For me, the only thing better than a success story is a "go down in flames/so bad it's good" story. I thought about this the other day when I drove by one of those Chilis/Applebees type restaurants. When I'd first started in New York, I struggled for about 6-8 months. I did well in Philly but New York was a different ballgame altogether. I had to get used to the casting people, the competition, as well as find my way around the city. So after 6-8 months of about 3-4 commercial auditions a week (and a HUGE failure of an audition for the film U-571, that was just catastrophic that may be it's own blog entry someday) I finally got a "callback" which means you go back in and you're a step away from booking  a national commercial, which is great exposure and great money. So this was for one of those chain restaurants and it for a dish called "Tequila Lime Chicken" I was supposed to be a busboy or waiter telling a table full of people how great this dish was. So I get in ther e arly, and I'm pumped. I go in there and I'm all smiles and talking very loud. "THAT'S TEQULIA LIME CHICKEN WOW YOU WILL LOVE IT" or something like that, it was way over the top, and for some odd reason I just figured if I smiled a whole lot and was really energetic, they'd love me and give the commercial. So I pretty much exploded with this read, I must have sounded like one of those cheesy late night infomercial guys. Eventually they were like "okay this time, less smiling, you're a busboy" next take.... me all smiles "HI! TEQUILA! LIME! CHICKEN! HOORAY". So they said "thanks" and then when we were leaving, they didn't have anyone in the next auditions to read my part, so, the casting people, obviously a glutton for punishment, had me stay to read with the next group. Me thinking "okay this is it, keep smiling, show them every tooth, and this time, be loud. REALLY LOUD" and for the next 3 takes just bounced off the walls.  Once that was over, AGAIN they didn't have anyone to read my part. I said "HEY, I don't mind reading again!" they all just looked at me like "please go", to be honest, they may have even said the words "please go". I walked out of there thinking "my first big time call back and I nailed it! Smiling and yelling is a GREAT combo!" Needless to say, I never ever ever heard from them again. Though anytime I see a menu, and the "tequila lime chicken" is on there...I just think of me just spazzing out all over the place on that morning in New York.