"So I'm going to put you on hold." Reply: "OK, Great! What does that mean."

I heard two things today that I haven't heard in a long time. First one being, "Are you available?" It has been over a week, way too long for not hearing that. The second being, "I'll put you on hold."

Now some of you may know this well, but others working in the independent world could go years without knowing what that means. In fact, since I have been out in LA for over two years I think I have only heard this twice. While in Chicago it was a very common term along with 'second hold' and 'booked.'

While working as a PA on commercials in Chicago I would be asked my availability. If there was no conflict most of the time I was on hold for thoses days. Most of the time the coordinator would call again a couple days/hours before and give the call time for the first day of production. In my experience very few times would I not get work out of a hold, but it does happen.

Then maybe another production might ask you for the same days as the first one. You explain that you are on hold for a different show and then they might ask you to go on a 2nd hold. That means if the first hold goes through you are in line for the second.

Now here is where it gets fun. Lets say the second production is locked down on those dates. They might say to you "I could book you." This is great, because when they say book that means they have to pay you for thoses days even if the shoot does not go through. Now you still have a loyalty towards your first hold. So then you must call up your contact for the first hold and explain that someone would like to 'book' you. The first production must then offer you the same 'booked' deal or give up there hold on you. So as you can guess getting a booked call is most of the time rather good.

Also, I must say that I find productions that use these terms more professional and generally a smoother show.