What's the best way to go about getting extra work? I signed up with Central Casting but I can't get through . . . is a calling service a good idea? There was a guy there that gave me a card for face2face management, not sure if it's a good idea or not. Their website is face2facemgmt.com, whadya think?

Try asking on backgroundbeat.com

Calling services are good if you want to work background on a regualr daily basis. If you only want to work background occasionally and be able to arrange your own schedule around other jobs, auditions, classes, or whatever, then I would not recommend using a calling service. They would be upset if you had to keep cancelling jobs they booked for you.

Don't give up on Central Casting. You just have to be persistent.

I got a calling service, and I'm glad I did. As far as I'm concerned, it is well worth the money.

I don't have to book work, deal with busy lines and I can work as little or as much as I want. And I do believe my calling service gets me booked for things I couldn't book myself. I submitted for a feature film on LA Casting and got no response. Two days later I signed up with a calling service and what do you know, she booked me on the film I'd tried to get on myself. I could be wrong, but I feel like they put on the call lines at Central and LA Casting whatever they couldn't book through the calling services.

My only complaint is I told my service no AFTRA jobs and of course I'm booked Monday for an AFTRA job. But I did just start with them so hopefully they will remember in the future.

Backgroundbeat.com had message boards on all the major calling services so it was good to read others opinions. It really helped me make a good decision and have a positive experience thus far. I was on set the other day and this girl was at a calling service I had considered. Her male call service contact was basically sexually harassing her, inviting her out to dinner and then putting her down and booking her less work when she told him she had a boyfriend. I felt bad for her.

Do you homework and research whoever you work with. It will make all the difference in the world.