Attract Agents by Knowing Casting Directors
You know the old saying “It’s who you know” that will help you get ahead in this biz. Well that’s half true.
My take on it is “it’s who knows you”.
For every agent meeting you take, you’ll be asked “how many casting directors know your work?” Before you interview, my recommendation is that you have at least a list of 5 or don’t go! And when you have a rep, your talent agent and/or manager will want you to continue to grow your list on your own in addition to the auditions they send you on.
So how do you create a network of influential people that know you, like your acting work and are in your court?
Here are 5 ways to do just that:
- Mail or email your headshot, resume and online profile links to the 10 top casting directors in your area of focus every quarter, without fail, letting them know that you’re available and what else is going on in your career i.e. a new class, skill acquired, call back or booking.
- Identify which CD’s you’d like to show your talent to in person and book a meeting with them at a casting director workshop establishment like Actors Connection. If you’re either in LA or New York, check out for local networking places to meet industry professionals in person.
- Attend a networking party, brunch, assistants night, screening or other event where casting directors and other industry will be in attendance. Introduce yourself as an actor and be interested in them and what they do before you offer your business card or ask to send them your casting profiles.
- Volunteer at or attend a charity event frequented by the entertainment community. Animal rescue and health awareness causes always draw actors, agents and casting directors alike. Do your research on your top picks to see what they stand for and if you get behind the same cause, you have commonality.
- Follow or friend them on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media. Today casting directors use the web to offer advice, post auditions and give feedback on many things hoping to help the actors they will meet someday in an audition room.
It’s time you understood that with a HUGE network of people that have you on their radar, the chances of having the breakthrough, kick-butt, acting career of your dreams are dramatically increased. There are many people in the showbiz world who are ready and waiting for you to get connected and stay connected. You never know which one of them will be key in your forward movement.
What are your favorite ways to make contact with casting directors, agents and other industry? If you have resources to share, please post away in the comments section below with your location and why you recommend what you recommend. Thanks!
I definitely needed an article like this. Thanks Lisa!
Great Logan. Even though you have a great agent already repping you, you still have some marketing and networking that you can do that will help the team! Go, go, go!
This is great, Lisa!
Marilyn
Awesome article as usual! Great practical advice 🙂
Hey Lisa!
I recently read your article on how to attract agents using CDs as bait; I loved it. My next step is really trying to expand my network and connect with CDs. I especially loved the tip about volunteering at charities. To be honest, I was thinking about doing volunteer work before I even read your article, and since reading it I thought, “that’s a good point, why not volunteer at places where contacts and connections can be made?” That’s awesome!
I wanted to ask you if you know of any charities off the top of your head that would be where the industry are themselves more likely to be at?
Thanks for your time! Your articles are great.
Hey Logan, thanks for asking! While there’s no “one size fits all” charity to recommend, I find that a lot of creatives in this business have a special bond with animals. There are many agents and cds I personally know who are huge animal lovers and spend money, time and energy volunteering or donating money and even lend out their own particular talents to the cause. In fact, this past weekend I came home with 4 kittens only 3 weeks old and am fostering them, bottle feeding every 4 hours. My personal favorite is Best Friends Animal Society which is a national organization dedicated to creating “no kill” shelters in communities and doing really well in LA currently. Almost there!
If you have a defined target list of particular people you’d like to meet, do your research on them personally on Google or on social media. Many people have had relatives affected by disease and support those types of charities too. Don’t do this charitable work to simply meet them, but make sure it’s also a cause you can personally get behind yourself. You’re always looking for “alignment” in meeting every person in your career and life!
Hope that helps and keep me up to date on how it all works out…no matter what, you’ll be making a difference with someone, somewhere…that’s GREAT!
Hi Lisa,
I am new to the industry and live in NY. As someone over 50, can you suggest how to find casting agents for that demographic?
Thanks for your time🌻
Hi Karen, happy holidays! As a woman over 50 myself, but also having been in the business for 40+ years and passing though many decades of acting opportunities, I’ll just let you know that there is a WORLD of work for you out there. If just starting out, your best bet is to cultivate relationships with casting directors who work in commercials. Our demographic has the most buying power and want to see themselves reflected on screen guiding us to make the right decisions when it comes to what we buy.
For legit work, I would recommend targeting the kind of tv shows that appeal to an older audience. Procedural dramas like L&O:SVU, hour-long programs like the new Matlock and other vehicles where the series regular cast skews older. Learn who casts those shows and reach out to them in writing or take a few online casting director workshops at reputable companies like Actors Connection.
For movies this takes a bit more research on the production companies and the genres they tend to produce within. Lastly, EVERY show out there, unless it’s specifically targeted at children or young adults, needs everyone on the age spectrum to round out their story. In NY you have a myriad of opportunities. I look forward to hearing how taking ACTion works out for you!