You Know People…So Why Aren’t You Booking?
Knowing the right people isn’t enough — here’s what you’re missing.
This article is part of the free tier of Cast Forward — created to help actors build smarter, more sustainable careers. My paid subscribers get full deep-dive articles (every other Saturday), career strategies, and occasional casting notices. If you’re looking for more in-depth insights, personalized strategies, and industry tips, consider joining us!
It’s frustrating. You’ve put in the time. You’ve met casting directors, producers, directors — you know people. So why are you still chasing the next job while others seem to be getting offers without half the hustle?
Here’s the truth most actors don’t want to hear: knowing people is worthless if you don’t know how to position yourself once you’re in the room or on a call.
It’s not enough to have a network. It’s how you use it — and more importantly, how you communicate with it.
The problem? Most actors are trained to “act” — not to navigate the business side of acting. The language decision makers speak is different. They don’t respond to the same things actors do.
And here’s what happens when you don’t understand the rules off-camera:
You start to think it’s you.
You wonder why your auditions don’t lead to callbacks. Why people you’ve trained with — maybe even helped — are getting cast, while you’re stuck refreshing your inbox. You’ve done the “put yourself out there” thing. You’ve networked. You’ve followed up. Still… silence.
It’s exhausting.
Most actors blame luck. Or timing. Or tell themselves, “Maybe I’m just not what they’re looking for.”
I had a friend — a talented actor — who booked a role in a major Ubisoft project. The breakdown called for a bigger, physically commanding actor. He didn’t match the look they were expecting. But he showed up prepared — and that made all the difference.
The choices he made for the character were bold, clear, and unexpected — the kind that shift a casting director’s mindset. He brought a take they hadn’t seen before, but that made sense the moment he committed to it. He didn’t try to “match the type.” He brought something that elevated the role.
But here’s the other thing: he knew how to speak their language. He didn’t come in just hoping to be liked. He came in communicating like a pro. His energy was grounded. His framing was sharp. He presented himself as someone who understood both the creative and the business.
He made smart choices. He spoke their language. And he booked it.
Later, he was up for a supporting role in a major American production shooting in Toronto — a big-budget film with a major U.S. studio attached. But this time, they were dragging things out — going back and forth, unsure if they wanted him. He was shorter than what they had in mind, and the role was written as a physically intimidating presence. And then — silence. No updates. No clarity. Just a pause that could’ve meant it was over.
But they didn’t let that silence linger. He and his agent both put on their business hats and came back with intention.They stopped playing defense and shifted into strategy. They started speaking the right language — the language that decision-makers understand. They positioned him not as someone who was “hoping” for the job, but as a smart casting choice who could deliver the performance and elevate the production.
Everything shifted. He booked the role.
Later, when it was time for him to find an agent in Vancouver, he came to me. We worked together on his cover letter, email pitch, and overall package. He ended up getting responses from three top agencies — and we narrowed it down to the one that felt like the right fit. He signed, and the momentum continued.
And that’s exactly what I unpack in my two paid articles:
→ In one, I break down what happens when you treat your acting career like a corporate job — and why it works.
→ In the other, I show you how to talk so decision-makers actually listen — and offer you work.
Once you know how to operate at their level, doors open — even if you don’t fit the original blueprint.
But most actors stop at talent. They assume being good is enough — that if they deliver in the room, the rest will take care of itself.
But I’ve worked with enough actors to tell you — that’s not it.
It’s not about whether you’re talented, although that’s very important. It’s whether people see you as someone they can hire. That’s a totally different equation. It’s shaped by your materials, your messaging, how you communicate in rooms, emails, slates, and callbacks — and whether you’re positioning yourself like someone who’s already in demand. You must carry yourself in that way.
This is the part no one teaches in class. And honestly? Most actors never figure it out. That’s why it’s so easy to get overlooked, even when you’re doing everything “right.”
There are thousands of talented actors out there. I’ve been in casting rooms. I’ve been on the other side of the table helping cast projects. And I’ve seen it more times than I can count — the actor who wasn’t the best performer still got the part because they knew how to speak the language. They positioned themselves as a collaborator. As someone you want to work with.
But once you learn how to handle the business side of acting with just as much skill as your performances?
Everything changes.
Here’s a wake-up call:
Many moons ago, a friend of mine — a brilliant actor — graduated from the same theatre school I did. We were both living in Toronto at the time, and he told me about an audition he’d just gone to. It was for a cowboy role. Everyone in the room had shown up dressed accordingly — boots, shirt, denim — but one actor had gone all in. Full costume, full energy.
Not the typical advice we’re given. In fact, most actors are told not to go full costume for an audition. But he broke that rule — and owned it.
And the wild part? They were all auditioning together — in the same room — and my friend watched the guy’s performance live. He told me it was fine. Not bad. But nothing special. Still, the difference was clear: he knew how to pitch himself.
My friend turned to me and said, “I’ve got the talent — but I need to get better at that.”
He meant the way the actor pitched himself — how he spoke their language, positioned his skills like a collaborator, and showed up with the mindset of someone they’d hire. Not a fan. Not desperate. Just sharp and strategic.
He didn’t treat it like some exclusive shot he had to beg for — he treated it like a new deal to close, a new challenge to tackle. No fear. No pressure. Just clarity.
The decision-makers were in the room alongside the casting team, observing everything. The casting director started asking questions. Most actors gave short, forgettable answers. But this one actor — the one fully dressed and fully committed — stepped forward and answered with complete confidence. He spoke like a collaborator. He positioned himself as the solution. He didn’t wait to be chosen — he advocated for himself, right there in front of everyone — confidently, without pressure or neediness.
And my friend just shook his head and said, “There we were… standing quietly in the background, listening to him vouch for himself — and then watching him walk away with the role. Like four decorative cowboys holding space while the real one claimed the job.”
Those types of auditions don’t happen that often anymore — where everyone performs in front of each other and the decision is made on the spot.
But back in my day, they did. It even happened to me twice.
This one time, I walked into an audition for a musical theatre production that would tour internationally by ship, performing in different countries along the way. It was a singing and acting role. The casting director and decision-maker were both in the room. They were looking to replace an actress who could no longer continue the tour, and I had done my research. I shaped my performance based on what I believed the part truly required.
After I finished, the director/producer said, “We’re not supposed to do this, but we really want to offer you the job.”
Normally, she’d wait, review all the auditions, and follow up later. She told me my delivery wasn’t just what she was looking for. It actually surpassed the original performer’s.
It was one of the clearest offers I’ve ever received.
Initially, I was excited — a global tour, performing in different countries, booked straight from the audition room? It felt like a dream. But once the reality set in — living on a ship for months, constantly at sea — I started to think more seriously about it. I knew I’d get seasick, and the thought of being away for that long on the water honestly started to scare me. In the end, I didn’t take the role. It just wasn’t the right fit for me — but that moment taught me something I never forgot: when you align your preparation with what the production truly needs, and you know how to communicate that in the room, things shift.
And that’s the energy — the language and mindset shift you need to bring now — in your self-tapes, in your Zoom callbacks, in your screen tests.
You might not be in the room at times, but they still need to feel that you're the one who walks out with the job.
If you’re treating your acting career like a passion project or waiting for your “big break,” you’re already behind. The ones who book consistently are the ones who run their careers like a business — and who know how to talk so people actually listen.
In the two paid articles below, I break down the exact strategies I teach my clients to use to stop chasing and start getting booked. You’ll learn:
How to shift into a business mindset that keeps you consistent and empowered
Why the way you speak (in meetings, emails, slates, and even auditions) affects your opportunities more than you think
How to rework your communication style so it lands with decision-makers — without sounding fake or salesy
Tips for how to incorporate this into your slates, self-tapes, callbacks, and live reads
If you want to be seen as a working actor instead of someone “trying,” start here:
👉 What Happens When You Treat Your Acting Career Like a Corporate Job?
👉 They Don’t Speak Actor: Here’s How to Talk So Decision Makers Actually Listen — And Offer You Work
Mini Homework
Before your next email, DM, or industry meeting, do this:
Write down three specific results you’ve created in past roles or projects.
Not feelings. Not experiences. Results. Think:
“Carried a film that screened at [Festival Name],”
“Helped a pilot land a deal with [Network].”
“Created and performed a monologue series that hit 40K views and was shared by casting directors”
“Performed in a play featured in the Montreal Gazette with over 1,000 audience members across three nights”
“Cast as the lead in a short film that premiered at TIFF Next Wave”
“Booked 4 co-star roles in under 18 months”
“Performed 12 live shows at a sold-out Fringe Festival run”
“Booked a bilingual commercial campaign seen by over 2 million viewers across Canada”
“Booked an Apple campaign — billboard placement on Sunset Boulevard for 6 weeks”
“Cast in a role (clerk) in a film nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.” (small role as a clerk — but part of a globally recognized production)
“Guest-starred on a show that was greenlit for Season 2 after reaching Netflix’s Top 10 globally”
“Cast in a role (nurse) on an HBO Max series that was nominated for 5 Emmys”
Why?
Decision makers think in outcomes. They care about what you can deliver, not just who you are. Start practicing framing your work in results — it’s a small shift that can lead to a much bigger impact.
P.S. If you’ve been following Cast Forward, you already know I’m not just tossing out random tips — I’m giving you real, field-tested strategies. These are tools I’ve developed from years of working in the industry, guiding clients through career breakthroughs, and booking work myself as an actor.
I share what actually works — the kind of insights that come from lived experience, not theory. And I don’t hold back in the paid articles. If you're serious about your career, this is the kind of training you don’t want to miss.
Want to go deeper? Here’s how to run your career with clarity and control:
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What You Get:
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📌 Missed this?
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👉 What Do Actors Do Between Jobs? 8 Smart Strategies You Can Use Right Now
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