Casting Director workshops are a very hot-button issue in Los Angeles. I’m not writing this article to discuss the good or the bad of them, but to kind of walk you through a CD workshop so you know what happens in them. You can make your own choice whether you feel they’re worth the money or not!
So first, you find a place close to home and relatively comfortable. A quick Google of “Casting Director Workshops” and your zip code will pop up all kinds of places — New York, L.A., wherever you are… if there’s casting, you’ll see workshops! You sign up (some places require a few bucks up front; don’t pay more than 15) and then start looking for the CDs you want to target.
Ideally, you already have a list of shows or projects that you like and that you fit in regards to type — if you aren’t sure how to type yourself, we can talk about that in another Ms. in the Biz article! Once you know the shows you want to target, find their casting offices and Google around to see when and where the associates or actual CDs are doing workshops. Then sign up! You’ll pay anywhere from 30-70 dollars for a workshop … it does get pricey. Be diligent in your research and really scrutinize who you’re going out for.
What you’ll do varies from location to location and CD to CD: some like cold reads (where you’ll be paired with another actor from the workshop) and some are okay if you bring in a prepared scene and read with a reader. Others ask for improv. You should know in advance either way, especially if you need a scene. I’d suggest not doing monologues, simply because in a TV and film environment, it’s hard to carry a monologue all by your lonesome. People check out or get bored.
So! Once you arrive at the workshop, you sign in and .. wait. I recommend getting there a bit early, at least for the first one so you know the layout and whatnot. Most of the time, the CD will do a “Q&A” at the top, though sometimes they do it at the end. You don’t need a Q&A. You know these answers. In fact, I will give you these questions and these answers*:
Q: Do you bring in actors from workshops.
A: Yeah, if you’re good.
Q: How long have you been working in casting?
A: Who cares? Go look it up online if you need to know this.
Q: Do you like casting?
A: Yes.
Q: How did you get into casting?
A: It does not matter.
Q: Do you work with only union actors?
A: Generally.
Q: What if we don’t have an agent?
A: If you’re good, we’ll find you. Get an agent.
Q: Please validate me.
A: 🙁
* or at least, this is what people are thinking.
Look, I get it: you want to MAKE AN IMPRESSION! You want the CD to REMEMBER YOU! Do that in and with your performance. Trust me. You should want to get in, show your stuff, thank them, and go. A public question-answer-cattle-call isn’t really the place to make a pal. You’re there to do a scene and to go. That’s really it.
After the Q&A, you all depart to either wait for your turn or to run your cold read scenes. Some CDs want everyone in the room, but generally I’ve found they do it one-on-one (or two if you have a scene partner) and they’ll give notes (or send you on your way). THIS is the time, if there’s a real and genuine connection, to say something nice. Quickly. If you must.
You perform. They give you a note (or not). You say thanks. That’s pretty much it, they let you go.
These workshops are not scary — you get some face time with someone in casting and you thank them and you exit left. And now that you know what to expect, relax & have some fun!