When I signed with my agent, I had to sign up for LA Casting. Luckily, the account is free through my agent, but it is expensive to upload lots of photos or change them, which of course I had to do.

LA Casting is what most commercial casting directors go through, with the exception of Danny Goldman, who primarily uses Breakdown Services (actorsaccess).

LA Casting also robs the hell out of you by charging $25 dollars just to click a mouse button. Seriously, the owner should be publicly flogged for doing that. With a horsewhip to the backflesh, and let ever financially struggling actor throw an item of their choice at him.

By the time you add/change a few photos, you're looking at $80 bucks? That's just wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by El Mariachi:
LA Casting is what most commercial casting directors go through, with the exception of Danny Goldman, who primarily uses Breakdown Services (actorsaccess).

LA Casting also robs the hell out of you by charging $25 dollars just to click a mouse button. Seriously, the owner should be publicly flogged for doing that. With a horsewhip to the backflesh, and let ever financially struggling actor throw an item of their choice at him.

By the time you add/change a few photos, you're looking at $80 bucks? That's just wrong.

Agreed! Actually it can cost you more than that-well over $100, especially if you don't add all the photos at the same time. That $50 charge to change a "premier" photo-are you kidding? This encourages actors to keep outdated photos on there. It should be more reasonable like actors access-2 free photos and $10 for each additional.

well, i'm not on LA Casting (but I don't think the cost justifies the benefit), but my thoughts would be to have your own personal seperate website, and just link people back to that from your LA Casting account....save yourself the $80 per photo charge and go buy yourself a couple of purses!!! (well, 1/4 of a purse maybe)

quote:

Originally posted by Sherly:
well, i'm not on LA Casting (but I don't think the cost justifies the benefit), but my thoughts would be to have your own personal seperate website, and just link people back to that from your LA Casting account

That is another down side to LAC. I've tried that and LAC won't allow it. Even when sending a note with your submission, if you type in www.@anthing, you are warned if you continue to try that, you will be dropped. There are creative ways of doing it, though and if an agent or CD really want more info on you, they will go to IMDb, google or even call you direct. My son and I have both had that happen. We do like LAC's site and its breakdowns, but the photo charges are just too high. I would think they would they would get more business if their fees were more competitive, but they know that they are the #1 site used for commercials by CDs and agents, so they get away with it. Yes, if you have representation, registration and use of the site is free to the actor, but not the photo fees. That's where they make the bucks.

my agents use lacasting. but i heard that by the time its posted for all to see, they have already set up auditions thru agents. however, i do meet actors regularly who got in with their own submission thru lacasting. so, i think its worth it.

LA Casting doesn't charge their casting directors to post projects nor do they charge the agents to have an account which means more opportunities for the actor/model/dancer etc. With that said the company needs to charge somewhere to keep a float. LA Casting also has great customer service and different kiosk throughout LA to help ones that are as computer savvy as others. LA Casting doesn't charge nearly as much to upload media as other sites. I've never received an audition through Actors Access or Now Casting.

Danny Goldman uses LA Casting all the time.

The only commercial casting director that I know of who doesn't use this service is Craig Colvin (and only because he has personal issues with Beau Bonneau).

LA Casting is THE service of choice for casting directors and agents in LA, this is not debatable.

Actors who submit themselves on LA Casting are privy to only a small fraction of the breakdowns actually released to their agents.