File this post under 'Good Problems that can Make you Crazy.' (You have a folder for that, right?) You've auditioned for something, maybe had a callback, and then you get a call from your representation (or directly from casting, if you're unrepresented) saying something like 'you're on avail' (common for commercials) or 'you're pinned' (common for tv/film.) Hooray! Now what does that mean, exactly?
'Pin' is a reference to pinning your headshot to a cork board (or whatever,) and 'avail' is shorthand for 'keep yourself available.' Practically speaking, they both mean the production is making sure you're still available for the dates of the shoot, and asking to be notified if that availability changes - because you're at least one of the people being considered for the role. You're on the short list. Fantastic! But why don't they just book you already?!
There are a few possibilities… It may be that you're who they want, but the schedule is still being decided or they need approval from someone else before making it official; or they're keeping you as a backup choice in case their first choice falls through; or they've narrowed it down to a few people and are buying time so they can decide; or they're putting EVERYONE on avail just to be safe… Or it could be something else entirely. The thing is, you usually don't get to know which it is, all you get to know is whether you book it or not. (And while they're supposed to give you the courtesy of a yes or no - either you're booked or you're 'released' - they often don't.)
All of this means a pin or avail can make you crazy, like you're standing at the edge of a cliff and you're either going to fall into a big, fluffy cloud of happiness or a big ugly rock of disappointment. You're tempted to cancel your plans, turn down that other audition, tell work you won't be there… But what if you do all that and then don't book the job? (Early in my career, I canceled a trip to NY because of a pin and then didn't book it. Ouch.) So how do working actors handle pins and avails? Is there a way to do it so your sanity stays intact?
Absolutely. Some actors simply tell their reps not to tell them about pins and avails. (I'm not crazy about that approach, because you're missing out on information that's important to your professional relationships.) I prefer to think of a pin/avail as a 'gold star.' You know, like you got in third grade when you did a really good job on a test. (You can also think of it as a thumbs up, a blue ribbon, or an automatic callback you didn't have to drive to.) It means you're in the running, the decision-makers think you could do the job. Whether or not you will do the job depends on a bunch of things you can't control, so they're not worth worrying about. What matters about a pin or avail is that you now know the casting director, director, and/or producers see you as bookable - and that will pay off sooner or later.
And that's all it means. Those relationships have taken a step forward because you did good work. Don't clear your schedule, sound the alarms, or brag to your parents. The time to do those things is when and if you book it.
It takes practice to step away from the cliff and choose the 'gold star' perspective, so don't feel bad if it takes a few tries to master. And remember, practicing now will pay off down the line when instead of a two-line co-star, you're one of two actors being considered for a series regular or lead in your favorite director's next feature. Talk about a cliff. (Maybe you need that 'Good Problems that can Make you Crazy' folder after all…)