If you meet a new contact, you should be the first one to say hello via email and remind them who you are. Take the first step, but not in a pushy way! When asking for jobs or openings at companies don’t just recite your resume: Be cordial and respectful. You can casually throw in what you do and who you’ve worked for in the past. Be sure to include these new people in your email updates and letters. When you’re thoughtful and appreciative you will stick out and stay on top!

 By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

Usually if you’re an actor or aspiring talent you’re working freelance. It’s important as a freelancer to stand your ground. Often employees try to lower your rate and cut corners with you.  This has happened at least once to everyone I know in this business.  For example, when a company expects you to travel somewhere but wants to hire you are a “local.” This can be translated into “we don’t want to pay for your mileage, hotel or food.”  You shouldn’t turn down the job, however, because if you don’t pay your own expenses, the company will find someone else to perform the gig.  

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It’s no lie that there’s A LOT of competition in this business!  But whatever route you take in this business…be sure to do it with intention. If you end up being one of the fortunate people to get national exposure or even local exposure…make the most out of your time in the limelight. When I was casting for MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 we found a lot of kids who were doing just that.  Take Teyana Taylor for example.  She was already in works with Pharell to develop her career as an up and coming hip hop artist. She applied for Sweet 16 before anyone really knew who she was.  She had the personality fit for the show and also some unique ideas that made her episode one of the highest rated on the network! Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re stuck at home this winter…snowed in…or just lazing about your house…make the most of your down time. Do you ever wonder what directors really want from you on your next audition? Well…look no further than your TV screen! Take a look at your favorite films and actors as at-home training. Watch deleted scenes and features on your DVD’s. You can learn from bloopers, improv scenes, and actor interviews. I’ve even seen behind the scenes wrap parties on DVD’s… so you can see the cast being natural! So sit back, relax, and go to an acting class in your own living room!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

1. Be on time: Being “on time” for an audition actually means be 10-15 minutes early.  It is better to be settled in and ready when your name is called than to be walking in the door and making everyone wait.
2. Have a Headshot: Even if the Casting Director tells you that you don’t need a head shot, bring it anyway.  They see so many people and head shots can get lost easily.  It’s always good to have one as a back-up so no one ever forgets your face! Read the rest of this entry »

While you are waiting for that perfect part it’s important to be productive with your free time. Your day job should be fun and flexible. I recommend going out there and getting a day job that you enjoy: have fun with your second passion in life … whether it’s sports, working in a restaurant, or teaching children. Go out there and get the day job, but make sure your schedule is flexible to accommodate last minute job interviews and auditions. You should give it your all at your current job and get the most out of the experience. Remember, having a pay check…pays! Sticking it out with your day job will impress casting directors: it shows that you have the stamina and dedication it takes to make it!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

Being punctual is an essential part of this business. Be it an email, an appointment, or an open call, you should always be on time. It sounds simple, but I find that tardiness is the #1 problem for many aspiring actors and models. Since you’re always “on the go” in this industry, you should consider investing in a Blackberry or similar mobile device that allows for email access. For appointments, enable the alarm on your cell phone. As a rule for open calls and interviews, you should always arrive about 15-20 minutes earlier than your scheduled time.   Read the rest of this entry »

When the Groundhog showed his shadow on Tuesday no one was thrilled at the prospect of six  more weeks of winter! Cold, gloomy winter weather can have a big impact on your attitude and general well-being. Don’t let the winter chill make you lose motivation or get lethargic:  Here are my top three tips to help you combat the winter blues and stay on top of your casting schedule this February: Read the rest of this entry »

People (including myself!) initially get attracted to the entertainment industry because it seems so glamorous. I remember when I was in college and trying to do everything I could to get in the door at MTV. I was having mentors review my resume, networking as much as possible, and constantly on the internet researching different contacts to reach out to: The hard work paid off and I landed my first internship at the MTV Studios! However, it was in the video library. No celebrity sightings, no opportunities to be on set, and I was lucky if I even got to be on the phone with a producer. Read the rest of this entry »

Patience and understanding is a big part of this industry that is often overlooked.  As a Casting Director, I run into this because I’ve seen teenagers and adults become impatient working with children during classes and on set.  I’ve taught acting classes where the kids range from ages 3-18.  In some cases, we do not break up age groups and the younger kids read lines with the older kids.  I often hear complaints from the teenagers about the behavior of the younger kids in class.

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

1. Update your InstantCast profile. Add new photos, upload new videos, and edit your profile information. We want to know what you’re up to!
2. Stand out from the competition with professional headshots from photographers we recommend.
3. Find support within the InstantCast community. Get advice from casting director Jenny and Courtney by clicking here and book a time to speak to them on the phone.
4. Let me to help you make a sleek, professional resume and cover letter readily available to email to casting directors and agencies nationwide. Click here to get going now.
5. Stay active on InstantCast. The more things you do, the more exposure you get, the more casting directors will see your name and notice you!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor