Background and Extra work on "Damages"

Doing background work can be hit or miss or terms of whether or not it's a good experience (there's so many factors that are outside of your control), but here's some quick tips to help make this type of experience a positive one (as this one certaintly was for me) . . .

First, check out Bob Frasers great advice article all about being an 'extra' in film and television.
Second, leave in plenty of time to get to holding early -- I mean 10 to 15 or even 20mins early. 20 is good, because it's likely, in big cities like L.A., N.Y.C., or Chicago, you've never been to where they're shooting, so your gonna get lost -- count on it. This isn't pessimism -- it's realism.
Third, usually you'll work on the set for less than 50% of the time your hired, sometimes a lot less. Unless you're up for chit-chat to your fellow background actors for 10+ hours, bring things you want to read, educate yourself; it's a great opportunity to catch up -- think of it like this: they're paying you to read whatever you want to read! I'll usually bring a novel and 1 or 2 books I'm reading to further my personal education in theatre, film, television, or acting.
Forth, follow the casting wardrobe instructions to the letter. When they say no bright reds, they mean it. Because you're on camera, there's limits about what you can and can not wear -- usually you're given general guidelines about what to wear. For example, here's my wardrobe instructions from the casting agency that booked me:
107- CHRISTOPHER : WARDROBE: WEAR ONE UPSCALE CASUAL WARDROBE
WITH LIGHT OUTERWEAR AND BRING ANOTHER WARDROBE SAME STYLE WITH YOU.
YOUR WARDROBE SHOULD BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD WEAR TO WORK.. CASUAL BUT
NEAT... FOR YOUR WARDROBE CHANGE YOU COULD BRING JEANS. --- TOTAL
WARDROBE: 2 WITH OPTIONS; TOTAL OUTERWEAR: 2 -- PLEASE, ALL WARDROBE SHOULD BE IN EARTH TONES AND NEUTRAL
COLORS. NO RED, NO BLACK, NO WHITE AND NO BRIGHTS. ALSO NO LOGOS ANYWHERE.
It's natural to want to look your best, but you're first priority needs to be not on how you'd like to look but on how wardrobe needs you to look. (and REMEMBER! your check-in #: my was 107)
Fifth, shoes. Unless wardrobe wants something specific, wear shoes that are 1) comfortable and 2) QUIET to walk around in. The reason you'll want quiet shoes is that your background action may require you to walk around, and if you shoes are stiff and noisy, the studio mikes will pick it right up. Generally, the more quiet you can be in the background, the better.
Sixth, remember, it's all better than free education, free on the job training -- they're paying you to learn. No, it's not like a master class in acting, but -- in my opinion -- it's damn close. On the set of "Damages," I got to watch the principle actor (Glenn Close), her scene partner, and the director work out how best to do the scene over many takes. I was lucky in that I could see and hear them work while I was on the set. I have a little notebook -- I take notes.
For example, I was surprised by the amount of improv they did before the cameras started to roll, letting the improv segway into the scene, into the script. That's a great way work! It should be a wonderful, well-acted series. I wish I had seen this before I did my own on-camera improved scene last week.
Finally, you want to REALLY be prepared for a long, Long, LONG day if there's 100s of background players needed for the day. Those jobs are usually tough, and you don't get as much chance to watch the principles and director work together. Sometimes, it can even be a nightmear. A fellow background actor I meet on "Damages" has funny-fightening-hilarious post about her 6 days on I am Legend called:
WE ARE FROZEN