Sitting On Pins and Avails

When the word "pinning" is mentioned these days, most people assume it has something to do with Pinterest.  In the acting world, pinning has a completely different meaning.  Pins and avails are both related to auditions and (kind of) booking a role.

As with many things in Hollywood, the process leading up to being pinned begins with an audition. Hopefully you did well enough in the audition that the casting director finds you to be a good fit for the part. If so, you'll get news from your agent that the casting folks have "pinned you" for the role.

Does this mean you have the part? Not exactly.

It means you are one of the few/many actors being considered for the part. It doesn't mean you have definitely booked the job.  It just means that you are in the final running for the part.

Once you've been pinned you will (more than likely) get the dates the role is shooting and your agent will put you on "avail".  Being on avail means you are aware of the shoot dates and are keeping yourself open and available to work on those dates.

With all of this talk about pins and avails, it appears they like you so why don't they just go ahead and book you???

The reasons you don't get booked instantly are out of your control:

• The casting director wants you but needs to run the idea by someone else
• The script hasn't received final approval so the part might not make the final draft
• You might be the backup choice in case the person they really want is unavailable
• They might be trying to book a bigger name
• It might be something completely different from the above reasons

Don't let the pin and the avail take control of your life.  Don't cancel previous plans or skip another audition because the pinned part is not a done deal yet.

One thing you should do is be proud of yourself.  Getting pinned and having your availability checked is a sign of confidence in your abilities. It means the casting director feels you can do the part justice and add something to the role. It also means the casting director (and maybe the producers of the show) see you as potentially being part of the show. As I said earlier, whether or not you get the part is out of your control. You now have the attention of the creative minds behind the show and that can pay off down the road.

You won't always hear if your pin has been released.  Obviously, you'll know you didn't land the role if you don't report to work the week you were pinned for a part.  If you do find out you've booked the part, feel free to tell your family and friends to look for you on television in the near future!

This actor has been pinned, and released, a few times in his acting life.