Casting director workshops are one-time meetings with either a casting director, a casting assistant, or casting associate in a class setting for educational purposes only. If a private institution offers a casting director workshop, the chances are they will charge a fee. However, if you are a member of SAG-AFTRA, you can take advantage of some free casting director workshops. The downside of SAG-AFTRA workshops is that they fill up fast and getting a spot among the few that are offered is very competitive. When a private institution hosts the workshop, fees will vary depending on the institution hosting them and who the casting person is.
When you first attend one of these workshops, you need to bring a prepared scene, an extra set of slides for your reader, a headshot, and resume for the casting director. The casting director will usually introduce themselves, describing how the casting process works, the projects they’re currently working on, and then open the floor to questions. After the Q and A, they set up the mock auditions. One by one, the actors “audition” for the casting person. The casting person may give the actor some redirection and also feedback on their headshot and resume. The actor will then perform their scene again, incorporating the redirection provided, and then leave.
Why attend a casting director workshop?
The main reason actors attend these workshops is to get face time with the casting person–In the hope that they will be remembered the next time they are looking for someone of their “type” for an audition. As a general rule, you can’t get work in film or television unless you audition. To do that, you have to be invited by a casting office. So, if a casting director knows you and likes your work, there is a good chance they will call you in. Does this method work? It can if done correctly. But, there are potential pitfalls.
So, should you attend a casting director workshop?
When I first moved to L.A. I started attending casting director workshops to get known by casting directors in town. I went to see a particular casting director who worked on a top-rated show. Shortly after that workshop, I flew to New York because I was planning on flying to Beijing on vacation from there. While in New York, my agent called me to tell me that I had been invited to audition for that very popular show. I was invited straight to a producer’s session the following day. I confirmed that I would be there. I figured I could fly to L.A. in the morning and fly back to New York after the audition and still make my flight to Beijing. They would let me know if I booked it by the end of the day. All this for a one-line co-star role!
The following day I took an early flight to L.A., landing around 9 a.m. I drove straight to the audition. Needless to say, I was nervous. Unfortunately, I wasn’ focusing on the right things, which added stress to the situation. Because I was called in directly to the producer’s session, I was highly motivated to make the casting director look good. After what seemed like a never-ending wait, I entered the audition room and sat in the chair provided. The casting assistant asked me if I was ready; I nodded, yes. She read the opening line, and on the third word of my response, I stumbled. We started over. I stumbled on the same word again. After a few more tries, I finally got through it. The associate said, “See, you could do it.” I felt an inch tall. The casting director who had called me in was looking down, furiously taking notes.
I got out of there as fast as I could! As soon as I got in my car, I was overcome with intensely self-critical thoughts. It took three years before I was invited back to that casting office to audition. The lesson here is, do not sign up for casting director workshops unless you have adequate training and some auditions under your belt. I recommend taking not just scene study classes but also audition technique classes. Then go out and audition for student films and independent films (both short and feature-length). This will give you get real-world experience, and you may even leverage some work out of it. Then you can start collecting footage to build a demo reel.
For those who have adequate training, attending a casting director workshop can be a beneficial investment. It may help your agent get you more auditions. However, be selective of those you commit to because it can get costly.
The Game Plan
Once you have the necessary training and some experience, make a list of the shows that cast people of your type and shows that always need fresh faces, for example, “Law and Order,” all the NCIS’s, “Grey’s Anatomy,” etc.” Once you have your list, go on imdb.com and look up who the casting staff is on each show you’ve listed. There are casting directors that don’t do workshops, but are instead provided by their associates and assistants. After you have that information, do an online search of casting director workshops. I usually would recommend doing a search of workshops near you. But, since classes have moved online, you can attend from anywhere in the world as long as you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection. Once you have found a school or company offering workshops that interest you, check out their calendar and see which casting directors are scheduled. If you find one that is on your list, sign up. Treat this as if it were a job interview because it is. Read and follow all directions. On the day of the workshop, be as prepared as possible. Meaning–be off book and consider getting some coaching beforehand
This field is highly competitive. To learn more about that, read my earlier blog post, “First steps to becoming an actor in film and television. “ You want to stand out in a good way. This requires a game plan, not a one-shot effort. For example, ask the casting person how they like to be contacted so that you can send them any updates on your career. After the workshop, send them a thank you note. Casting directors see many people, so if you only have had one contact with them, the chances are they will forget you. After three months, you can send them a postcard with your headshot printed on it along with a quick update on what’s going on with you. At the six-month mark, you should consider attending another of their workshops.
The day following day the workshop, call or email your agent and tell them which casting director you met with and essential details of your interaction with them. This way, your agent can call them to pitch you with some “ammunition” to help the casting director remember you.
Repeat this process with the other casting directors on your list until they start inviting you to audition. Also, take note of how you felt at each workshop and make any adjustments necessary to improve your odds of success.
I love hearing from you! Please send me any questions or comments you may have. Also, let me know how the strategy I’ve described works for you.