How to Get Auditions in the United States

A simple plan to get started

Whatever city you live in, the order of the steps is the same:

1. Prepare your materials: an acting resume, headshots, a reel or intro video and a space to record self-tapes (see how to prepare your audition materials).
2. Create your profiles: the Actors Access profile is free, and you can add a paid plan on the platforms below when you are ready to submit yourself.
3. Build credits where you live: SAG-AFTRA’s own advice is that agents want experience, so plays, showcases and productions near you count.
4. Approach agents and casting directors: send your submission to a specific person, with a cover letter that says what you are looking for.
5. Join SAG-AFTRA when you are eligible and the timing makes sense: the section on the union explains how membership works and what Global Rule One means.
6. If you are not a U.S. citizen, sort out your work authorization first: no one can hire you without it.

Main markets: where the work is

Work concentrates in a few cities but reaches the whole country. SAG-AFTRA divides the country into regional locals, and its Locals by Location page shows which local covers your state. Production levels change from year to year, so read the figures below as a snapshot of 2025 and 2026. Ten markets have their own guides: Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Texas, New Mexico, New Orleans and North Carolina.

Los Angeles

The SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local covers Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and northern Orange County. FilmLA, the official film office of the City and County of Los Angeles, counted 4,711 permitted on-location shoot days in Greater Los Angeles in the second quarter of 2026, 12.7% fewer than a year earlier (these counts leave out work on soundstages). Television led the main categories with 1,607 shoot days, ahead of commercials (543) and feature films (443). FilmLA adds that 170 projects have been awarded credits under Version 4.0 of the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program, and its CEO calls attracting scripted productions an important step toward bringing filming back to the region (FilmLA, July 2026).

New York

New York is where Broadway happens and also a working market for television, film and commercials. The SAG-AFTRA New York Local covers New York State, Northern New Jersey and Western Connecticut, and its president points to a deep talent pool and crew base. By mid-December 2025 the city’s Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment had processed close to 5,500 production permits for 1,760 projects (year-end summary). For the stage, Actors’ Equity Association is the union for professional actors and stage managers in live theater. It runs Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs) in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, where its members sign up for appointments (EPA procedures).

Atlanta and Georgia

The SAG-AFTRA Atlanta Local serves Georgia and South Carolina and describes Atlanta as a world-class production hub. The Georgia Film Office counted 280 productions in the 12 months that ended June 30, 2026: 130 television productions, 77 independent films, 54 commercials and 13 feature films. Direct spending was about $2 billion, down from $2.3 billion the year before and less than half of the state’s all-time high in 2022 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution). In Georgia, television is the largest category, but the market is smaller than it was a few years ago.

Chicago

The SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local covers Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and part of Iowa, and describes a mix of theater, commercial, television and independent film work, with shows such as The Bear, Chicago Fire and The Chi. Illinois reported a record $703 million in film production spending in 2025 (Governor Pritzker’s office, March 2026). Chicago is also one of the three cities with an Equity audition center, along with New York and Los Angeles.

New Mexico

The SAG-AFTRA New Mexico Local serves New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, and points to major film studios and an exceptional incentive package as reasons for the state’s growth. According to the New Mexico Film Office, the state offers a refundable credit of 25% on qualified spending, which can rise to 40% with uplifts, and it had hosted 63 productions in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2026 (as of the office’s June 23, 2026 release).

Miami, New Orleans and the rest of the country

Miami concentrates the country’s Spanish-language fiction (see the Spanish-language section below), and the SAG-AFTRA Miami Local covers Florida, Alabama and Puerto Rico. The New Orleans Local covers Louisiana and Mississippi, and Central Casting also has an office in Louisiana. If you live somewhere else, start with your local’s page and with the plays, showcases and productions near you: SAG-AFTRA’s own advice is that agents want experience (see how to get acting experience).

Casting platforms where roles are posted

Casting directors post their roles on these platforms. Most let you build a profile for free but charge for full or unlimited submissions, and Backstage asks for a subscription from the start. Before you pay, see which casting websites are worth using and when a subscription makes sense, or compare the three biggest in Actors Access vs. Backstage vs. Casting Networks. Prices were checked in October 2026.

Actors Access

The actors’ side of Breakdown Services. Your profile is free and includes your resume, two headshots, role match alerts and invitations to self-tape and live auditions, and it lets you submit your name and resume to the breakdowns released to Actors Access. To respond with your full profile you need the Plus plan, which costs $68 per year (there is also a monthly option), or you can pay per project. SAG-AFTRA members get 20% off the annual plan. According to the FAQ, you can register from outside North America, although most projects are for actors who can work there.

Website	actorsaccess.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/actorsaccess

Backstage

A casting platform and magazine for actors, around since 1960. According to its help center, you need a paid subscription (annual, six-month or monthly) to create your profile and apply to casting calls. Plans renew automatically until you cancel, monthly plans are not refundable, and six-month or annual plans can be refunded if you cancel within 30 days of the purchase or renewal (subscription terms). Check the current price when you sign up.

Website	www.backstage.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/backstagecast

Casting Networks (and LA Casting)

A platform where casting directors post roles. LA Casting, a former name of the platform, now redirects to it. The free plan lets you build a profile, browse roles and answer audition requests, but to submit yourself to roles you need Premium: $29.99 per month or $299.90 per year (Casting Networks support).

Website	www.castingnetworks.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/castingnetworks

Casting Frontier

A platform for commercial, TV and film castings with virtual auditions. It has a free basic plan with limited role submissions and Premium plans starting at $14.99 per month.

Website

castingfrontier.com

Project Casting

A site that lists casting calls, auditions and gigs for actors, creators and filmmakers. The profile is free and there is an optional paid subscription.

Website	www.projectcasting.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/projectcasting

Central Casting

Founded in 1925, it casts background actors (extras), stand-ins and doubles, with offices in California, New York, Georgia and Louisiana. Signing up is free and the process includes Form I-9, which verifies your identity and your authorization to work in the United States. In California and New York you must also complete required training before you can work (Central Casting support). Read more in how to become a background actor.

Website	www.centralcasting.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/central_casting

Talent agents and managers

An agent gets you auditions that are not posted publicly and negotiates your contracts, while a manager guides your career. SAG-AFTRA explains the difference in its guide on whether you need a manager if you have an agent: an agent is the only person legally permitted to procure work for you, and in California agents must be licensed by the state. SAG-AFTRA members can only hire agents that the union has franchised. Franchised agents can take up to 10% of what you earn from the work they procure, while managers are not regulated or licensed by any state and generally take no more than 10% to 15% of your gross earnings. SAG-AFTRA also says that a manager cannot legally submit you or negotiate for you unless they act at the direction of a licensed agent.

Before you sign with anyone, check these points:

• Fees: SAG-AFTRA says a franchised agent may not charge more than 10% commission, may collect it only when you are paid, may not charge up-front fees of any kind and may not require you to attend a specific school or use a specific photographer. If you are unsure about an agent’s status, call the union’s Professional Representatives Department at (323) 549-6745 in Los Angeles or (212) 863-4230 in New York.
• California license: anyone who arranges employment for artists in California needs a talent agency license, and the license number has to appear in the agency’s ads. You can look an agency up in the Labor Commissioner’s License and Registration Search.
• Written promises: the Federal Trade Commission advises you to get every promise in writing and keep copies of your contracts.

How do you get an agent? SAG-AFTRA’s advice starts with targeting agencies that are franchised, asking performer friends about their agents and joining plays, showcases and workshops that put you in front of agents. When you write, send your submission to a specific person, say in your cover letter that you are seeking representation and why you want to work with that agency, and tailor your resume to the kind of representation you want: a commercial agent wants your commercial credits first and photos that differ from the ones theatrical agents look for (SAG-AFTRA agents FAQ). For a step-by-step plan, read how to get a talent agent.

CESD Talent Agency

A talent agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York and a voiceover department that includes a Spanish-language category.

Website	www.cesdtalent.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/cesdtalent
Email	[email protected]
Phone	310-475-2111

Casting directors to follow

Following casting directors shows you what projects they are putting together. Almost all of them work with agents or through platforms; the ones that take materials say so on their websites.

Sarah Finn

Casting director for almost the whole Marvel universe, from Iron Man to The Fantastic Four: First Steps (TheWrap).

Instagram

www.instagram.com/sarahfinncasting

Carla Hool

Bilingual casting director in Los Angeles: she cast Emilia Pérez and won an Artios Award for Coco.

Instagram

www.instagram.com/carlahoolcasting

Betty Mae Casting (Mary Vernieu)

Film and TV casting company with credits such as The Last of Us (season 2), Nobody 2 and Caught Stealing.

Website	www.bettymae.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/bettymaecasting
Email	[email protected]
Phone	(310) 396-6100

The TRC Company (formerly Tara Rubin Casting, New York)

Continues the work of Tara Rubin Casting on Broadway, with credits such as Buena Vista Social Club; one of its partners is the Colombian American Xavier Rubiano. It accepts a photo and resume by email, with the name of the project in the subject line.

Website	www.thetrccompany.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/thetrccompany
Email	[email protected]
Phone	212-302-3011

London/Stroud Casting (Lisa London)

Los Angeles casting company run by Lisa London and Catherine Stroud that accepts actors’ materials by email.

Instagram	www.instagram.com/lisalondoncasting
Email	[email protected]
Phone	323-788-4998

Liz Dean

Casting director for TV series such as Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC).

Instagram

www.instagram.com/lizdeancasting

Kimberly Hardin

Film and TV casting director with credits such as Reasonable Doubt (Hulu).

Instagram

www.instagram.com/castingwithkim

Good Faith Casting (Bella Hibbs)

Casting company based in Arizona with offices in Los Angeles and Albuquerque. Its website says it never charges actors and warns that scammers use its name.

Website	www.goodfaithcasting.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/goodfaithcasting
Email	[email protected]

Berland Casting (Terry Berland)

Los Angeles casting director who specializes in commercials and voiceover. She also teaches paid commercial acting workshops.

Website	berlandcasting.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/berlandcasting
Email	[email protected]

SAG-AFTRA: union and non-union work

SAG-AFTRA is the union for performers in film, TV and radio. Union productions hire under its collective bargaining agreements, which the union says protect members wherever they work and feed the pension and health funds. You do not have to be a member to get started: Breakdown Services posts both union and non-union projects, each breakdown lists the pay rate and union affiliations, and union productions can hire non-members too. When a signatory producer (one that has signed a SAG-AFTRA agreement) hires a performer who is not a member, it has to report the hire to SAG-AFTRA in writing within 15 days of the performer’s first work date (25 days on an overnight location), giving the reason for the hire and attaching the performer’s headshot and resume (Taft-Hartley report). For more, see union vs. non-union acting and how to join SAG-AFTRA.

How you become eligible

According to SAG-AFTRA’s steps to join, you become eligible in one of two ways:

• Union work: one day in a principal or speaking role (or as a recording artist) on a production covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement, or three days as a background actor under a SAG-AFTRA agreement.
• Another performers’ union: one year of paid-up membership in an affiliated union such as ACTRA, AEA, AGMA or AGVA, plus at least one paid job as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

SAG-AFTRA checks every application. You prove your work with pay stubs, your original performer contract or a payroll printout (background vouchers are not accepted), and your application is denied if you falsify your credentials or your qualifying work is not bona fide. Once you are eligible, contact your nearest local to find out your joining fees.

What it costs

All new members pay a one-time initiation fee plus the first semiannual dues. The national initiation fee is currently $3,121, although it may be lower in some states. Base dues and work dues (which depend on your covered earnings) are listed on SAG-AFTRA’s membership costs page, which also points to initiation loans from the SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union and Actors Federal Credit Union.

When to join, and Global Rule One

On its Am I Ready to Join? page, SAG-AFTRA asks a few questions, including whether you are serious about a career as a performer and want to be seen as a professional. If you decide to join, know that members must follow Global Rule One: no member may work for an employer that has not signed a SAG-AFTRA agreement, in any jurisdiction where a SAG-AFTRA national agreement is in place, and the rule applies worldwide. Breaking it can lead to discipline that ranges from a reprimand or a fine to expulsion. In practice, once you are a member you can no longer take non-union jobs in those areas.

SAG-AFTRA in Spanish

The union has had a National Latino Committee and a Spanish-language website since 2021 (SAG-AFTRA), and it handles the opinion letters for O and P visas (see the next section).

Website	www.sagaftra.org
Spanish website	es.sagaftra.org
Instagram	www.instagram.com/sagaftra
Email	[email protected]
Phone	(855) 724-2387

Working in the U.S. if you are not a citizen

To be hired in the United States you need legal authorization to work. USCIS requires every U.S. employer to complete Form I-9 for every new hire, citizens included, to verify identity and employment authorization (USCIS), so without authorization nobody can hire you. For actors from other countries, the visa path usually starts with the O-1B.

O-1B visa

The O-1B is for artists with extraordinary ability and, in film and TV, for people with extraordinary achievement, meaning they are recognized as outstanding, notable or leading in the field. According to USCIS, a U.S. employer, a U.S. agent or a foreign employer acting through a U.S. agent files the petition for you on Form I-129. For film and television, the petition needs a consultation from an appropriate labor union and a management organization. It cannot be filed more than a year before the work starts, and USCIS recommends filing at least 45 days before. The initial stay can last up to three years.

P visas and SAG-AFTRA opinion letters

P visas are for internationally recognized entertainment groups (P-1B) and for culturally unique programs (P-3). SAG-AFTRA handles requests for opinion letters on O-1, O-2, P-1, P-2 and P-3 visas: the petitioner, meaning your representative, sends a complete application to [email protected] with proof of awards, reviews and articles, a copy of your passport, the I-129 petition and the employment contract. The union charges a fee for this service, and its O and P visas page lists the current amount and what a complete petition includes. For the visa categories themselves, see the USCIS page on temporary workers.

Where to study acting on a student visa

Some actors come to the country to study. The Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the States site says that F-1 students have limited work options, that if you want to work the first step is always to talk with your designated school official, and that working without permission has serious consequences (Study in the States). These schools accept international students on a student visa. English is key: see our guide on bilingual actors.

HB Studio (New York)

It has a program for international students on an F-1 visa, from 10 weeks to 2 years, with 7 classes per week.

Website	hbstudio.org/international-students
Instagram	www.instagram.com/hbstudionyc
Phone	(212) 675-2370

Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (New York and Los Angeles)

A school authorized under federal law to enroll international students.

Website	strasberg.edu/international-students
Instagram	www.instagram.com/strasberginstitute

AADA, American Academy of Dramatic Arts (New York; its Los Angeles campus closed in 2025)

After admission it issues the I-20 form you need to apply for a student visa.

Website	www.aada.edu/admissions/international-students
Instagram	www.instagram.com/aadaedu

The Spanish-language market (Miami)

Miami concentrates the country’s Spanish-language fiction: Telemundo’s series are shot there and several agencies cast in Spanish. The United States has 68 million Hispanic residents, 20% of the population (Census Bureau), and Telemundo says it is the number one producer of Spanish-language fiction in the country (Telemundo). On screen in Hollywood, though, Latino presence is far smaller than its weight in the population: in the 100 top-grossing films of 2025, only 5.8% of speaking or named characters were Hispanic or Latino, according to the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. For more detail, see our guides to auditions in Miami and to Telemundo and Univision auditions.

Telemundo Studios

It shoots its series at the Telemundo Center in Miami, such as Sed de venganza and Velvet: El nuevo imperio. In 2024 it opened an international casting call in Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico City and Bogotá that received more than 22,000 initial applications (PRODU). That call is closed now and there is no permanent channel for sending materials, so follow its announcements.

Website	www.telemundo.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/telemundo

Casting By (Jessica Caldrello)

A Spanish-language casting agency based in Miami with offices in Mexico City, Madrid, Los Angeles and Bogotá. According to PRODU, Caldrello worked for ten years in the casting department of Telemundo Studios. Her credits include Pálpito 2 and Who Killed Sara? (¿Quién mató a Sara?) season 3, and she posts calls in Spanish on Instagram.

Website	casting-by.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/castingbytv
Email	[email protected]

Lori Wyman Casting

Miami casting director with more than 1,500 commercials in English and Spanish and credits on MIA, Bad Monkey and Dexter: Original Sin. On the first Thursday of every month she offers a free one-hour consultation on Zoom; her classes are paid.

Website	www.loriwymancasting.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/loriwymancasting
Email	[email protected]
Phone	305-354-3901

Sanford Casting (Los Angeles)

A full-service casting company that has worked for the Spanish-language market since 2006, according to its bio at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

Website	sanfordcasting.com
Instagram	www.instagram.com/sanfordcasting
Email	[email protected]
Phone	818-692-9604

Spanish-language theater

Spanish-language theater is a way in for Spanish-speaking actors. In New York you will also find INTAR, Pregones/PRTT and the Thalia Spanish Theatre.

Repertorio Español (New York)

A rotating repertory company at the Gramercy Arts Theatre. It accepts a photo and resume all year by email, with the subject line “Headshot / Resume” and your name, and when it hires, it asks for authorization to work in the United States.

Website	repertorio.nyc
Email	[email protected]

GALA Hispanic Theatre (Washington, D.C.)

A Hispanic theater that held general auditions in July 2026 for its 2026-27 season, looking for Spanish-speaking artists.

Website	galatheatre.org/get-involved
Instagram	www.instagram.com/teatrogala
Email	[email protected]
Phone	202-234-7174

HOLA (Hispanic Organization of Latin Artists)

An organization founded in New York in 1975 by Hispanic actors. Its HOLA Referrals service sends casting notices to members every day; membership is paid ($99 per year).

Website	holaofficial.org
Instagram	www.instagram.com/holaofficial
Email	[email protected]

Websites and social accounts that post castings in the United States

Besides the platforms above, keep these handy:

• Castings on Casting and Acting: castings and auditions posted on the site, with a country filter.
• SAG-AFTRA in Spanish: the union’s website in Spanish, with information for Latino actors.

How to prepare for an audition in the United States

When a call comes up, the winner is whoever answers fast and with complete audition materials. Have this ready before you write to any agency:

• Acting resume on one page, with your details, measurements, training and experience, plus your union affiliations if you have any. Guide: how to make an acting resume.
• Headshots with current photos of your face, plus a full-body shot. According to SAG-AFTRA, commercial agents want different types of photos than theatrical agents. You can put them together at home: how to take headshots at home.
• Reel with your best scenes or, if you don’t have any work yet, a one-minute intro video. Guide: how to make an acting reel.
• Self-tape for remote auditions: front lighting, a plain background and good audio. More details in what is a self-tape and how to record a self-tape.

Watch out for fake castings and scams

Reputable agencies and production companies in the United States are paid by the people who hire them, not by actors: joining their database or going to a casting has to be free. Be wary if they ask you for money, intimate photos or to go alone, especially if you’re a minor. We explain how to recognize them in how to spot a fake casting call, and parents can start with how to get your child into acting.

The Federal Trade Commission’s guide to modeling scams lists the same patterns: fees up front, guaranteed work or big salaries, being forced to use a particular photographer, pressure to sign quickly and payment by cash, gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. It advises you to search the company’s name with words like “scam” or “complaint”, never pay an agency up front and get every promise in writing. SAG-AFTRA’s scam alert page adds that you should never pay anyone by email who says they are from casting or production.

In California the law prohibits advance-fee talent representation services, and anyone who arranges work for artists needs a talent agency license (California Labor Commissioner). Platforms charge subscriptions for their service; be wary of anyone who asks you for money to give you a part or an audition. Some scammers use the names of real casting companies, which is why Good Faith Casting warns on its website that it never charges actors.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an agent to get auditions in the United States?

You do not need one to start. You can submit yourself to the projects posted on Actors Access, Casting Networks and Backstage, and some casting directors take materials by email. Still, some breakdowns are posted only to agents and managers on Breakdown Express, because the casting director decides where each project goes, so representation opens roles you cannot see yourself. Read more about what a talent agent does.

Where do most auditions happen in the United States?

Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta are the main hubs. FilmLA counted 4,711 on-location shoot days in Greater Los Angeles in the second quarter of 2026, New York processed close to 5,500 production permits in 2025, and the Georgia Film Office counted 280 productions in the 12 months that ended June 30, 2026. Chicago, New Mexico, Miami and New Orleans also have active production and their own SAG-AFTRA locals.

How much do the casting platforms cost?

Actors Access has a free profile and a Plus plan at $68 per year; Casting Networks asks for $29.99 per month or $299.90 per year to submit yourself; Casting Frontier has Premium plans starting at $14.99 per month; and Backstage requires a paid subscription to create a profile and apply. Check each site’s current prices before you pay.

Do I have to join SAG-AFTRA to act in the United States?

Joining is not required to start. Breakdown Services posts both union and non-union projects, and union productions can hire non-members. Keep in mind that once you are a member, Global Rule One means you can only work under SAG-AFTRA contracts in the areas where the union has national agreements, so decide when to join with that in mind.

How do I join SAG-AFTRA and how much does it cost?

You become eligible with one day of work in a principal or speaking role, or three days as a background actor, under a SAG-AFTRA agreement, or through one year of membership in an affiliated union plus a paid principal job in its jurisdiction. The initiation fee is currently $3,121 nationally (lower in some states), plus the first semiannual dues. Base dues and work dues are listed on SAG-AFTRA’s membership costs page, together with initiation loans from two credit unions.

Can I work as an actor in the United States if I am not a citizen?

Only with legal authorization to work. The usual route for foreign actors is the O-1B visa, which a U.S. employer or agent files on Form I-129, no more than a year before the work starts and ideally at least 45 days before, with a consultation from a labor union. Actors Access says you can register from outside North America, although most of its projects are for actors who can work there. If a production asks for an audition from your home country, see how to record a self-tape.

Are there auditions in Spanish in the United States?

Yes, mostly in Miami: Telemundo shoots its series at the Telemundo Center and opens casting calls every so often, and agencies such as Casting By post searches in Spanish. In New York, Repertorio Español accepts photos and resumes all year.

Do I have to pay to audition in the United States?

Going to an audition does not cost anything; platforms charge subscriptions for their service. Be wary of anyone who asks you for money in advance to represent you or to give you a part.

Do I need to speak English to get roles in the United States?

Most roles are in English, so you need to be comfortable working in it. If it is your second language, see our guide on bilingual actors, and remember that Spanish-language work exists too, mainly in Miami.

List reviewed in October 2026. Contacts change: if an agency has stopped operating or you know one that is missing, let us know. For other countries, see the Latin America Casting Directory.