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The Actor's Encyclopedia of Casting... The Back Stage Guide to Casting Directors

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The first and often most important point to bear in mind when meeting a casting director is timekeeping. As most Casting Directors will be meeting a number of actors for a certain role and therefore will be working to a schedule on the day of casting, allow yourself plenty of time to get to the casting so you get there on time for the meeting. Prepare your lines if you have the script beforehand; if not get to the casting in plenty of time to read them first - this way you will come across as professional and serious as well as giving yourself the best possible chance for the part. ^TOP^

The Casting Directors' job is to find an actor who is not only talented and looks right but also professional and pleasant to work with. If you are constantly late for casting sessions or rude to Casting Directors or their assistants, this may eventually count against you and they will stop calling you in.

If you have to wait at an audition as it is overrunning, do not immediately blame the Casting Director. Other actors may be running late (therefore as you have arrived on time you will be in their good books !!) but also the Casting Director is having to keep the director and producer happy and may be needing to extend the audition time to give them more chance to work with another actor. ^TOP^

Casting Directors will have met a lot of actors over the years and will not be fooled by sycophantic and 'gushy' behaviour - be honest and polite to them and they will appreciate it more than you trying to be their 'friend'.

If a Casting Director does not cast you in a particular role, it doesn't mean that they will not call you in another time for a different project or even a different role within the same production.

The Casting Director will be looking for someone who fits the role they are casting for, therefore go into an audition looking like that role. Remember to wear clothes / colours that suit you and also suit the character you are reading for - that way you are selling yourself as well as looking right for the part. ^TOP^

Remember that most Casting Directors will have met a lot of actors and actresses in this business so may already have worked out a list of possibles for a series. Many agents will have been submitting clients to them and often a casting director will pre-meet actors who are unknown to them before the official casting process begins. However a Casting Director will not appreciate you turning up on their doorstep (even under the pretence of dropping off a photograph and CV/Resume) in the hope of gaining a pre-meet.^TOP^

Casting Directors' time is precious so they will not appreciate dozens of actors calling them personally to ask for the chance to meet them for a certain role. If you hear of a part that you think is perfect for you either write to the casting director enclosing a photograph and CV or preferably ask your Agent to approach them on your behalf. ^TOP^

When you have been cast in a particular role, it is often a good idea to thank the Casting Director.

Many Casting Directors specialise in particular areas. For instance you may meet with a casting director for a number of television projects though rarely for a film; or another Casting Director for West End Musicals; or another who specializes in commercials. Few Casting Directors will cast for all these areas.^TOP^

However, some Casting Directors cast commercials as a way of running their business whilst waiting for a prime Television or Film project to come up (in the same way that actors work in commercials in order to afford to do less well paid work). Meeting Casting Directors this way also gives the actor the opportunity to get to know the Casting Director who may keep them in their mind when a television / film project arises. ^TOP^

Don't judge how you have done in an interview by the length of time you spend there, or the length of time you wait for an answer - there are often many people involved in decision making processes. Even if you are 2nd or 3rd choice for a job this is still a positive sign and means you are that much closer to hitting something at some point. ^TOP^

Books about Casting