instance, someone auditioning for Destry Rides Again may be asked to sing a country-western song or a rock/rock musical song for The Rocky Horror Show.

Some auditions involve cold reading, or performing a script that the actor is not familiar with. Likewise, musicians may be asked to sight read music at various levels of difficulty. This is similar to many dance auditions, in which the focus is on learning new choreography, rather than showcasing prepared work. For smaller roles in a large production, mass auditions are held at which many inexperienced or aspiring performers, most without agents, show up.

These are popularly known as cattle calls, since the hopefuls are often kept together in one large room like a herd. The musical A Chorus Line begins with one of these. American Idol also auditions its aspiring vocalists using this technique, since there are so many auditions. Although an actor’s talents comprise crucial criteria in the casting process, an almost equal amount of attention is given to an actor’s “type,” (a combination of personality, looks and general casting intuition) as required for a particular production.

When you’re just starting out as an actor (and especially if you don’t have an agent or manager) you will most likely have to go out on many “cattle calls”.  So what’s a cattle call?  A cattle call is term associated with the audition process.  There will be many times when you will go out on an audition where you and a gazillion others will be auditioning for the same role.  You’ll be a part the very first round of the “weeding out” process.  Like cattle, you are all together in one room trying to book the job.  This happens a lot on commercials, small roles and theater.

The reason there’s a ton of people going out on this “cattle call” is because the larger roles are already taken by more established and experienced actors.  Also, casting agents don’t usually see less experienced actors for the larger roles.  So if you get the chance to go out on a cattle call, don’t take it personally.  It’s an opportunity.  Take it.  There’s an old saying, “There are no small roles.  Just roles.”  Meet some people.  Use it as a stepping stone to advance your career.  Many well known actors started off their careers by going out on cattle calls.

Actor’s Access is a premiere subscription service website where actors can upload and manage their photos and resumes by creating their own profiles. The ability to submit their photos and resumes to casting agents and prodution companies is what makes this site a powerful resource for actors.

Actors can review “the breakdowns”, another name for up-to-minute casting calls. The site is actually owned by Breakdown Services, Ltd., the entertainment industry’s (especially Hollywood) “go-to” service when it comes to casting calls. Production companies and casting agents across the industry basically submits casting calls (the breakdowns) through Breakdown Services and Breakdown in turn delivers the information to agents. Based on the particular casting call, the agent (or talent manager) submits the photos/resumes (to the casting agent) of the actors they think may be right for the role. If the casting agent likes what he or she sees, an audition is arranged.

In the olden days, this process was done through messenger services. The messenger services would deliver “the breakdowns”, (large bulks of paper casting call information) to the agents every morning. These days, the casting call process is paperless, and some of it is done through Actors Access. For more info visit: actorsaccess.com