NY TV Casting Directors & Their Projects (Oct 2015)

Photo courtesy of Vanessa Monsisvais / El Paso Times

Many of my students have asked me to compile a comprehensive list of casting directors in NYC who hire actors for TV shows and web series, along with their list of projects. So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about how to reach these casting directors, along with studios where you can take classes/workshops from folks in their office.

Note: This list is subject to change at any time. Not all projects shoot in NYC. Some shoot elsewhere on the East Coast or maintain casting in multiple offices. If it says “Shoots in LA”, it means that they use a NY casting director to manage NY submissions. Other cities, unless otherwise noted, do their primary casting out of NY.)


PRINCIPAL CASTING:


ABC Primetime (Marci Phillips, John Ort)
147 Columbus Ave., Third Fl., New York, NY 10023.

Projects:
Black-ish (Comedy, ABC. Shoots in LA)
The Catch (Drama, ABC. Shoots in LA)
Code Black (Drama, CBS. Shoots in LA)
Dr. Ken (Drama, CBS. Shoots in LA)
The Family (Drama, ABC. Shoots in LA. NY Casting by Janet Murphy Butler)
Galavant (Comedy, Musical, ABC. Shoots in LA)
Of Kinds and Prophets (Drama, ABC. Shoots in LA. NY Casting by Janet Murphy Butler)
Oil (Drama, ABC. Shoots in LA)
The Real O’Neals (Comedy, ABC. Shoots in LA)
Wicked City (Drama, ABC. Shoots in LA)
Secrets & Lies (Drama, ABC)

_____

Douglas Aibel
12 West 37th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018

Projects:

Mozart in the Jungle (Comedy, Amazon)

_____

Barden & Schnee (Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee)
150 W. 28th St., Ste. 402, New York, NY 10001

Projects:
Happy Valley (Drama, HBO)
Marvel/Jessica Jones (Drama, Netflix)
Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter (Comedy, Adult Swim)

_____

Cody Beke
c/o Comedy Central, 345 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
c/o MTV Networks/Viacom, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.

Projects:
Broad City (Comedy, Comedy Central)

_____

Sharon Bialy/Sherry Thomas & Associates (LA)
5933 W Slauson Ave #2105, Culver City, CA 90230

Projects:
Sneaky Pete (Drama, CBS. Shoots in NY)

_____

Bowling Miscia Casting (Beth Bowling and Kim Miscia)
609 Greenwich St., Sixth Fl., New York, NY 10014

Projects:
Blue Bloods (Drama, CBS)
Gotham (Drama, Fox)
The Middle Man (Drama, Fox)
Sleepy Hollow (Drama, Fox. Shoots in Charlotte)
Studio City (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)

_____

James Calleri Casting (James Calleri, Paul Davis, Erica Jensen)
39 W 14th St, Ste 504, New York, NY 10011

Projects:
The Path (Drama, Hulu)

_____

CBS Primetime (Amy Herzig and Katharina Eggmann)
51 W. 52nd St., Fifth Fl., New York, NY 10019

Projects:
Angel From Hell (Comedy, CBS. Shoots in LA)
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (Drama, CBS. Shoots in LA)
The Odd Couple (Comedy, CBS)
N.C.I.S. New Orleans (Drama, CBS. Shoots in New Orleans & Los Angeles.)
Taxi 22 (Comedy Pilot, CBS)

______

Ellen Chenoweth
161 6th Ave., 11th Fl.New York, NY 10013

Projects:
Hap and Leonard (Drama, Sundance. Shoots in Baton Rouge ,LA)

______

Kathleen Chopin
12 W. 32nd St., 12th Fl., New York, NY 10001

Projects:
Alpha House (Comedy, Amazon)
Divorce (Comedy, HBO)

_____

Chrystie Street Casting
55 Chrystie St., Ste. 501, New York, NY 10002

Projects:
The Blacklist (Drama, NBC.)
Blindspot (Drama, NBC. Casting by Suzanne Smith Crowley & Jessica Kelly)
The Jenny Slate Project (Comedy, FX)
Outlander (Drama, Starz. Casting by Suzanne Smith Crowley)
Person of Interest (Drama, CBS)

_____

Carmen Cuba Casting (LA)
No address available

Projects:
The Knick (Drama, Cinemax. Shoots in NY)
Red Oaks (Comedy, Amazon. Shoots in NY & NJ)

_____

Jessica Daniels Casting
330 W. 38th St., Ste. 208, New York, NY 10018

Projects:
Benders (Comedy Pilot)
Life in Pieces (Comedy, ABC. Shoots in LA)
Love is a Four Letter Word(Drama, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Weird Loners (Comedy, Fox. Shoots in LA)

_____

Brandon Dubeansky
c/o Late Night With Seth Meyers, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Seventh Fl., New York, NY 10112

Projects:
Late Night With Seth Meyers (Comedy, NBC)

_____

Jennifer Euston
12 Desbrosses St., Second Fl., New York, NY 10013

Projects:
Girls (Comedy, HBO)
Orange Is the New Black (Comedy, Netflix. Submit c/o Post Factory, Attn: Emer O’Callaghan, 233 Spring St., Fourth Fl., New York, NY 10013.)

_____

Finnegan/Jacobs (Bonnie Finnegan/Steven Jacobs)
330 W. 38th St., NYC 10018

Projects:
Royal Pains (Drama, USA. Casting by Sabrina Hyman, Bonnie Finnegan & Steven Jacobs)
Younger (Comedy, TVLand. Casting by Steven Jacobs.)

_____

Alexa L Fogel Casting (with Christine Kromer)
330 W. 38th St., Ste. 1004, New York, NY 10018

Projects:
Banshee (Drama, Cinemax. Shoots in Charlotte and Pittsburgh)
Deuce (Drama Pilot, HBO)
Power (Drama, Starz. Casting by Christine Kromer)
Quarry (Drama, Cinemax. Shoots in New Orleans and Memphis)

_____

Fox Primetime (Clint Alexander)
1211 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Fl., New York, NY 10036

Projects:
48 Hours ’Til Monday (Comedy, Fox. Shoots in LA)
Empire (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)
The Frankenstein Code (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)
The Grinder (Comedy, Fox. Shoots in LA)
The Guide to Surviving Life (Comedy, Fox. Shoots in LA)
Lucifer (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)
Luther (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)
Minority Report (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)
Rosewood (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)
Scream Queens (Drama, Fox. Shoots in LA)

_____

Brette Goldstein
630 Ninth Ave., Ste. 1410, New York, NY 10036

Projects:
Donny! (Comedy, USA)


_____

Goulder/Keller Casting (Ann Goulder & Gayle Keller, with Allison Kirschner)
1100 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, Room 12, New York, NY 10036

Projects:
Crashing (Drama, HBO)
Louie (Comedy, FX. On Hiatus)

_____

Judy Henderson
330 W 89th St, New York, NY 10024

Projects:
Homeland (Drama, ABC. Casting by Kimberly Graham)

_____

Marc Hirschfeld Casting
5555 Melrose Ave., Marx Brothers Bldg., Rm. 108–109, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Projects:
The Gaffigan Show (Comedy, TVLand)
Us & Them (fka Friends & Family) (Comedy, Fox. Shoots in NY)

_____

Rosalie Joseph Casting
609 Greenwich St., Sixth Fl., New York, NY 10014

Projects:

Blindspot (Drama, NBC)
The Mysteries of Laura (Drama, NBC)

_____

Avy Kaufman Casting
180 Varick St., 16th Fl., New York, NY 10014

Projects:
Billions (Drama, Showtime)
Crime (Drama, HBO)
Crossbones (Drama, NBC)
Sons of Liberty (Drama, History)

_____

Ronna Kress Casting
280 S Beverly Drive Suite 412, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Projects:

The Get Down (Drama, Musical Pilot. Shoots in NY)

_____

Lynn Kressel (Lynn Kressel, Jonathan Strauss, Kevin Kuffa)
West 23rd Street at the Hudson River, Pier 62, Rm. 304, New York, NY 10011

Projects:
Chicago Fire (Drama, NBC. Shoots in Chicago)
Chicago PD (Drama, NBC. Shoots in Chicago)
Law & Order: SVU (Drama, NBC)

_____

Ellen Lewis (Ellen Lewis, Megan Rafferty)
c/o the Post Factory, 161 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Fl., New York, NY 10013

Projects:
The Leftovers (Drama, HBO)

_____

Mackey/Sandrich Casting (Amanda Mackey Johnson and Cathy Sandrich)
292 S. La Cienega Blvd. #219, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(Note: They have a NY office but take submission via their LA office)

Projects:
Shades of Blue (Drama, NBC. Casting by Amanda Mackey)

_____

Jennifer McNamara-Shroff
30 Rockefeller Plaza, Ste. 1623E, New York, NY 10112

Projects:
Aquarius (Drama, NBC. Shoots in LA)
The Carmichael Show (Comedy, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Game of Silence (Drama, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Grimm (Drama, NBC. Shoots in Portland - NY casting only)
The Player (Drama, NBC. Shoots in LA)

_____

Mele Nagler
121 W. Lexington Dr., Ste. L102, Glendale, CA 91203

Projects:
Allegiance (Drama, NBC. shoots in NYC & Israel)

_____

NBC Universal
30 Rockefeller Plz, New York, NY 10112

Projects:
Saturday Night Live (Producer/Casting, Lindsay Shookus)

_____

Wendy O’Brien Casting
2233 Barry Ave., Second Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90064

Projects:
Brooklyn Animal Control (Drama, USA. Shoots in NY Oct 26-Nov 12)
_____

Paladino Casting
540 Broadway, Fifth Fl., New York, NY 10012

Projects:
Taxi Brooklyn (Comedy, TFI) 

_____

Laura Rosenthal
401 Broadway, Ste. 711, New York, NY 10013

Projects:
Laughs Unlimited (Drama Pilot, HBO)
Olive Kitteridge (Drama Mini-Series, HBO. Shoots in MA)
Public Morals (Drama, TNT)

_____

Suzanne Ryan Casting
c/o Devlin Video, 1501 Broadway, Ste. 408, New York, NY 10036

Projects:
The Mysteries of Laura (Drama, NBC)
Unforgettable (Drama, CBS)

_____

Mark Saks
270 Lafayette St., Ste. 200, New York, NY 10012

Projects:
Elementary (Drama, CBS)
The Good Wife (Drama, CBS)
Hindsight (Drama, VH1. Shoots in Atlanta)
Madame Secretary (Drama, CBS)
Mercy Street/ Lisa Q. Wolfinger Project (Drama, PBS)

_____

Julie Schubert
330 W 38th St, New York, New York 10018

Projects:
Daredevil (shooting under code name “Ringside”) (Drama, Netflix)
House of Cards (Drama, Netflix. Shoots in Washington DC)

_____

Meg Simon and Findley Davidson
1325 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd Fl., New York, NY 10019

Projects:
A to Z (Comedy - NBC)
Constantine (Drama, NBC. Shoots in Atlanta.)
Containment (Drama, The CW. Shoots in LA)
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (Drama, The CW. Shoots in LA)
Gotham (Drama, Fox)
The Lottery (Drama, Lifetime. Shoots in Vancouver.)
The Originals (Drama, The CW. Shoots in LA)
Rush Hour (Drama, CBS. Shoots in LA)

_____

Jonathan Strauss Casting
West 23rd Street at the Hudson River, Pier 62, Rm. 304, New York, NY 10011
(see also Lynn Kressel Casting)

Projects:
Law & Order: SVU (Drama, NBC)

_____

Telsey & Co
311 W. 43rd St., 10th Fl., New York, NY 10036

Projects:
Billy & Billie (Drama, DirectTV. Cast by Bernard Telsey and Abbie Brady-Dalton)
I Shudder (Comedy Pilot, TVLand)
I’m Dying Up Here (Drama, Showtime. Shoots in Los Angeles)
LFE (Drama, CBS. Casting in NY and LA)
Members Only (Drama, ABC - Casting by Abbie Brady Dalton)
Penny Dreadful (Horror, Showtime. Shoots in UK)

_____

Cindy Tolan and Adam Caldwell
27 W. 20th St., Ste. 606, New York, NY 10011

Projects:
Deadbeat (Comedy, Hulu)
Hippyish (Comedy, Showtime)

_____

Tucker/Meyerson Casting (Julie Tucker and Ross Meyerson)
11 Broadway, Ste. 415, New York, NY 10004

Projects:
The Affair (Drama, Showtime)
Broke (Drama, AMC)
Crowded (Comedy, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Heartbreaker (Drama, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Hot & Bothered (Comedy, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Limitless (Drama, CBS)
People Are Talking (Comedy, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (Comedy, Amazon)
Sleepy Hollow (Drama, Fox. Shoots in Georgia)
Superstore (Comedy, NBC. Shoots in LA)
Tyrant (Drama, FX)
Uncle Buck (Comedy, ABC. Shoots in LA)
White Collar (Comedy, USA)

_____

Meredith Tucker
330 W. 38th St., Ste. 308, New York, NY 10018

Projects:
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Comedy, Netflix)
Vinyl (Drama, HBO)

___________________________________________________



BACKGROUND CASTING:


Background, Inc. (Christine Nelson)
601 W. 26th St., Ste. M224, New York, NY 10001

Projects:
Taxi Brooklyn (Comedy, TFI)

_____

Central Casting
875 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10001

Projects:
Broad City (Comedy, Comedy Central)
Girls (Comedy, HBO)
Law & Order: SVU (Drama, NBC)
Orange Is the New Black (Comedy, Netflix)
White Collar (Comedy, USA Network)

_____

Comer Casting
262 W. 38th St., Ste. 1706, New York, NY 10018

Projects:
The Good Wife (Drama, CBS)

_____

Grant Wilfley Casting
123 W. 18th St., Eighth Fl., New York, NY 10011

Projects:
Gotham (Drama, Fox)
The Mysteries of Laura (Drama, NBC)
Person of Interest (Drama, CBS)
Royal Pains (Drama, USA)
Vinyl (Drama, HBO)

_____

Mat McHugh
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

Projects:
Saturday Night Live (Comedy, NBC)

_____

Barbara McNamara
249 W. 34th St., Ste. 500, New York, NY 10001

Projects:
No current TV projects

_____

Roman Candle Casting
243 Fifth Ave., Ste. 555, New York, NY 10016

Projects:
Unforgettable (Drama, CBS)

_____

Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates
420 West End Ave., Unit Gr D, New York, NY 10024

Projects:
Alpha House (Comedy, Amazon)
Deadbeat (Comedy, Hulu)
Ringside (Drama, Netflix)

___________________________________________________


REPUTABLE STUDIOS THAT REGULARLY HAVE CLASSES & SEMINARS TAUGHT BY TV CASTING DIRECTORS & ASSOCIATES

Actors Connection
The Actor’s Green Room
Backstage University
The Network NYC
One on One Productions

___________________________________________________


Now that you have all of this information, learn how to use it! Contact Erin Cronican with The Actors’ Enterprise to set up a FREE consultation to discuss how career coaching can launch your career to the next level!


Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Sources for this page:
http://castingabout.com/pages/upfronts2015.html
http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/for_fans/current_productions.shtml
http://backstage.com/nyc-film-production-listings/
http://pro.imdb.com

If you have corrections/additions for this page, leave them in the comments section along with a link that includes the new/corrected information and I will update the page.

NY Actors Tweetup - Celebrating 5 Years!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & RAFFLE - THIS WEDNESDAY! 

Join us as we celebrate 5 years of connecting people and possibilities! Whether you’ve been here from the start or are just joining us — we are thankful to be apart of your journey!

To show our appreciation, we're throwing a party and raffling off some great prizes from our community of friends. Prizes include:

- An 8-week Acting In The Digital Age online training course curated by Roz Coleman
- One (1) class of your choosing at Laura Rosenthal's Audition LAB
- A 30-minute private coaching session with casting director Maribeth Fox
- A film fight choreography seminar with certified Kung-Fu Master Sifu Cecil Howsen
- One (1) 1-hour dialect coaching session with Jordan Yanko

... and more!

JOIN US
Birthday + Raffle

Wednesday, June 24th
7pm - 11pm

@ Stitch Bar & Lounge
247 West 37th Street

RSVP Here (it's Free!): www.nyactorstweetup.com/its-our-5th-birthday/


Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

June 22 - Incredible networking for just $30!

My theater company, The Seeing Place, is excited to announce its sixth Industry Scramble and Mixer/Party!

This 2-part event is designed to a) give actors much needed face-time with content creators who are casting projects and making art happen NOW, and b) be a rocking' party where those who love theater and actors will some together to make a big difference!

The incredible industry professionals are donating their time for this event. So every penny contributed is able to be earmarked to make a huge impact on our theatrical community.

DATE & LOCATION:
Monday, June 22, 2015 - 7pm-11pm
Scramble Slots between 7-9:30pm, Mixer from 7pm-10:45pm

LOCATION: 
Studios 353
353 West 48th St, 2nd Floor - Studio 4 (check-in)

COST: 
$30 - Industry Scramble + Mixer (tickets required, scroll below to purchase)

If you'd like to attend just the mixer, it's a $5 cash cover at the door, with $5 drinks or a $20 open bar bracelet.

All proceeds go to benefit The Seeing Place, a non-profit, ensemble driven (actor run!) theater company based in Kips Bay (on the east side of Manhattan.)

Click to learn about our Capital Campaign.

About Part 1) THE 'SCRAMBLE'

During our Scramble, actors will get a chance to meet one on one for an individual "date" with 10 up-and-coming producers, writers, and directors who are casting for stage, film, commercials and industrials. Guests may also include casting directors, agents and day jobs that hire actors! Tickets are only $30 for this exclusive part of the event.

CONFIRMED INDUSTRY (subject to change):

• Conde Nast Entertainment: Lauren Bennett (Casting Director)
• Wilderness Films: Filmmaking Team Cornelia Ravenal (Screenwriter, Lyricist, Producer) & Mikael Sodersten (Director)
• Shakespeare Anywhere: Lila Smith (Founder) who hires actors to perform sonnets & scenes at corporate events
• Your NYC Concierge: Phil Lakin (Founder) who hires actors to teach tourists about the best events in NYC
• Xavmax Multimedia Productions: Vincent Veloso (Producer/Writer)
• Polyphony Creative: Phil Newsom and Lanie Zipoy (Producers)
...plus 4 more Scramble guests TBA!

Click for tickets here.

Note: To guarantee face time with all industry guests, Scramble slots are limited and will be assigned after your purchase. If you have a specific time slot request, please leave that in the comments section of your payment and we'll accommodate requests on a first come, first served basis.

All participants will receive a confirmation before the event with final details and up-to-date industry list.If buying on the day of the event, please email in advance to secure your slot: outreach@seeingplacetheater.com  then arrive at 7pm with $30 cash and 10 headshots & resumes.

While at the event, we invite you to arrive early and join in the mixer (while waiting for your time), which you can rejoin when your round robin is complete!

About Part 2) THE MIXER

Throughout the evening we also have a networking mixer where actors, directors, writers, photographers, editors, teachers, and other industry professionals can hob-nob and network. $5 cover gets you into the party, with $5 specialty cocktails, or donate $20 and get an OPEN BAR bracelet!

Also included:

• Dancing & merriment with our ensemble members
• Discounted Pre-sale Tix for BOY GETS GIRL and BOYS' LIFE
• ...and an Actor-Focused RUMMAGE SALE! Browse through plays, DVDs, cast albums, dance shoes, acting books and other items and make your best offer! All items available for a small donation.

TESTIMONIALS FROM INDUSTRY & ACTORS:

"I just wanted to thank you for inviting me to be a part of the Industry Scramble last night. It was a lot of fun, and I met some very enthusiastic, ready for work actors! Thank you for your time, attention and effort to make this event possible!" - Joe Whelski, Producer

"This is one of - if THE best networking event I've attended. I made real connections. Thanks!" - Heather Cambanes, Actor

"I had a marvelous time at tonight's Scramble. Met and chatted with ten potential job creators. Had a beer. Or two. Thank you. What I really like about TSP's fundraising activities are the value-added things. We do something for you, you do something for us. Bravo!" - Einar Gunn, Actor

Click for tickets here.

Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com

Learn more about The Seeing Place by visiting our website.


Have a comment or question for TAE? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

The Importance of BRANDING [Podcast]

Photo credit: Philips Vintage Ad

Why read, when you can listen? :)

I am so honored to have been selected as one of 20 experts to be invited to speak as a part of the It Girl Summit, part of Patricia Petersen’s Dream Girl Campaign. Patricia reached out to me because she wanted to have a voice on the panel the spoke specifically about how an actor can take back control over their career by making strong choices, taking action, and standing up for the kind of work they want (and deserve) to do. She also wanted to know about my background in self-producing, the ultimate way to have a say in the art you create.

What’s resulted is this 26 minutes master class on branding and being AT THE CAUSE of your career rather than AT THE EFFECT. I hope you’ll take a listen, and in the comment section let me know what you think: What actions will you take to step forward in your career? What do you see possible that, before, seemed out of reach? And what question so you have about next steps? I’ll answer each comment and help out as best I can!

And now, for the audio:

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has a weekly "Expert" column on the business of acting at Backstage magazine. As an actor, Erin has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has appeared Off Broadway, regionally and on national tour with both plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of several major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Actors - What Is Your Purpose?

Want to have a life you love? Here's a little diagram for you:

As a career coach I find my Number 1 job is to help actors find their purpose. Career coaching can give you all of the tools to help you get you where you want to be. Some of my most popular coaching sessions are on:

• Type/branding
• Time management & goal setting (balance!)
• Finding the perfect day job
• How to master social media & networking without losing your soul
• Building your book (for singers)
• Audition technique - finding monologues & sides that perfectly represent you!
• How to write to perfect cover letter
• Choosing spot-on marketing materials: headshot, resume, website, reel, etc
• Getting representation
... and more!

If you're interested in finding out how I can make a difference for YOUR career, let's set up a free consultation. I can work with anyone no matter where you live, as long as they have a phone or an internet connection! Email me now!

Email me for your free consultation: erin @ theactorsenterprise. org

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Need Inspiration? 42 Quotes To Motivate Actors

Image courtesy mariashriver.com

I don’t know about you, but I have always been a fan of quotes. It goes back to my high school days, when my Civics teacher, Mr Alstrum, used to have quotes written on the board in the classroom. The first I remember really taking to heart was a Chinese Proverb: “Talk does not cook rice.” This perfectly encapsulated my personal creed in as few words as possible: Only action can make a real difference for myself and others. Since then I’ve amassed a few other favorite quotes, ranging from motivational, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t make,” (Wayne Gretzky) to the tongue-in-cheek, “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” (Groucho Marx)

As a business owner (remember, as actors we ARE business owners), motivational quotes can make a huge difference is providing a little “willpower kick” when times are tough. They not only soothe but they can also teach us something about the world or help us to see things from an angle we never have before.

I’ve scoured the internet to find the best 42 quotes to help you navigate this business. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

ON ACTING:

“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” - Thornton Wilder

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." – Pablo Picasso

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts he does not hide; he exposes himself.” - Jeanne Moreau

“If you’re the type of person who has to fulfill your dreams, you’ve gotta be resourceful to make sure you can do it. I came out to California when I was 21, thinking my New York credentials would take me all the way. I came back home a year later all dejected and a failure.” – Vin Diesel

“Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.” - George Burns

“To grasp the full significance of life is the actor's duty, to interpret it is his problem, and to express it his dedication.” - Marlon Brando

“First of all, I choose the great [roles], and if none of these come, I choose the mediocre ones, and if they don't come, I choose the ones that pay the rent.” - Michael Caine

“I’m an assistant storyteller. It's like being a waiter or a gas-station attendant, but I'm waiting on six million people a week, if I'm lucky.” - Harrison Ford

ON PERSEVERANCE:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

“Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.” - Erica Jong

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” – Aristotle

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

“The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will; and the other from a strong won’t.” - Henry Ward Beecher

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart

“Whenever you find whole world against you just turn around and lead the world.” - Unknown

ON MOTIVATION AND TAKING ACTION:

“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” – Farrah Gray

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

“The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.” – Chinese Proverb

“The minute that you’re not learning I believe you’re dead.” – Jack Nicholson

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” - Albert Einstein 

“Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.” - Eddie Rickenbacker

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” - Napoleon Hill

“Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare.” - Japanese Proverb

“I wondered why somebody didn’t do something. Then I realized, I am somebody.” — Unknown

ON MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

“Be nice to people on the way up, because you may meet them on the way down.” – Jimmy Durante

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Washington Thurman

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

ON SELF-IMAGE AND STAYING POSITIVE:

“Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent.” - Sophia Loren

“You’re only human. You live once and life is wonderful, so eat the damned red velvet cupcake.” – Emma Stone

“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.” – Clint Eastwood

“We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.” - Mark Twain

“Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” - Judy Garland

“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” – Charles Swindoll

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Which is your favorite quote from above? Or have a favorite quote you’d like to add? Share it in the comments below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has a weekly "Expert" column on the business of acting at Backstage magazine. As an actor, Erin has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has appeared Off Broadway, regionally and on national tour with both plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of several major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out www.theactorsenterprise.org.

3 Ways to Build Your Fanbase

This article was published on Backstage in their "Backstage Experts" column!

I was reading a recent article by casting director, Mark Sikes, wherein he discusses "building your fanbase." In this article, he is speaking about the industry leaders (agents, casting directors, producers, etc) who are in the position to get you working. We've all been taught, over and over, the concept of keeping in touch with industry folks and maintaining the relationships. Very few actors admit to doing this regularly, but we are still aware that it is an important part of our day to day marketing efforts.

But I want to expand the conversation a bit... how do you keep in touch with your OTHER fans? That is to say, how do you maintain your relationships with the folks that will buy tickets to your shows and show up to the movie theater? Today, I want to talk about this concept of BUILDING AN AUDIENCE.

Harrison Ford once said, "I'm an assistant storyteller. It's like being a waiter or a gas-station attendant, but I'm waiting on six million people a week, if I'm lucky." This has always inspired me to remember that the people who really count are the ones who pay for a ticket to watch me perform. And it's no wonder - Harrison is talking about 6 million folks per week! So wouldn't it make sense to build up a REAL fanbase of audience members, and make that your selling point to the industry?

Need further evidence? Those of us who appreciate New York theater know that more and more film and TV stars ("name" actors) are being brought to the stage. And more and more top level film stars are doing commercials and television. This is happening because producers want to hire people who are guaranteed to bring an audience. It is a huge selling point for an actor - there is even the Ulmer’s Scale which breaks down the top Hollywood actors and their bankability (learn more about this here.)

So, how does an actor build an audience?

First: You need to be accessible, 24/7. This means: create a website, and join some of the social networking platforms where your fans are likely to be. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all great places to build relationships with every day audiences. And, if you have a hankering for writing- start a blog!

Second: You need to be willing to spill the beans! Talk about your triumphs. Express your enthusiasm for the business. Create a buzz about your career that makes people want to follow your success. And, in return, support other people's work and herald that as well. The more you involve others in your progress, the more people will feel a part of your career and will champion you as you move forward.

Third: Do good work. I cannot emphasize this enough. You need to be a performer who is worth following. As casting director, Bonnie Gillespie, says, “Get better. Be more talented.” Be at the top of your game. If you aren’t the best at what you do, go get some training until you are. Spend every opportunity you can strengthening your skills, honing your craft, and developing your talent.

If you adopt these three things, you will be well on your way to developing an audience, which will go a long way in developing a long-standing career. So, don't just stand there. Do it! And... report back to me on how it’s working out for you!

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!


Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Free Networking & Career Development - April 18!

I'm very excited to welcome Lianne Robertson to this blog to write a guest post about an incredible event for actors that she's spearheading, called the Actors Pro Expo. I first got involved with the event last year, when I "live-tweeted" from the Expo floor and from a few workshops on behalf of the NY Actors Tweetup (for which I'm a co-founder!) I have been to many trade shows, and this one really had a warm vibe and had great opportunities for the actors who attended. And of course this makes sense, because the event has been designed and created by actors!

I'm especially impressed by the seminars and workshops that Lianne has put together. Love musicals? Check out the seminars with Jay Binder (Binder Casting) and Justin Huff (Tesley & Co Casting). Want on-camera work? Take these incredible workshops on Dramatic Improvisation and Audition Technique. Each seminars & workshop is only $30 - totally affordable for an actor on a budget.

I've invited Lianne to say a little bit about what makes this event special, and to encourage you to join me in New York City on April 18 - it's going to be an amazing time!

Lianne Robertson, Actors Pro Expo

"The acting industry can sometimes be a tricky place to navigate, there are so many different components that you need to take into consideration when growing yourself as a business! You’ve got to get your headshots, make your website, organize your taxes, find an agent, find a flexible job that will support your sporadic audition-based lifestyle, try to find said auditions and above all get your name out there to casting directors! Sheesh, what a balancing act! But what if we told you that there’s a place you can go which has all the information and advice on every one of these components? Don’t believe us? Then come along to Actors Pro Expo on April 18^th and see for yourself! 

Actors Pro Expo is an event designed by actors for actors with our fundamental goal being to help you create opportunities to develop and sustain your career. We have over 25 vendors from every sector of the industry to give you the most complete advice possible; it really is the ultimate Actors Tool Kit. Guerrilla Photography will be there to offer headshot assistance, eStage for all your website needs, Bambridge for all your taxation questions, The Actors Project to help you land an agent, Mustard Lane, FSS and Atrium to help you find a flexible part-time job and Backstage, actors access, Casting Networks Inc and CastingAbout to ensure you have all the info on the latest castings and how to apply. We’ve also got The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Stellar Adler Studio of Acting, Playing With Reality, The Accent Kit, Scott Powers Studios, Methuen Drama, Roger Hendricks Simon Studio, Art & Soul Acting, David Brunetti, Broadway Dance Centre, Play by Play, The Actors Enterprise and Studio 4 to ensure your acting skills remain top notch and to give you ongoing advice and training after the event. Finally SAG-AFTRA as well as Criscione, Ravala & Tabatchouk, LLP will be there to offer any legal advice you require.  

Aside from all these incredible vendors, Actors Pro Expo will also be hosting an OPEN CASTING for director Rob Margolies next project a ‘SAG-AFTRA new media agreement’ Web Series! Registration opens at 10am and is first come, first served so arrive in plenty of time to secure your slot! 

There will also be ongoing seminars and workshops on throughout the day held by Casting Directors and other industry professionals so you can get in-depth information on specific aspects of the industry that you want to know more about.     

Finally, in terms of helping you get your name out to Casting Directors, we will be offering Casting Director Dropboxes. Simply print out your resume and pop it in one or all of the boxes. Each CD will then review their box after the event and who knows, you may be getting a phone call!  

Overall Actors Pro Expo is here to help you build, grow and brand yourself as a business. Oh and did we mention, it’s FREE?! You can register here for your free entrye-ticket and to book some seminars & workshops.  

We can’t wait to see you at the event!  

The Actors Pro Expo Team"

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

When Did We Stop Being Artists?

Photo Credit: Momtastic.com

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about art and expression, and some of the fears that actors have as we try to explore the things that inspire us. There so much of an emphasis on doing “good” work, so much energy put into work that can propel you “to the next level.” I’ve started wondering -- when did we stop creating art because it was fun to be expressive? To tell stories? To pretend to be someone else, and show off these characters to our family and friends? Thinking back, and I think everything changes when people hit that magic age of 7 -- the “age of reason.”

I’m at the point where many of my friends are starting to have children, and one common element you find in each parents’ home is the refrigerator filled with drawings from their child. Heck, even if you aren’t a parent, if you know children you probably have a piece of artwork hanging on your wall. Or a batch of photos from a child’s recital. Or a video from a school play. Parents and family members weep happily at the sight of a child expressing him/herself in an artistic way.

And then, at some point, this stops. Parents stop encouraging artistry. Drawings are removed from refrigerators and videos are put in the cabinet (to be pulled out when the child is 16 and bringing her boyfriend to the house for the first time. Oh yeah, we’ve all been there.) What happened? I have a theory -- The Age of Reason is killing art.

According to Scholastic.com, the Age of Reason is described as:

“Few parents would argue with the observation that children age 6 and younger do not have great control over their feelings and impulses. Nor is your very young child likely to take genuine responsibility for her actions, or heed adults’ urging to be considerate of others... It is not until the age of 7, give or take a year or so, that your child’s conscience begins to mature enough to guide her actions...It’s been called the “Age of Reason,” since these children have a newly internalized sense of right and wrong... At 7 “plus or minus one,” your child begins to problem-solve in a new way, using reason rather than pure intuition. He can separate fantasy from reality; and so can be expected to know and tell the truth... At about 7, fears are no longer of monsters, but of real people, and most of all of not being liked, being different, and risking loneliness. Pride and shame are real now too. Real, rather than simply imagined achievement, enhances self-esteem...”

Not only do children lose the ability to fantasize without embarrassment, but it’s also the people around who change their viewpoints on their children’s artistic impulses. At an early stage, a child singing out of tune is adorable, at another point, the child is hushed and told not to sing. Children and adults, alike, stop painting pictures because they tell themselves, “I’m not good at it,” and forget that creating art is about expression, not about excellence.

“Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one’s self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily.” -- Thomas Szasz

Of course, if one wants to make money at an artistic profession, that’s when excellence becomes important. But in the striving for excellence, many actors forget that joy of creating and playing for fear that it won’t live up to some standard that world has set for them.

So, I am challenging myself, and the artists around me, to nurture their inner artist and beg it to come out to play. Find an environment where you can practice being expressive and go hog wild. Pretend to be bigger and badder than you ever dreamed possible. Will yourself into a new reality that gives you a visceral charge. Fight the Age of Reason and awaken your imagination in the way we did as children.

As a side note: it’s also around the age of 7 that we stop unabashedly seeking an audience. When’s the last time you ever saw an adult jump into a crowded room, do a little two step, then chime, “Ta-da!” to elicit applause? For once, I want to do something silly and have a bunch of adults exclaim, “Yayyyyy!”

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has a weekly "Expert" column on the business of acting at Backstage magazine. As an actor, Erin has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has appeared Off Broadway, regionally and on national tour with both plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of several major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out www.theactorsenterprise.org.

The Psychology of Color in Branding

Image Credit: The Logo Company

Something to think about when considering branding: What is your favorite color? You know, the color that is most prominent in your wardrobe or home decorating? Do you know what that color represents in our society?

From an article in Entrepreneur magazine: "In an appropriately titled study called Impact of Color in Marketing, researchers found that up to 90% of snap judgments made about products can be based on color alone (depending on the product)."

In the section above, replace the word "product" with "actors" and you'll see just how's relevant it is.

Check out this article and see how it compares to how you want to be seen as an actor - it will heavily influence how you put your website, postcards, business cards and personal style to good use!

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233843

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Resolutions for Actors

At the beginning of every year actors pour over the triumphs and tribulations of the previous year and come up with resolutions that will carry them into the new year. One of the things I’ve noticed is that resolutions are often “fixes” of the past with goalposts that are way to big to manage (or worse, have no measurement at all so you don’t even know if you’ve achieved it. Like. “Be Happier.” How do you measure that?) I find myself disliking many of the resolutions I hear about, but I recently found a Playbill article that has 10 resolutions for actors that really made me think. I particularly liked two of them:

2) Stop worrying about the parts of my body that I can’t change

and

9) Not believe that any one person has the answer

Take a look at the full list here on Playbill:

I have the same resolution that I use year after year: This year will be the best year of my life. And every year it is, because a resolution is really a state of mind, not a goal to attain.

What resolutions did you make for your career at the beginning of 2015? It’s almost February - are there any that have falls by the wayside? What revisions would you give yourself based on the article? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has a weekly "Expert" column on the business of acting at Backstage magazine. As an actor, Erin has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has appeared Off Broadway, regionally and on national tour with both plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of several major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out www.theactorsenterprise.org.