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Advice for Actors Without Agents

Below, you will find tips on how to use PCR to its best advantage and get ahead in the industry!
  • Send your details at the right stage of production. PCR is read by a variety of people in the industry, which is why we detail projects from early development through to production. Unless we provide specific instructions for contact (as is often the case in low budget film and theatre productions), actors should wait until a casting director has been named before sending in resumes and photgraphs. Otherwise, you will be applying too early and your resume is likely to be ignored. At certain times, we may name a casting director, but say 'please hold contact.' This means that a breakdown has not been issued yet and therefore getting in touch at that point is inadvisable.
  • Contact the casting director only for big budget film and television. Directors, production offices and producers are generally not equipped to deal with casting enquiries from actors, except in the case of low budget/student films, and unless you know them personally, writing to them may work against you. It also works against us - if producers, directors, production offices and companies are deluged with unwanted post from actors, they are much less likely to share information with us! In the case of theatre, follow the instructions outlined in PCR for each production.
  • Do not ring a casting director unless he/she has already contacted you. Most casting directors operate out of small offices with a limited number of staff and are not able to deal with numerous telephone enquiries from actors. Sending your details by post is always the best way to get in contact.
  • Apply for a specific role, if possible. You will have the most success if you send in your details for a role that has been specifically outlined in PCR; make sure however that you are indeed right for the part. If a casting director has not issued a breakdown, do a bit of research before posting your resume to them, ensuring that you suit the period and style of the production. Individual applications which are tailored to the specific breakdown the casting director or producer has put out are always preferable to general applications - make sure you stand out from the crowd.
  • Presentation is important. Photographs should be professional, clear, and represent your look accurately. It is fine to use photocopies, as long as they are of good quality, if you are applying for low budget projects, however we suggest you do not use photocopies (unless they are very good quality) when applying to casting directors. If you wish to have the photograph returned, always include a stamped, addressed envelope - however not all casting directors are able to return photos. Check your resume carefully for mistakes and make sure that it is easy to read. If you email your details, it is a good idea to do a test email first to yourself, to check that your photograph is not too big (it will take too long to download) and that the text appears in the right way.
  • Use low budget and fringe productions to bulk up your resume and showreel. Even if you didn't get an agent straight out of drama school, don't despair - agents take on clients at many different stages, and the more examples of good work that you can show them, the better chance you have of attracting an agent. If you are in a fringe production, invite as many agents (and even casting directors) as possible - you never know who might show up!
  • PCR frequently runs ads on behalf of agents looking to take on new clients, so keep your eyes open and follow the instructions for application carefully. Make sure you put the correct postage on your application, or it will not reach its destination (remembering the new postal charges system).
  •  Be careful what you spend your money on - there are many opportunities for actors to spend their hard-earned cash on courses, showreels, 'casting services', etc. Do your research and make sure you are spending your money on something that will actually further your career. For more advice in this area, visit the section of our website titled 'Take Control'.
  • Two areas worth investing in however are a good photograph - make sure you have a CD-rom copy of it so that you can use it when applying by email (which is a much cheaper method of application, and one which casting directors and producers are increasingly using). Secondly, having an entry in The Spotlight Directory is also very important, as many casting directors will only consider actors with Spotlight reference numbers. However, make sure you have an excellent, up to date resume as well, as many casting directors, producers and/or directors want individual, personalised applications that show you have carefully considered the casting brief.
  • It is also a good idea to join Equity - the union for actors and performers. Apart from the protection that being a part of a union provides, many professional productions will only hire actors who are members of Equity. Visit their website for more details.

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