Hey their actors and industry hopefuls.

Welcome back to casting actor's cast.

The podcast that lifts you up, gives

you the inside scoop, and today might just

save you from yourself.

I'm Jeffrey Driesbach, casting partner

with mccorkle casting in New York.

Your hosts, and today's episode is all

about

doing too much.

Yes, my friends, we need to talk about

the worst ways to connect with industry

folks, or, as I like to call it, how to

make a casting director pretend they

don't see you at the coffee shop.

I know that actors are excited to

network.

I get it.

If you want to make connections get

notice and build relationships that

lead to work.

Sometimes that enthusiasm can turn into

desperation.

And desperation can make industry prose

do that awkward,

slow, back away motion.

So today I'm breaking down some of the

absolute worst ways to connect with

casting directors, agents and managers,

and of course,

how to do it the right way.

Buckle up.

This is casting actor's caste.

Well, hello, and welcome to today's

episode of casting actress Cass.

I am casting partner Geoffrey driesbach

with the mcorker group in New York.

As I said in my introduction, I keep on

repeating myself.

Welcome to the episode.

Hey, listen.

If you haven't done so already, please

check out the website, casting actress

cast all on word dot com.

There you're going to find all kinds of

information.

And my new book is out called booked

it, the actors play book for getting

cast.

You're going to find that available at

Amazon.

But the link is on the website.

Also this event that I am so truly

excited about, which is being sponsored

by the Broadway podcast network and

actor's connection, they're going to be

recording a live broadcast of casting

after Sc, my podcast.

And you are welcome to be part of the

studio audience.

It's taking place on Saturday may third

it's at six p m it's at pearl studios

in New York City.

And you have to make a reservation.

The seating is limited.

I know that many, many seats have gone.

I'm honestly not quite sure if there

are a lot left.

But I would love for you to be there.

It would be such an honor, and it would

be so much fun to get to meet you.

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00:02:52,505 --> 00:02:56,9

You need to go to the website to make

an rsvp

at actor's connection.

So go to actors connection,

dot com, slash

seminars it's the New York actor's

connectiondot com.

Slash seminars.

Then you will go down, because all of

those seminars are listed.

So you want to go to the one that is

closest to and matches the date may

third, 2025,

and you'll see live event.

I would love to have you there.

That's how you make the reservation.

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00:03:24,37 --> 00:03:28,8

Once you're in the reservation,

specific details about location will be

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00:03:28,8 --> 00:03:28,908

given to you as well.

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00:03:29,75 --> 00:03:29,709

But guess what?

There's going to be some merch there's

going to,

perhaps there's going to be a few free

classes given to some lucky folks who

show up to the broadcast.

But most importantly, it'll be fun for

me to be able to do a live broadcast in

front of a studio audience,

among friends.

And I think you'll find it useful.

We're also going to do a q and a.

So there's all kinds of fun stuff to

look forward to.

Again, you can tell I'm more excited

than anyone should be allowed to be

excited, and that's me.

So I look forward to that.

So thank you for joining us on this

episode.

Let's talk a little bit about

ways in which

actors sometimes try but fail in terms

of networking.

So I have five specific categories that

I wanted to share with you today about

things that I've actually personally

experienced.

And then I'm also going to give you

some tips and some hints and some suggestions

on how to do it the right way.

So this is what I call category one,

the unsolicited

email attack.

All right, let's just start with the

classic.

This is the classic that I've received

many, many times.

I haven't bothered to gown.

We call it the unhinged email.

Subject line.

Please read

all caps.

Important.

All caps need rep.

Exclamation point.

Exclamation point.

Exclamation point.

All caps

who

slow down.

unsolicited emails can be a great way

to introduce yourself.

But you know what there's a right way

and a chaotic way to do it.

Here's what not to do,

sending a novel length email date,

detailing your childhood love for theater,

your high school production of Greece

and your cat's opinion of your

monologues.

You gotta keep it professional,

and you have to keep it to the point.

Here's another one

attaching every head shot you've ever

taken.

Why is there a photo of you in a

birthday party

following up five times in one week,

just because

maybe it went to Spam.

Guess what?

It didn't?

So here's a better approach.

My suggestion is to send a short,

professional email that includes

a friendly greeting, without grovelling,

a brief introduction, who you are and

what you're looking for,

a link to your materials,

your headshot, a link to your resume, a

link to a reel.

But guess what?

Not, a Google drive folder with 37

random files.

Then you want to include a polite

closing and a one time follow up if you

didn't hear back.

That's it

again?

If that email hasn't been responded to

move on.

It's really important that it not

becomes something that can be perceived

as a stocking event.

I understand that when a casting

director, when I get an email, and I

know most gassic directors probably

feel the same way,

that any time I get an email from an

actor, I know the implied assumption is

that you are looking for opportunities.

Guess what?

I get?

That there's nothing wrong with that.

That's just what we assume.

So then why are you writing?

Is there additional

that you believe would be useful?

That would be

a nice way of making contact in a

professional manner

all right, let's move on to category

number two, what I call the mysterious

phone call.

Now I want you to imagine this.

An agent is in the middle of

negotiating a contract.

Their phone rings, and they pick up to

hear,

I'm an actor,

and I was wondering if you're

taking new clients,

click

actors.

Cold calling

without context

is a crime against networking.

If you're calling someone who doesn't

know you, you'd better have a solid

reason for the call.

And

I exist

is not a reason.

Here's a better approach.

If you must call it, just make sure

that they allow for phone inquiries.

Many agents and managers, they don't

allow phone calls.

And you'll find that very, very clearly

on their website

or on whatever

websites

listing of agents and managers are.

You'll see that don't call, you know

what?

Don't call.

Second, I want you to have a clear,

concise reason for the call.

If you must call,

I'd also suggest you email first and

only call if invited to do so,

to me, that's professional.

That makes the most sense.

Moving on from their category number

three, the one meeting expectation

trap.

That's what I call it here's a classic

mistake.

You meet a casting director at a

workshop

or a single class.

Or you have a two minute conversation

with an agent at an event.

The next day, you decide to send them a

message like, hey,

so great meeting.

You I'd love to work with you.

Can you get me auditions or can we meet

for some coffee?

what?

Actors?

One meeting

is not a career contract.

Just because someone was nice to you

doesn't mean that you now have vip

industry access to that person.

I'm not trying to be mean.

I'm trying to be realistic to the

expectations

that many actors have that just don't

seem reasonable

to any

normal person.

It just feels like

this.

Aggressive.

Have to make contact energy.

It is really a turn off.

Professionally, here's a better

approach.

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00:10:01,935 --> 00:10:03,3

It is nice to meet you.

I hope we have a chance to work

together sometime.

That's it.

That would be fine.

In fact, that's a nice thing.

Don't immediately ask for something.

That's the most important thing.

You need to build relationships before

making any kind of requests like that.

Keep yourself

friendly and professional.

That's the only filter you need to know

about.

I suggest that you stay on their radar

by sending updates about your work.

Not just asking them for favors,

don't make contact unless there is a

specific reason to do so.

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00:10:41,74 --> 00:10:41,508

Like,

I just got cast in something.

I'm in a show case that I would love

for you to see.

I just booked a commercial or a class,

or

I just got some new pictures.

What do you think that's ok?

That's not the best, but it's ok.

This makes end.

So far,

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00:11:04,97 --> 00:11:04,764

I hope it does.

Here's category number four,

what I call the pushy.

Notice me tactic.

The pushy notice me tactic is, this is

the truth.

I once had an actor send me a singing

telegram to pitch themselves for a roll.

Ah, a singing telegram

at my office.

Creativity.

A ten out of ten

prospect professionalism.

Zero out of ten.

Other pushy tactics include showing up

unannounced in an office.

Oh, I just happen to be in the

neighborhood,

sliding into dm's with, hey, cast me in

something, exclamation point

commenting on every social media post

with,

check your inbox.

Here's a better approach.

First,

respect people's time and space.

Use official channels for submissions.

If networking in person, be natural and

genuine,

not forceful.

You've all heard that story, I think,

because I've done it on several

podcasts of the actor who auditioned

for a film project we were working on.

They were first in the morning, and

then at one o'clock in the afternoon, I

get a knock on my door, and in comes a

pizza delivery guy with a pizza.

I looked at the producer.

The brooder said, I didn't order that.

I said, I didn't order that.

I opened up the box, and on the inside

lid of the pizza box is the ten a.

M appointment's head shot, again,

with a note,

I was at ten a.

M don't forget about me,

really?

Are I moving out from there?

Category five,

not understanding how industry folks

work.

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00:12:56,9 --> 00:12:56,576

You know what?

Actors?

I love you,

but some of you think casting

directors, agents and managers are magicians.

Casting directors don't hire you.

They present talent to directors and

producers.

Agents don't create work for you.

They find and submit you for existing

opportunities.

Managers guide your career.

But they are not personal assistants

who make you famous.

If you approach industry professionals

expecting them to make your career

happen, you are already on the wrong

foot.

Here's a better approach.

Do your research.

Know what each industry role actually

does.

I know that there are some actors who

still don't understand the difference

between a casting director,

an agent and a manager.

This is important information that you

need to understand, so that when you

meet these folks, you have a better

understanding about what their role is

in the industry.

Plus it helps you have a, who here's a

good word, cogent conversation.

Be realistic about what they can and

cannot do for you.

Approach them as a collaborator, not

someone who owes you a shortcut.

All right.

So how do you connect the right way?

I've got those answers coming up right

after this.

Welcome back.

So how do you connect with industry

personnel the right way?

The best networking

way?

I'm so glad you asked here's how

to net work without making people

uncomfortable.

Number one, be patient.

Building relationship takes time.

Give time, time, time,

treat.

Networking like planting seeds,

not shaking a tree for fruit that isn't

ripe yet.

Be professional yet personable.

Industry folks are people too.

Be natural.

Be polite, and don't force the

connection.

Number three, have something to show,

instead of just simply begging them for

an opportunity

show.

Them why you are worth noticing.

Work on your craft, build your resume.

Number four,

engage authentically

online.

Follow industry prose on social media,

but engage meaningfully.

No spamming,

no desperate messages.

Just be present.

Stay in touch without being annoying

a cheque in every now and then.

Email is fine.

Weekly emails about your new head

shots, that's not fine.

Ah, so my dear actors, the moral of the

story is this,

enthusiasm

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00:16:26,86 --> 00:16:26,786

is great.

Desperation is not.

Networking is an art.

You want to be memorable for the right

reasons,

not the person who made an agent fake a

bad connection to get off the phone.

Listen, I hope you've had a little fun

with this.

As I know I've had a little fun putting

this together.

But was about time we had this

conversation.

And I thank you so much for tuning into

casting.

Actors.

Cass, hey, listen, if you enjoyed this

episode, please share it with a fellow

actor who might need to hear it.

And remember, good networking is like

good acting, it's all about connection

timing and not forcing it.

I'm Geoffrey driesback.

We'll see you next time.

This is casting actor's cast.

Hope to see you at that live event, by

the way,