Resources
for working actors.
A free 13-PDF library for actors trying to make a life in New York. Casting platforms, audition venues, headshot photographers, training schools, self-tape setup, union pathways, mental health, money. No login. No email signup. Download what you need.
Casting Platforms & Submission Networks
Actors Access, Casting Networks, Backstage, Playbill, NYCastings, Project Casting, Central Casting, voice-over platforms. What each one is for, what it costs, how to use it.
Headshots, Reels & Materials
Twelve reputable NYC headshot photographers. Five trusted reel editors. What to spend, what to expect, how to vet a photographer, and how to get reel footage when you have none.
Self-Tape Studio Setup
Build a working self-tape kit for under $200. Camera, mic, lighting, framing, eye line, file naming, the reader, and the 2-hour tape rule that makes self-tape life manageable.
The Actor’s Resume Template
Industry-standard format. Header, film, TV, theater, training, special skills. A working fill-in template, formatting rules, what to leave off, and how to handle gaps.
Where to Audition in NYC
Pearl, Ripley-Grier, Open Jar, Nola, Chelsea, Shetler. EPAs, ECCs, and the AEA Audition Center. Major casting offices: Telsey, Tara Rubin, Stephanie Klapper, Calleri Jensen Davis, and more.
Training: Schools, Coaches & Studios
HB Studio, Stella Adler, Strasberg, Atlantic, Neighborhood Playhouse, Esper, Maggie Flanigan, T. Schreiber, Barrow Group. Methods, audition policies, on-camera classes, and CD workshops with caveats.
Unions: SAG-AFTRA & AEA Pathways
Eligibility, costs, what you give up, what you get. The EMC program, Open Access, union health and pension, and the realistic paths actors actually take.
Submission Etiquette & Outreach
How to write the cover letter, the cold email to a CD, the follow-up, the thank-you. Sample emails for casting and agent outreach. What gets you read, and what gets you blacklisted.
Survival Jobs & Money
Flexible NYC work that pays the rent without giving up the audition day. Catering, restaurant, brand ambassador, voice-over, dog walking, focus groups. Pay ranges and trade-offs.
Mental Health & Wellness
The Entertainment Community Fund, sliding-scale therapy, peer groups, addiction resources, the 4 PM rule. Crisis numbers up front. The work is hard — take care of the person before the career.
Free & Low-Cost Resources
SAG-AFTRA Foundation, AEA Foundation, BRIO, NYFA, Drama League, TRU. Free tickets via TDF, TKTS, lottery. SNAP, food pantries, VLA legal aid, and the NYC nonprofits that exist to keep artists in the game.
Tax & Money Guide for Actors
1099 vs W-2, quarterly estimates, the Schedule C deduction list (materials, training, travel, home office), performer-savvy CPAs, multi-state filing, loan-out corps, and NYC’s free tax-prep programs.
Want to talk?
If you have a question about the work, the business, or just want a real human at the other end of the email — write us. We read every message and answer every one. No representation pitch required.