True, one shouldn't audition for roles that they don't want, or won't be available for.

On the other hand, there are roles that one might audition for, and then the role gets changed, or Rewritten, or Shortened. Or you get dropped from consideration for one role, but they plead with you to come back to play a different part that they couldn't cast. (I read for a leading man type, and was called back, only to discover they wanted me to read for "Scruffy, belching, restaurant patron" instead. I said "No thank you", and left.) Or you get cast to play at a time and place you could originally schedule, then the production stalls and gets changed to a date you can't play. These fun occurrences will probably happen to every actor at least twice.

First of all, as Dana wrote, if you have a legitimate reason, be honest.

Second of all, in order not to burn bridges, SAY YOU GOT A BETTER OFFER. Happens all the time. Medieval Times offered X per hour, Terror on Church Street offered X+Y...sorry, Times, gotta go.

Sometimes bridges SHOULD be burned: one film asked me to act for free, then told me I couldn't have a copy of it due to legal concerns. I did it anyway, but I told them they had one whole hour of my time to film, and if they couldn't get all their shots in an hour, too damned bad.

Even if you do burn bridges, YOU CAN REBUILD THEM. It's a crazy business, all you can do is your best. Remember, David Duchovny actually SUED the X-Files, AND kept working for them, AND got $20 million to come back for the last season.

Just my two cents...
Best, K.K.

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