I also take into consideration how reliable the person seems.  Due to the time commitment, I wouldn’t want to risk casting someone who isn’t reliable. This is a fast paced business and if you want it, you need to make the big commitments or you might not be cut out for it!

Just a little tough love for you today since I see this happen so often and there’s nothing more disappointing to a casting director than spinning your wheels to make an opportunity happen for people that don’t have the passion for it.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Patience and understanding is a big part of this industry

Remember, part of being successful in this industry is honing in on your ability to acclimate yourself to all types of people and situations: Not everyone you work with will be at your level. It is important to stay focused and help out your acting partner rather than feeling “above” your comrade. If you are not in classes with children, rehearse with relatives or friends’ kids to prepare yourself for working with young actors. The more experience and understanding you have with this, the better you will look when you’re cast in this type of situation!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

It’s not too late to get yourself noticed on TV, news or Internet in the most amazing Halloween Costume

You should try to attend different events thrown by radio stations and or local TV stations. Maybe you will get interviewed and you can add these little events to your reel and or resume. Attending events like these are fun and exciting; they also mold you and teach you how to get your foot into the door. Remember to always act professional even though your outfit may be “out there!” Just remember to start your night early and plan ahead…the more creative the better chance you will get to get noticed!

Happy Halloween!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

A good friend in the same industry can help you see the light during the struggles that come with just starting out.  It’s always nice to have a go to person that can probably relate to what you are going through…they may even end up inspiring you.  So instead of looking at others in your industry as a threat, team up and make the most out of the relationship.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Say you aren’t working– you might wake up everyday at noon and go to the gym, cook meals, run errands, meet up with friends. Then all of a sudden, you have a new gig that involves 12 hour days and a bad commute.

This will put a damper on your eating habits with only crew meals available, your workout habits since you can get so burned out from work and your relationships with your friends.

Of course, those are two extreme scenarios. But the point is to emphasize the importance of budgeting your time. I like to use calendars on my walls at work and in my house. Planning ahead and writing it down and sticking to the commitment can help you squeeze everything in.

Blackberry schedules and other phone devices could be good for this too. I like to have a visual reminder everyday of what is going on and what is coming up in my life.

With a chaotic, ever changing schedule- I create the old reliable “to do” lists to make sure my errands and workouts get done. There’s nothing that feels better than checking off all of those things and knowing you have met your goals for the day. But be creative and find a way that works for you to keep your life as balanced as possible.

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

However, in this business, you may not always have the comfort of being in your hometown. But there are also amazing opportunities where you go on location!

And I know it sounds great, but I can tell you from personal experience that a long term adjustment is not always easy.

You have to keep in mind that location is NOT vacation! You are working. And a hotel room becomes a hard replacement for your cozy bedroom. As fun as it may be to travel, you may find yourself missing home pretty quickly.

But I have a solution for this! We always tell you to network locally – which is great – but take advantage of any location, whether it’s for business or pleasure and keep the networking going.

Treat the new location like you are a local. Look up events and groups and get involved why you can. You never know what it may lead to, and at the very least you’ll meet new people, make new friends, and hopefully make some valuable connections too!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Just last week I wrote Melissa Perez’ resume and cover letter and resume. She was so impressed with our services that she’s now getting headshots through InstantCast. Click here to get your resume made right now.

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Have a little screening party for them and make them feel special! It is very probable that you missed something because you’re so immersed in it. So your friends’ eyes will also let you know if your reel and/or video is eye-catching !Your friends will hopefully catch any minor mistakes that you may have made too. They will also give you a true first-hand reaction, which you wont see from a casting director because you’re not there when they’re watching your reels, reading your resumes, and viewing your headshots. Use this opportunity as almost a “dress rehearsal” before the real deal.

Good luck and dont be scare to hear what they think…remember they are your friends because they love and care about you and want to you be successful!

If you feel it is an immediate casting, shoot an email to whoever auditioned you right when you get home, but be sure to keep it short and sweet. People don’t like to read long emails…especially in this fast-paced industry, so be sure to keep it to 3-5 sentences.If you want to make a bigger impression and take the time to hand write a card and mail it, make sure you do that right away as well. If you wait too long, the position may be filled and the cards purpose wouldn’t be as relevant. Aim to get your thank you note in the person’s mailbox as soon as possible after your meeting with them. And just like your resume, make sure everything is written correctly!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Ever heard the expression ‘if you scratch my back I will scratch yours’?

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

I remember going to the parade a few times when I lived in NYC and there was always a group of 20 something people doing a choreographed thriller routine.  It received a lot of press and I am sure was a fun thing to be involved in.  Also, the more unique your act or costume is, the more attention you will get!  We even brought some people onto TRL just because of their outrageous costumes!

The Thanksgiving parade is also a good event to get involved in.  I cast two people for MTV who ended up seeing on floats for the parade!  One of them was a little girl who managed to get cast for the Sesame Street float.  The other was actually a band that I cast for an MTV Rock Band contest and they had their float too!  I saw this all on TV and was so impressed that they were able to get this exposure. 

Now is the time to get involved!  Do your research on these parades and see what opportunities may fit for you.  It could even be fun to volunteer and expand your network of contacts.  And if you aren’t in NYC, check out your local events.  You don’t need to be in a big city to get exposure!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Be courageous when it comes to your career and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

But while sending cold emails is perfectly fine, popping in and or dropping by offices is not recommended. The person should know you are coming to see them. It will seem rude and uncalled for if you just drop by.

You should email a couple of days before you meet with the casting director to confirm his/her schedule, suggest options, and set up an appointment instead of stopping by.

Calling a person is OK if they don’t respond to you via email. Don’t be afraid to take the next step to get noticed and to get your point across. If you act serious about your career you will be treated that way. After you’ve met with someone it’s always a good idea to send a thank note or “thank you gift” in return.

Follow these tips and you’re sure to come out on top in your career…and in your life too! Break a leg!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

Teach your skills! Get involved in acting schools or special acting programs for children and help prepare your students for this fun yet challenging industry.

If you can get a paying gig it can be some extra money for you on the side too.

Volunteering can be just as fun and rewarding. You can even start up your own acting sessions. Think of the opportunities you wished you had  had as a kid… and make it happen for other kids around you. This will help challenge your creativity and express your skill in a new way.

I’ve taught acting for three years and it has given me an outlet to write my own scripts, teach children, and direct showcases. These are all things I do not get to do on my day-to-day job as a casting director. And because it is my class, I can teach it however I want and really see the improvement in the young actors that I have trained as they continue to take more classes.

So if you find time is passing you by and there’s not a lot of work out there, make a difference in another actor’s life and you will see the benefit of it in your own life.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Resumes are so important, whether you are trying to get a job or trying to get cast in a production.

Who really cares if you’ve only done local plays and the person next to you had some roles on Broadway

Your resume will help you get seen so as long as it is truthful and represents you accurately. Click here to get a custom-made resume on InstantCast today!

Don’t be afraid to note all of your acting experiences to fill up one page.  I would rather see a bunch of productions listed than just a few.

Resumes show how involved you are in your career and the more you can put on it, the more passionate and experienced you will come across. It is also a great idea to have several people read your resume before you start sending it out.  I have had several mentors read and edit mine and I have done the same for my friends.  It is always better to have a second pair of eyes on it and be cool with taking their suggestions and make some changes. InstantCast will help you do this with its resume service. Just click here to learn more!

The last thing you want on your resume is a spelling error or a huge error that gives you a bad impression.  If you don’t know how to write a resume, let InstantCast help you with its exclusive resume and cover letter service. When you take your  resume seriously it tells casting directors like me that you’re serious about your career.  You don’t want a piece of paper to blow your shot at an audition!

Click here to get your resume made today!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Social networking is an amazing tool, but you must be careful with what you put out there.

DO: Be friends with your favorite actors, celebrities, contacts, and future employers. This includes Production Companies and Movie Studios etc. or anyone you want to be connected with on face book and follow them on Twitter. This way you’ll get all the inside info on appearances, hosting specials, casting calls, giveaways and news updates.

You’ll have first-hand info in your hands… especially if you get your updates on your mobile! It’s all worth it–use the technology at hand! You will have more to talk about in your auditions and future casting you are on and going out for!  Also, be sure to join groups that you’re interested it, whether it’s acting/modeling etc.

DON’T: Be sure not to be friends with people whom  you’re not that close with…you don’t want a stranger to have your personal info. Over-sharing will not be productive for your career!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

The next time you’re asked the most common question at auditions – Tell me a little about yourself – you’ll have a sentence or two prepared in advance.

When constructing your pitch, make sure you draw from the following categories: Your background, your education, your achievements, your hobbies, clubs/sports.

For example, I could say I am from New Jersey. I grew up in a very small town on the border of Pennsylvania. I studied journalism and sociology at Rutgers, where I made dean’s list every semester and was offered an internship at MTV. I enjoy traveling and going to concerts.  I love working out and I have national certifications in Group Exercise, Spin, and Zumba.

So let’s me help you by setting it up for you and you fill in the blanks:

I am from ____ and have done_______ and been cast for_____.  I was at ____ agency in ____ and I took ______ acting classes. This past year I was at _____ and won the top judges prize for _______.

Get the idea? Remember, it needs to be 30 seconds or less. This is a useful tool for all areas of life (like when you’re on any interview).

It’s good to have a succinct statement that encompasses who you are, what you do, why what you do is important, and what help you need from ____ to take it to the next level.

Give it a try! Good luck!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

PS – You could WIN a one-on-one interview with me! It takes 30 seconds to enter – click here to win!

When I hold open calls for actors and models, I can spot the leaders quickly. They’re the ones who start conversations with others before the casting begins.

They are the most willing to help others who come in late or have questions about their application forms. The leaders have an air of confidence that makes you excited to meet them and see what they will be bringing to the table the audition.

I also love casting people who are leaders because you know they are less likely to be difficult to work with. And they are more likely to be thrown in any situation and you. It is always more important to make yourself known as a leader rather than a follower.

If you have confidence in yourself and know how to work with others, casting directors will have confidence in you too!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

PS – You could WIN a one-on-one interview with me! It takes 30 seconds to enter – click here to win!

You’ll need to network so that you can find people who are going to help you on your path to stardom.

You simply can’t do it all alone. Here are some ways to find new contacts:

1.  Do internet research. Google searching talent agencies, casting directors, and films/TV/commercials that are shooting to see if you can sign up for their email blasts or future castings or open calls too. You can be a free agent you don’t necessarily have to sign with then do you research and see which is the best fit for you.

2. Make phone calls. It’s okay to make cold calls to get your name and number on people’s radar. Be polite and delightful on the phone and you will leave a huge impression on whomever your talk to or leave a message for. If you hit the phones hard one day your name will stick and your cold calling will turn into Hot calling in no time.

3. Volunteer at community events. Work at farmers markets or food events and attend networking events. Even joining sport leagues and social meet up groups are essential.

In order to do this you have to do your research and search for these events before you actually get to your new location and you will be a shoe- in your town for sure!

By Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

PS – You could get a personal casting consultation with me today! Click here to learn more.

This Denver event will involve a runway show with models with developmental disabilities who will be escorted by professional models and athletes.  Music icon Quincy Jones is the 2009 Honoree and Josh Kelley will be performing at the event. It is great to find a cause that you’re passionate about and get involved.  Volunteering for a non-profit has been a great outlet for me to step away from my busy life as a Casting Director and focus more on how I can help improve the lives of others.  Non-profits need volunteers in many capacities and you may even find that your talents may be needed for fundraisers similar to the one I am working on.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione