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Model Agent POV: What happens at a new faces casting day?
written by
Ione McLeod
PART 13: WHAT HAPPENS AT A NEW FACES CASTING DAY?
If you have been invited into an agency for a casting day, it can feel like a big step, especially if you are new to the industry.
A casting day is an opportunity for an agency to meet new faces they may be interested in representing. It is also a chance for you to meet the agency, understand how they work and ask any questions before deciding whether it feels like the right fit.
WHAT IS A CASTING DAY?
A casting day is usually arranged for new faces who are being considered by an agency.
Lily: “It’s an opportunity for an agency to meet with new faces that they are potentially recruiting.”
It is not just about the agency looking at you. It is also your chance to understand who you may be working with.
Katie: “The artists that are coming in to see us have an opportunity to ask questions about how the agency runs.”
You might want to ask about terms and conditions, the types of clients the agency works with, what kind of jobs they usually book, or how the agency supports and develops talent.
WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO ASK QUESTIONS:
Signing with an agency should be a considered decision. You need to feel comfortable with how they work and confident that their approach matches what you are looking for.
Katie: “You can ask anything from terms and conditions to the types of clients that we work with and just make sure you align with the agency values.”
This is especially important because every agency works slightly differently. What one agency offers, expects or prioritises may not be the same as another.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT AN SR CASTING DAY?
At Sandra Reynolds, you will usually come in for an allotted time slot.
You will be welcomed by front of house, who will help guide you through the first part of the appointment and support with outfits if needed.
Lily: “You come in at your allotted slot, you get greeted by one of our front of house, who’ll help you with your outfits.”
You will then be brought upstairs to meet members of the booking team.
This meeting gives us a chance to get to know you properly, talk through your experience, answer your questions and explain how we work as an agency.
WILL I HAVE MY PHOTOS TAKEN?
At a casting or signing day, it is likely that we will take some digitals/polaroids.
Katie: “This is really important for the agency to see what you look like unstyled in a natural setting.”
They also allow us to see how you work in front of the camera and make sure we have the images needed to properly assess and represent you.
WHY FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS MATTER:
Some agencies may begin the process online, but at Sandra Reynolds, meeting talent in person is an important part of how we work.
Lily: “Some agencies don’t do a face-to-face meeting initially, but we do find it really important to see everybody and build up that relationship.”
Commercial modelling and acting are not just about images. Personality, communication, professionalism and how you come across in person all matter.
A face-to-face meeting helps both sides understand whether the relationship is likely to work well.
A FINAL THOUGHT
A casting or signing day is not something to be nervous about. It is simply a chance for both you and the agency to get to know each other properly.
For the agency, it helps us understand your look, personality, experience and potential. For you, it is an opportunity to ask questions, understand how we work and decide whether Sandra Reynolds feels like the right agency for you.
Come prepared, be yourself, ask questions, and use the meeting as an opportunity to build the relationship from the start.
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written by Ione McLeod
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