7 Mind-Blowing Reasons You Will Not Find a Good Audition On Casting Websites
Casting Websites: Actors and actresses searching for the perfect audition are increasingly turning to casting websites as their go-to source. While the Internet can be a great resource for finding auditions. However, there are a few risks that come with relying on casting websites. Let’s explore seven mind-blowing reasons why you won’t necessarily find the best auditions online.
[Read also: Casting Websites: Which Ones To Pay For?]
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#1: False Promises of “High-Paying” Gigs on Casting Websites
When casting websites advertise their services, they use creative people to “spin” the truth: that most auditions that can be found online are not high-paying gigs. TikTok, for example, is full of actors advertising for Backstage and other platforms. But when the actors fall for the temptation to sing up for the casting websites, they realize that the TikTok ad was for nothing more than background work, low-quality gigs, or paid workshops.
It’s easy for an experienced, fast-talking content creator to tease actors into signing up for a casting website that will be costly and offer almost no return on investment. And content creators do that all the time because it is their own bread and butter. Most of them are not professional actors and do not know the casting websites personally.
[Read also: What To Do When You Don’t Get Paid]
#2: Fake Auditions & Scams on Casting Websites
Alongside social media content creators advertising for less than reputable casting websites, there are the dreaded “talent showcases” and “casting director workshops.”
When actors struggle to find auditions, desperation takes over. Actor Andrew Scott says it very well: “Actors can really cope fine with not getting a part. But I think that they struggle a lot with not getting an audition, not getting an opportunity.”
It is the desperation that moves actors to showcases and workshops that will do little to nothing to their careers. These typically paid events are disguised as auditions – sometimes even advertised as such. But they are nothing more than agents and casting directors’ side gigs: to take actors’ money in exchange for seeing them perform for a few minutes… and then forget all about them.
[Read also: 5 Important Lessons On Avoiding A Scam]
#3: Poor Quality of Submitted Material Through Casting Websites
When the actor decides to stick with one industry standard casting website (in the USA, that is Actors Access), they still struggle to hear back from auditions they submitted themselves for. Mostly, that happens due to the quality of the material attached to their actor package. An outdated or unprofessional headshot and the absence of good reel clips may mean that casting will ignore your submission altogether. Without a great eye-catching (and current) headshot and impressive clips, you will be looked over among the hundreds (sometimes thousands) of self-submissions casting will receive.
[Read also: 5 Lessons From Casting Directors Workshops]
#4: Overly Specific Casting Calls on Actors Access
One thing most actors do not know is that casting directors do not enjoy having too many submissions to look at. They would rather call a few agents they trust and request their favorite actors.
But when a specific look or skill is needed, agents may lack that type of actor in their roster. Casting Directors in charge of high-paying jobs use Actors Access as a last resort, as a general rule.
They will release a breakdown online for self-submission only when a role is hard to cast due to a special skill or specific look needed. That strategy opens them to seeing more actors than they would find from agents. But the roles are so specific that you will not see many of them – enough to self-submit frequently.
[Read also: 5 Reasons Why Talent Clips are Better Than Acting Reels]
#5: Competition on Casting Websites
When it comes to Actors Access, actors may find plenty of legitimate auditions there. Still, any breakdowns that are not super specific as we discussed in the previous bullet point, will be open to all the competitors you have on the platform.
Anyone in your age range and with your cast type will be able to self-submit for roles that are not very specific.
[Read also: 3 Secrets About How Agents Pitch Actors]
#6: Unreliability of Platforms
Casting websites are unreliable. While some of them offer low-quality auditions for a hefty subscription fee, Actors Access also fails to make an impactful difference in the quality and amount of auditions an actor may find there for self-submission. The truth is, without an agent linked to your Actors Access profile, who can submit you to the roles that are not open for self-submission, you have very little chance of being considered for a high-paying job.
[Read also: The Pitfalls of Exclusive Representation for Actors]
#7: Without an Agent (and a Pitch), Actors Don’t Have Access to the Best Paying Roles
The hard truth is that high-paying acting roles are rare, and access to auditions of that level require strong connections. Without an agent with strong industry relationships with casting directors, directors, and producers, an actor will not likely be considered for a role.
In addition, the agent must pitch actors for competitive roles. Many casting directors only release breakdowns (casting notices) to agents, and not for self-submission. For that reason, having a good agent is crucial to access real acting opportunities.
[Read also: #CastMe: The Boring Factor]
Conclusion
Casting websites and services can be a great resource for finding auditions, but relying on them entirely can make the process difficult. By understanding the seven mind-blowing reasons why you won’t necessarily find the best auditions online, you can make the audition process smoother and more enjoyable.
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