Making an Online Casting Profile

Most auditions begin with someone scrolling past your face on a laptop. Whether you’ve been submitted by your agent, or you’ve been found from an advanced search on Casting Networks, your online casting profiles are vital to landing more roles. So how do you give your online profiles a new lick of paint?

These are a few tips and tricks to nailing your online acting profiles. The information should be universal for all casting websites, but remember to only sign up to official casting sites. There are a lot of paid casting sites that are simply never going to lead to auditions.

We’re big fans of common sense at StageMilk. Nothing here is shocking, or new, but you’d be amazed how many weird online casting profiles we come across. So here is how to nail your online acting image:

#1 Headshots

Headshots are a First Impression. Your headshot is the most prominent part of your online profile, so make it good. Good is not glamorous. Good is natural, open and intriguing. Speak to your agent and have an honest discussion about your headshot. Is it really showing you in your best light? If not, book in a session with a seasoned pro. It’s worth spending the money on a great photographer.

2-3 Shots Max. Don’t go nuts showing off your face from every possible angel. Choose one or two shots that work well and use them on your profile. Possibly one that’s more open and positive, and one which is more serious.

#2 ShowReel

Most online profiles allow you to have at least one showreel hosted on the site. If you’re headshot has piqued a casting director’s interest their next move is to check out your reel.

Once again the first step is taking a step back and being honest with yourself about your work. Is your reel showcasing your talent in the best way possible? If not, it’s time to get a new showreel. You want to keep the showreel short (2-3mins at most). It should contain your best work first and focus on the acting. Also, make sure you look good. That can be half the battle, especially with commercial castings.

We go into more details about making a great showreel here. 

#3 CV/Credits

Keep your credits simple, and honest. Don’t include background work, or jobs you did years ago, or at drama school. They want to see genuine credits. If you don’t have the credits, who cares. Honesty is the best policy. Independent theatre and short films are fine, but just don’t try to make credits sound better than they are.

#4 Training

Include your training, but don’t include every damn workshop you’ve ever done. If you’ve trained at a drama school and done some notable workshops, include them. If you haven’t done any training then maybe look at a couple of reputable masterclasses or short courses.

#5 Accents/ Skills

What accents can you actually do? Like actually do? Only include accents that you are really confident performing. You start to look a little silly when you list 30 accents. No one can do Arabic, let’s be honest.

The same goes for skills. You’re not a circus expert if you can juggle. I like to be a little confident here, you can always learn a skill, but don’t go nuts. You will annoy casting directors if you can’t do what you say you can.

# 6 Measurements/Personal Details

I swear I still don’t know my hip size. What even is that? Is it my waist? Every time I go to an audition I end up getting out the measuring tape. Take 10 minutes and get all your measurements down and in one place – your online casting profile. It saves a lot of hassle for all involved.

Having your measurements and personal details in order means you could be the benefactor of advanced searches. Casting directors often search: must be “6 for 6”, “brown hair” with “English accent” – I wish, but they do use this sort of a search and you want to be in the mix for all relevant roles.