Let's pretend your agent sends you an email about a potential audition. You're excited, right? It's even more exciting when you see that it's for a commercial.
But.. what would you think when you read that the commercial is for something called "Squatty Potty?" [You can learn more and purchase one on Amazon HERE].
Would you still be interested? I was, and I'm here to tell you all about my experience behind the scenes!
First, if you haven't already seen the commercial for Squatty Potty Unicorn Gold, watch it NOW!
Doesn't that commercial make you want some Unicorn Gold for yourself? You can choose from any available scent HERE.
I remember receiving the initial email from my agent and immediately researching the Squatty Potty. For your information, it became big after the owners, the Edwards family, pitched it on Shark Tank.
Well, I got the email and agreed to audition for the commercial. That day (obviously I wouldn't wait longer) I printed off the sides and memorized the lines.
Preparation is key
Before the audition, I made sure to study the comedic style of the original commercial and learn as much as I could about the producers and directors, the Harmon Brothers. By the time my audition time rolled around at 6:30pm a couple weeks later I thought I was going to knock their socks off with all my preparation.
As per etiquette, I showed up about 10 minutes early. I filled out the sign up sheet and patiently waited for my name to be called.
When my name was finally read, I followed the Harmon brothers to the back room.
I remember distinctly that they asked if I could do a British accent and I quickly responded with "yes, of course" in a British accent. I slated in my normal voice and then said the lines as a Brit. They loved it!
They had me repeat the lines with different emphasis on different words, but they actually gave me a compliment saying that I had a great voice and tone. I don't know about you, but I don't normally get feedback from casting directors, good or bad.
You can bet that I walked out of that room very confident and pleased!
Fast forward a few months and I completely forgot about Squatty Potty. I was busy with other auditions and getting engaged during that time (now happily married, thank you very much).
However, on one fateful day my agent texted me saying that I was booked for the commercial! If you're wondering if I screamed for joy and had a mini party in my head, you would be correct!
After that, things heated up pretty quickly. The behind the scenes action began way before the director yelled, "Action."
It Takes a Village
I was in communication with the wardrobe lady, sending her specific measurements of myself for the 18th century dress they would be renting. I then met up with her personally to try on different dresses to find out which one fit me best.
As you already know, I was lucky enough to have the blue one! 
I also met with the hairstylist about a week before shooting. We spent over an hour together as she dressed me up in a wig and then did my real hair all fancy like. The hairstylist sent pictures of each option to the producers for them to decide which style they liked best and how it fit with the other maidens.
Which do you prefer??
Finally, the shooting day came! August 18, 2016.
My call time was 7am, but they told me to come at 10am so as not to waste time. All of us princesses got together and were quickly put into hair and makeup.
Unfortunately though, the production team was running a little behind with the unicorn shots so we had to wait to film. And by a little, I mean a lot.
Here's a snapshot of the call sheet for those of you who may not be familiar with them. It's pretty basic: call times, production crew, studio address and nearest hospital, etc. (I crossed out the personal information of others involved for their privacy).
Hurry up and wait
"Hurry up and wait" is a big saying in the acting realm, and that's exactly what we did.
It wasn't until about 7:00 that night that we started moving, aside from a pizza lunch with the crew, meeting the owner of Squatty Potty and pretending to be Cinderella for her granddaughters, smelling all the different scents they offer, and the occasional bathroom run.
We began by taking promotional pictures of us each holding our bottles of Unicorn Gold. Then the production crew had to rearrange the set to remove the unicorn background and set up the castle. It's made of foam, by the way.
Once we had the castle we could finally shoot our scene!
We were told to stand in a row and look like we reallyyy had to use the bathroom. Needless to say, I think we are all slightly experienced with that feeling.
We repeated the shot multiple times so they could capture wide, medium, and close up frames. The next shot they had us do was act totally disgusted when the main duchess exited the bathroom. 
Storytime: Typically when on set, you want to do exactly as the director says. They are the boss. For this shot, the director simply said for us to maybe wave our hand in front of our face like we smell something bad or give a judgy glare at the main duchess.
Well, Green Dress (for that is what she will be called) and I had the idea to do a fainting sequence.
Since it was different from our given direction, we were apprehensive to vocalize it, but we asked the director anyway.
He had us try it once so he could see how it looked and thankfully everyone in the room thought it was hilarious! Yay! They even had the costumer create an impromptu fan for me to use when Green Dress fainted in my arms because of the bad smell.
The best part is that it made the final cut!
You may want to watch the commercial again if you missed it the first time.
We did each shot several times and that was it. We waited around 9 hours from 10am to 7pm to work, and the work took only an hour and a half total. At the end of the night, the three duchesses packed up and said our goodbyes as everyone else had to stay and shoot the main duchess' lines.
Do you think you would be able to wait that long? Would you still enjoy your time spent behind the scenes or think it's a waste of a day?
Hopefully you are like me and you just love to act and be on set. The live launch party was a cool bonus too!
Please leave a comment with any questions about being behind the scenes of a commercial!
What a lovely article! #soproud #mariahislikesocool
Thanks for reading it Addie!