Back Stage 411 - Casting FAQ

Visit our all-new FAQ

Visit Backstage.com/Help to view the new FAQ for the all-new Backstage.com.

The following posts are from our old FAQ and may not always apply to the new Backstage.com/Casting site's tools and current functionality.

Search Help: "I'm Seeing Casting Notices That Don't Fit My Profile"

Back Stage uses an advanced search algorithm to find you casting/job notices that match your exact needs along with notices that MIGHT also be of interest to you – even though they’re not an exact match – including notices that contain tags that are very similar to your search settings, along with projects that might possibly be interested in an application from you even though you don’t exactly match any of the character/job descriptions listed in the notice.

This search algorithm uses the search filters/options you’ve chosen (job categories, gender, age ranges, etc.) combined with some “fuzzy logic” to try and find you the best range of notices.

The more search filters/options you’ve chosen, the better your search results will be.

However, because the Back Stage search engine also uses some “fuzzy” search parameters to make sure that you don’t miss out on additional opportunities that MIGHT fit your needs, you will receive some “false positive” search results – casting/job notices that just aren’t right for you – which you’ll want to ignore.

But we feel that it’s safer to have some extra notices sent to you that don’t exactly fit your profile – rather than limit you to only seeing 100% exact matches – just in case some of these additional notices MIGHT be of interest.

What is a Casting Alert? How do I make it work?

The Back Stage Casting/Job Alert tool is a convenient and automated "search agent" that searches the BackStage.com casting/jobs database for you, finding new notices that match your personalized Saved Search criteria.

You can create one or multiple Casting/Job Alerts, with each alert being set up to search for notices that match you interests. Back Stage's Casting Alerts can save you a lot of time, since your Alerts will conduct your searches for you and then send you timely results.

Each of your Alert agents will email you your newest Casting Notice search results on a regularly scheduled basis. Within the email, you'll see a list of casting/job headlines and summaries, with links bringing you back to the specific notices on BackStage.com so you can quickly submit to the projects.

To get started, visit your Career Center/Actor's Toolbox and click on any of the Saved Search or Casting Alert options.

Or, simply fill in the "Saved Search Name" field located at the bottom of the basic or advanced Casting/Jobs Search page, check the "Create a casting alert" box, and then click the "Save Search Criteria" button.

10 KEY CASTING/JOB ALERT TIPS:

Email Your Resumes - Submit Multimedia Resumes and Cover Letters to Casting Notices -- And Apply to Projects

You can submit your Multimedia Resume (a resume enhanced with photos, links, etc.) to casting directors, producers, directors, and other employers and individuals using a few different options on BackStage.com.

Instructions, Tips & Tricks:

"Where are my Casting/Job Alerts and other BackStage.com emails?"

Casting/Job Alert Emails are a subscriber-exclusive self-serve feature of BackStage.com. You can create as many casting alerts as you’d like.  You can renew the alerts, extend the alerts, edit the alerts, delete the alerts, etc.

If at anytime you stop receiving the Alerts that you’ve created, then please log into the site and make sure that your Saved Casting/Job Notices Inbox is not filed up, that none of your Casting Alert Email Agents need to be renewed, and that your search-criteria is correct and optimized.

Also, make sure to check your "spam," "bulk," and "junk" email folders in case Back Stage's emails are accidentally being caught by your email program's spam filter! More details are below . . .

Your INBOX: Saved Casting/Job Notices

Notices that you save on BackStage.com are added to your personal BackStage.com Casting/Jobs Inbox.

Your Saved Casting/Job Notices Inbox (as well as your Submissions Outbox) can be accessed via your Career-Center TOOLBOX page, here:  http://www.backstage.com/bso/castingcall/toolbox

 

Problems Viewing Notices, Resumes, Videos, Etc. -- Web Pages Failing to Open

If you're experiencing a problem with any aspect of BackStage.com or Casting.BackStage.com, then please try refreshing the page you're looking at or try clearing out your browser cache. This will usually resolve a variety of issues.

However, if problems persist, then it's highly likely that you either need to immediately upgrade your web-browser or adjust your pop-up blocker, cookie, JavaScript, privacy, whitelist, and/or other security settings on your computer.

The following five steps will help you resolve a wide variety of problems that you may be experiencing on BackStage.com and other websites:

Casting, Job, Competition, and Festival CATEGORIES

Back Stage organizes casting/job notices based on geographic region and project category. The Back Stage Casting Department places every notice into the category that we feel it best belongs, so that our readers can quickly find what they’re looking for, in print and online. Some notices can run in multiple categories online. Below are the definitions of our various categories.

Note: Any category not specifically designated as Union, Nonunion, or Union/Nonunion may call for both union and nonunion performers; however, if ANY notice specifically calls for union performers, the exact union, union contract, and contract status ( “applying for,” “pending approval,” etc.) must be stated in the notice. Also, the pay scale ( “pay,” “no pay, “deferred pay,” etc.) should be noted in every notice. And if the project requires any participation fees, purchases, nudity, or other obligations, then the details should be clearly noted as well.