The Working Actor

Fees Please, Ad Mad

The subject of whether actors ought to attend paid casting-director workshops remains a heated and highly controversial one. Not surprisingly, The Working Actor received a variety of responses to my recent column titled "Fees to Meet You" (June 11), in which I agreed with J.M. that in many cases ...

Parent Trap, Photo Flap

I'm an actor who happens to also be a mother—not a big deal. Like any professional, when I have a job, I balance my work with life with my husband and childcare.

Playing Doctor, Preying Agent

Most of my acting credits are in Equity-waiver theater from about seven years ago, and I'm not a member of the Screen Actors Guild. I took time off to go to nursing school, finished school, and am currently working as a registered nurse, but I want to get back ...

A Very Bad Audition

I was thrilled and pumped and felt great about all of them—until I got no callbacks and no work. After the fifth audition, I started to lose my confidence more and more each time.

Rotten Request, Dumping a CD

"Hello, I saw your profile on backstage and i will like to know if you are available for a Job from my company because after various screening your profile was chosen ."

Fees to Meet You

Casting directors, especially those who deal with musical theater, have taken the liberty to view themselves as teachers.

Referral Riddle, Contact Conundrum

The director and I got along really well. I could tell he was sincere when he said, "If you ever need a referral, let me know." How do I use this offer to my advantage?

Gig List, Direct Marketing

Could you give me examples of jobs for actors and singers in the theater business but not as a performer—a reader, teaching, voiceovers, extras, etc.—and the best ways of finding these jobs.

EMC Plea, Pay Survey

Being an Equity candidate, I'm used to waiting for an opening to audition. But as of late, I haven't seen any! It's almost as bad as being nonunion now!

Scar Scare, Card Concern, Director Distress

I don't go to many auditions is because I had an accident when I was little. I'm self-conscious about these scars, and I'm really scared I'll be rejected for jobs because of them.