So, if you’ve been following my tweets and facebook updates then you already know that I’ve been asked back to guest star on private practice. I’m still very very excited about all of it. My first stint on the show wasn’t that big, but I was thankful to have it & to work with such amazing people. This time around I get be more apart of the actual storyline and I’m digging it.

Yesterday, I had the honor to attend the table read and sit two seats down from THE Shonda Rhimes. She was actually the first person in the room. Very nice, very business and to the point…well, at least I thought. Once all the usual suspects to the show started showing up she was cracking jokes and conversing with the best of them. Which put me at ease and made her seem not so intimidating and scary to me. At the other end of the table were all the series regulars from Private Practice and they gave off the vibe of a close knit family. It was pretty cool to see.

I’m sharing all of this with you, not only because it was an amazing experience, but to take some of the nerves away when it’s your turn. (yeah, right!) I, also, want to stress that if no one told you before about table reads here it is: They are NOT the time to sit back and rest on your laurels of just booking the job. Just because you’ve gotten the part through the audition process, doesn’t mean you can’t lose the part at the table. I walked into that conference room 15 mins early, found my place at the table, got my script, got water & sat and got ready for business. Of course, when the other actors and crew, etc came in I stood up to greet them and engaged in pleasantries (especially with Amanda Foreman who sat next to me & calmed my nerves), but make no mistake – I was there to work! And let me tell you, everyone else there was too! It was very obvious.

Just like prepping for the audition, read the script the night before the table read. Or if you didn’t get it beforehand, get there early so that you can. Once you get there, check over the latest draft of the script for any last minute changes. It would suck to be caught off guard by some big word that you miss pronounce. One of my acting teachers always told me, the series regs have the job already – THEY can afford to mess up a little. YOU, need to go in there and nail it – every time! Again, I believe it’s one of those business things that sets me apart from the others – HARDWORKER!

…and then just like that it was over. Everyone thanked each other for being there and went their separate ways. Shonda started a huddle and the other execs began to listen to her notes. I wanted so badly to listen in, to be around such brilliance, but again I was there to work – which did not include eavesdropping.  The guest cast hung around for a second and chatted with each other, myself included. The series reg cast thanked everyone and headed out, I’m sure back to work because they were shooting that day too.

Keep following here, facebook and twitter. I’m shooting next week and I hope at least one more episode in the future.