Agent Seminars & Casting Director Workshops

Tiffany asks:

“I really want to go to industry meet and greets, but I have no experience, print work, etc. Is it worth it to go and meet the agents and casting directors?”

TAE responds:

Hi, there. At your level, my suggestion would be to focus on classes with casting directors offered by places like The Network NYC, and avoid the “meet and greet“ seminars. The reason being: meet and greets are intended for experienced actors to show their audition materials to agents and casting directors for feedback. The industry guests who attend these events expect a certain level of experience and polish, so you want to be sure not to make a negative first impression. If you have no experience, then you are not yet at the level where the networking seminars would be useful to you.

With classes, however, the assumption is that the actor is there to learn new skills or sharpen existing skills, so this is a perfect way to get to know a casting director while also learning the skills you need to be successful.

The reality is: without acting experience, it is unlikely that an agent would opt to sign you at this point, and casting directors may overlook you as well in favor of those with more experience. But not to worry- every actor started out exactly where you are at, so I want to encourage you to really dive into training! So, in addition to classes at The Network I would recommend taking some basic theater acting classes, and I would consider learning to audition by trying out for plays at your local community theaters. Even if you are only interested in film or television, it is very important to get theater training so you have a solid foundation for your acting skills. This will also be the easiest way for you to get some credits on your resume, and theater credits are looked very highly upon in New York.

I hope this has been useful. This is a very exciting time for you, so enjoy it- and best of luck!