21 Great Questions to Prepare for Casting Directors & Agents!

always stay positive and confident in your answers,
and always keep your head and eyes up.

1. Tell me about yourself?

Example: I am originally from Houston, Texas. I moved here in 2000 to get top-notch training and since then I have had the opportunity to work and study with some amazing artists. Kathleen Turner, Alec Baldwin, Edward Albee, and my mentor Wynn Handman. Since here I have booked a lot of edgy-type roles on TV shows like Nurse Jackie, Damages, and Person of Interest to name a few.  I have two children, my son Austin and baby girl Stella and yes, they were both named after my favorite two plays, True West and Streetcar.   My one-year goal is to book a recurring guest star on a hit show and to have a role in a Sundance-caliber-type film.

2. What do you think separates your successful clients from the others?

My training (give examples) my experience on stage and on film (give one or two examples) and my deep passion to continue to learn to grow as an actor.

3. What can I do as an actor to make your job easier?

I am always prepared, and disciplined in my craft and will always be sure to do my part as an actor in networking and making sure you have all the up-to-date material.

• Great questions to ask an agent at a meeting.

• Can you describe what a great agent-actor relationship?

• What about a bad one?

• What are your successful clients doing that others aren’t doing?

• What can I do to make your job easier?

4. If you weren’t acting, what would you be doing?

Talk about something you're passionate about, and that inspires you. For me, I would be a Chef like my father. I love cooking and creating, and I think being a Chef would feed that for me.

5. What have you seen lately that’s inspired you?

Always have a great indie film that one knows about to share.

6. What was your last audition?

Give an example of one and then add 20 or 30 seconds an interesting story about it.

7. What television shows or shows would you love most to be on?

Important to know what’s shooting in NYC and where you fit in. They want to be confident that you know how to market yourself and where you fit in.

8. What do you know about our company?

Google the casting director agency or theatrical agency you are going in for. Know who they represent, what they’ve cast, and definitely if they have won an award.  All this info can be found on IMDB Pro.

9. Do you have any questions for me?

Come up with a question for them that might spark an interesting conversation. Example. Do you have any exciting projects you are working on, or what was the last project you worked on?

10. What types of roles do you see yourself being cast in?

Say what your dream roles are in television and film- recognizable things that pay money and projects that agents and casting directors are part of.

11. What do you expect from an agent or manager?

I am looking for an agent who I can talk to, work with and collaborate on how to me both of us forward and grow. I will always be sure to be prepared and to do my part of the relationship and ask to have a relationship that I can collaborate and discuss the best course of action for my career.

12. What makes you a unique performer?

Talk about your experience, special talents, and your training. Talk about what inspires you and what type of work resonates with you

13. What are your short-term goals?

Say what your short-term acting goals are. Be mindful of who you’re talking to and if there are connections in what you’re talking about that they might be interested in.  i.e., if they are a comedy casting director, you could show them the pilot of your comedy show.  Talk about the jobs you’re looking at that are going to make it financially viable for this person. Shows and films that pay money. An actor who creates their material is a good thing as long as it’s working toward bigger jobs and networking opportunities if the short films are about getting into bigger festivals.

14. What made you decide to be an actor?

Tell a short 1 or 2-minute story on how you became an actor. Example:  I was in love with an ex-girlfriend and I wanted to impress her, and then the bug bit me and I fell in love with playing characters.  Acting seemed to come naturally to me as I have great empathy for people. I love the idea of teaching through acting and shining a mirror on life to help us look inside.

15. What do you think is holding you back in your career as an actor?

A strong answer would be, I don’t think anything is holding me back in my career, I think it’s just a matter of time to meditate, visualize, and enjoy the process.

16. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Be confident in whatever you say, and it’s ok to be confident without being cocky. Give specifics about the project and roles that you would like to book. In 5 years, I would like to see myself as a recurring guest star on a hit TV show and in a supporting role on Broadway. Then you can turn it around on them and ask them, “Do you think these are realistic goals?” This helps open up the conversation and keep the rapport flowing.

17. How has your training prepared you for your acting career?

Important to take visual cues of what they’re giving you back to. You can do a little name-dropping, but not too much.

18. What are your favorite films and why?

Talk about why they are your favorite films—the director’s style, the lighting, etc.

19. Describe your biggest accomplishment to date?

Talk about this for about 1 or 2 minutes and why. Example: Taking family and veteran letters and turning them into a successful solo show, The American Soldier was nominated for a Fringe Award, received strong reviews and sold-out shows, and was given 4 stars at the Ed Fringe.

20. What is your favorite part of your job?

A good question to ask an agent or casting director if they ask you if you have any questions for them.

21. What is your strongest attribute?

Talk about your talents and experiences, and discipline to always continue to study and grow as an artist.