Disney Audition

Today I auditioned in front of casting agent which was being filmed to send to Disney. I had lines to memorize, which I said, and they let me sing just a little. It was crazy because I just got my cast off my arm and went there before getting my brace. My arm was stiff so we talked about that at the first part of the audition. It was short and sweet and then you hear the word "Next". There were kids there from lots of different agencies and they are going to different regions in the US so a lot of competition. Right after the audition I went and got fitted for my brace. I start the physical therapy on my elbow next week.

Beginning Rehearsals at The Alley

Tonight was first night for rehearsals for A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theater in Houston. There are a lot of rehearsals held to prepare for the actual performances. Tonight we worked on dialect. The stage manager emailed a web site to download what we worked on. There will also be rehearsals for music, running lines and staging (movement onto, on and off stage). I've already had my costume fitting and there was an orientation meeting to let us all know the rules and business information. I'll try to keep track of how many total hours I spend at rehearsals for this show to blog at the end of rehearsals.

Actor's Slate

Today I spent 30 minutes being interviewed and recorded for an actor's slate to be posted on a site that casting directors and agents use to submit resumes and headshots for auditions. The slate is to allow the casting director to get to know you and see some of your personality. I hope I am liked.

No Rehearsals but Still Work

This week I don't have any rehearsals or performances until Friday night. I'm still working though. I'm working to memorize my lines for A Christmas Carol play and for my acting class on Saturday. I'm practicing my songs to sing at church and to sing at CASA fundraiser. I'm going Thursday for a prep meeting to get me ready for Friday when I will record an interview to be posted on an acting website that casting directors use when screening candidates. I'm practicing my piano and guitar and trying to work in a dance lesson. Thank goodness for these weeks to have some preparation time. I almost forgot, I'm also still working on school work.

Aeros Game - Not My Best

Tonight, was one of those nights when things didn't go right. I was singing at the Aeros and dedicating my Start the Party song to breast cancer survivors. The mike wasn't working right at the first so all the crowd could hear was the music and not me. When they could hear me, the mike was not in sync with the music so sounded like I was behind. I tried to sing faster but just wasn't working out. I was having to think so much about the music I wasn't moving as much as usual - well that plus the cracked elbow. Some people still came up and told me a did a good job but I knew it wasn't one of my best performances. I guess there are just going to be some nights like this but I'd rather them not be in front of a crowd of 5,000.

The Show Must Go On Cracked Elbow and All

Thursday night I fell off my friend's bike and cracked my elbow. I got my cast on around 2:30 Friday and opened at opera at 7:00 PM. The doctor put on a smaller, thinner cast so my costume would fit over the cast and it would not show under the sleeve. Opening was good and I made it with the help of some Extra Strength Tylenol. The music director told everyone to break a leg except me. She told me I already had enough broken bones. Any way I got through the show and the cast party afterwards, and tonight made it through singing at the AEROS, so the show really did go on cracked elbow and all.

Chronicle Article

Today, there was a write up about me in the Fort Bend section of The Houston Chronicle. Mainly the article was about my comedic monologue win at the Best New Talent contest. It's exciting to see your picture and name in the paper but then you start looking at the words and wishing things were either quoted a little differently or said a little different. All in all though it was a good article and I was releaved I had not said anything that made me sound stupid.

Sam I Am at Houston Symphony

Yesterday, I had the awesome experience of performing Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs & Ham at the Houston Symphony. I was Sam, dressed in a red costume complete with red fuzzy hat. There is nothing like singing with a full symphony behind you! Jones Hall is a great place. I even had my own dressing room complete with bathroom and a piano to help with my warmups. There were about 2,000 at each of the 2 shows. Since the first show was at 10 am and I had gotten home around 12 am from opera rehearsal, I had to work to get going. I showered, ate breakfast, then made the 45 minute drive, warming my voice up all the way. The conductor, Robert Franz and my co-star, Alicia Gianni, were so fun to work with and made it a great show. We rhearsed about 4 times (only once with the symphony other times with pianist) for this show and then did a run through with our mikes on Saturday morning. Thanks also to Roger Dailey for hiring me and providing so much help and support. I even got to go back to Jones Hall last night and see Wayne Brady in concert and learn from watching him perform. As far as my road to success, I got great experience and training and exposure to a new audience. My mom will spend time updating my resume. Now my question for you is, "Do you like green eggs and ham?"

Manager Response/To Move or Not to Move

So we got a response to the DVD we sent to the manager. He liked it but says to really pursue work need to be in LA. Right now my parents aren't able to move so if parts come up that manager feels I'm right for he'll push for me an audition but it would be easier if I were in LA. So for now, I'll keep working here and training (I'm booked through Christmas) and have faith a good part will come up where he can submit my DVD and they will like it and want to audition me.

Full Schedule

This week and last week crazy schedule. I'll start with last week. I agreed to fill in for the part of Schroeder in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown at a community theater as it was opening and their Schroeder had a family emergency. I was familiar with the show since I'd been Charlie Brown but still it was a lot to learn in a week.

Monday I had guitar lesson & play rehearsal, Tuesday play rehearsal, Wednesday piano and play rehearsal, Thursday voice lesson to work on my Aeros music and play rehearsal, Friday symphony rehearsal and opera rehearsal. Saturday was acting class, opening of the play, and then ran tech that night for other cast. Sunday was church and homework, homework, homework. I'm in 7th grade so I actually had school work all the days I listed. I usually take a dance lesson at my house each week but had to miss this week. Also, this week I had an interview with a Chronicle reporter for an upcoming article.

This week I had to cancel guitar. This week is even busier than last week. Today after school I had rehearsal at the symphony, costume fitting at the opera, and then opera rehearsal until 9:45. Tuesday I have symphony rehearsal. Wednesday is piano and opera rehearsal until 11:30. Thursday voice to work more on upcoming Aeros performance and to begin selecting Christmas music for December fundraiser, then opera rehearsal until 11:30. Friday costume fitting at the Alley Theatre for A Christmas Carol, rehearsal at Symphony and then rehearsal at Opera until 11:30. Saturday morning 2 performances at Symphony so I'll miss my acting class. I'll relax some Saturday night at a swim party and then back to opera after church on Sunday for more rehearsal. I'll be doing a lot of homework in the car this week but it is all worth it. I have a lot of fun around the other kids at the opera and there is nothing like being on the "big stage", or the sound of applause.

Following Advice

Since the Best New Talent Contest this is what I've done to follow the advice I was given. I went to West Side Recording Studio and recorded 2 cover songs and a music video and got them posted on my newly created myspace page (www.myspace.com/theofficialseanhardin) and my youtube page www.youtube.com/seanghardi. It took some time to get my pages up. That was one good thing about Hurricane Ike - since I didn't have school I had some time to work on my pages. I loaded pictures from shows I'd been in and videos. A lot of what I've done we have not been allowed to video due to union rules or the arena like the Aeros don't allow videos. I also am trying to keep my schedule posted and still working to get more to join as my friend and subcribe to my videos. If you're reading this blog, I'm inviting you to become one of my friends/subscribers.

I worked with a graphic art designer to design some business cards that I thought represented what I like. I'm still getting down feeling comfortable handing them out.

I went to an acting coach to pick out 2 commercials and a movie scene and then learned and rehearsed them with her. Last week she made a DVD of me performing the commericals, movie, plus 2 monologues. I had professional copies made of the DVD with chapters and good label. My mom mailed the DVD with letter, resume and headshots to one of the the managers interested in me. Now just waiting to hear back.

I still need to work on building a following and getting some original music written and recorded. They also advised to sing every chance you get. Other than theater, opera and symphony, I'll be singing at Houston Aeros game 10/18 and at a fundraiser in December.

It takes a lot of time to work on your career plus get school work done.

What I learned at Best New Talent Contest

I competed in Best New Talent Contest in California in August. I had callbacks from 2 managers and from Hollywood and Columbia records. I won first place out of about 700 kids in comedic monologue and placed in top 10 in contemporary singing. I attended seminar classes and bought some books. For acting I was told would need to get a DVD recorded of me doing different acting scenes. Also, I needed to consider moving to California if even for a period of time. For singing I was told to get a myspace and youtube page, record some cover songs to go on the page, and then work to find some original music to record (best if can write your own). Sing every chance I got and hand out cards with my web sites. Key is to develop a following. Also, for both stay in training. Watch future blogs for details of how I'm following advice I heard in California.