#47: Thank you! You're hired.
Tuesday 9/3/24
Every weekday at 11:45am I have the same routine. Check for auditions and submit for 15 minutes. Here’s what I do and why:
At 11:45am, the Actors’ Equity audition portal opens to get in the virtual pool to get a chance to sign up for an audition appointment (EPAs) for whatever auditions are happening 1 week later. On Monday you sign up for next Monday and so on. The bad part is that no matter when you “sign in” from 11:45-11:59, the portal puts you in a random order. If I end up under # 100, I’ll usually get a slot. Under 50? Guaranteed lol. Well, I should say under 50 means I would probably get to select my time slot too.
So every day I dutifully log into the AEA audition portal and wait. I keep that browser open and simultaneously go to Actors Access, and then to playbill.com - those are the 3 i check and I do that in this order intentionally. Also, I figure the employees probably start working around 10am so by 12pm a lot of auditions are posted. This prevents me from checking earlier.
AEA first because of how the logistics work. While I wait…
2. Actors Access - I choose this next instead of playbil.com because sometimes there is cross posting. Going to AA first means that there isnt an extra link or upload process. Most of the time I can submit directly on AA.
3. Playbill.com - then i go here to the jobs page. If I see a posting not yet on AA, I’ll submit whatever way they ask.
I do think that there is merit to the “early bird gets the worm” for auditions a bit. A lot of time you’ll see “submit early” so I try to do that when possible - especially on AA.
Let’s break them each down a bit:
Actors' Access is a pivotal platform for both union and non union auditions for theatre, tv, film, commercial, voice over, and even some AGVA auditions. You can submit directly to casting as your audition or to seek and audition and even callbacks can be done via the website or they can host a live virtual appointment. You can upload short video (for a cost) that stays on your profile that you can choose to send along with your submission. You can even film specific audition requests, upload the material via the “eco cast” with no cost. You can set search criteria as well.
Always check the breakdown (the audition posting) to make sure of the location of the job and the pay. Remember, just because something lists a union pay rate, if you (as nonunion) get that job, they don’t have to pay you that amount. There are free and paid options. I pay for the annual subscription (around $70) and that gets me unlimited submissions with or without video for the year. If I did the free account, it would cost me $2 a submission or $5 per video submission. 14 video submissions pays for itself and there are sometimes I submit to 14 a week.
Playbill.com is my weapon of choice for the free websites/platforms where actual casting notices are posted. You can also try broadwayworld or individual casting team sites. Playbill is one of the options but the one I’m most comfortable with. Union, non union - theatre, tv/film, etc. Access to playbill.com jobs site is free and there are all kinds of theatre adjacent opportunities so you’ll have to scroll a bit. Pro-tip: don’t use any of the search filters. You may miss something!
I’ve used backstage.com in the past but find it too expensive and since Actors Access is the most comprehensive and playbill is free, it seems like all auditions are covered. Also, theatres know that playbill is free to actors so it’s most appealing for them to choose to post there as opposed to backstage.
Have fun!
Dreams Don’t Die
Julie