Disney Casting: Invite a Disney Channel Casting Director To Your Play or Showcase

October 13, 2008

*** Note About Submitting For Disney Channel Productions ***

The following Disney Channel shows are currently in production and are now casting principal acting roles and extras: JONAS, Sonny With A Chance, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, Suite Life on Deck. Tutors are required to be on set by law, therefore minors do not miss any school work while working on Disney Channel Shows.

Always follow strict submission guidelines and submission etiquette when sending your photos and resumes to casting directors.

Invite a Disney Channel Casting Director To Your Play or Showcase

Actors and Talent Representatives can now invite CSA (Casting Society of America) Casting Directors to Screenings, Plays, Comedy Shows, Showcases, Film Festivals and Competitions.

The Casting Society of America is the premier organization of theatrical Casting Directors in film, television, and theatre. Although it is not a union, its members are a united professional society that consistently set the level of professionalism in casting on which the entertainment industry has come to rely. It's more than 350 members are represented not only in the United States, but also in Canada, England, Australia and Italy.

In November 2007, Carol Goldwasser and Howard Meltzer won a CSA Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Children’s TV Casting, “Hannah Montana”.

Click Here to invite a casting director to your play or showcase.

I have worked in the Entertainment Industry as long as I can remember. I have been a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for over 23 years. I decided to create and maintain this blog in my spare time to help people who do not have an agent, who are interested in becoming a professional actor. I hope the information on this page can help you achieve your dream of working as an actor or extra on Disney Channel!

I am currently in the process of obtaining a Talent Agency License. I have received documents from the State of California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and will be accepting new clients as soon as I am issued a license and open the Talent Agency.

In the meantime, I am offering to submit your photo and resume to casting directors for acting roles that you may be right for on Disney Channel shows for you. A fee of $50 is to cover the expenses of photo paper to print your photos, postage, envelopes, etc. I do not negotiate contracts, take any commissions, or ask for any other fees. I accept PayPal, please include a note with your name and an email address that you wish for me to contact you at.

Here is my PayPal email: albaltes@yahoo.com

You may also use the "Donate" button below for convenience.

Sincerely,

Alan Baltes

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Note For Young Performers

Acting in show business as a young performer can be a great experience. It can give you a head start by helping you develop leadership skills, teamwork skills, self-confidence and the ability to earn some money for your future.

This industry is called show business for a very good reason - it is a business. It is also a lot of fun, and for a young performer it should always be fun. If for any reason it is not fun and educational for you, talk to your parent or guardian and let them know. You can always take a break from the business and decide later if you want to come back. You should only be in this business if you are dedicated to it and are passionate about acting.

How Films and TV Shows are Cast

The executives give the "green light" for movies and TV shows to be produced. Then the production company of the project hires casting directors, who in turn send out "breakdowns" of the characters being cast.

These "breakdowns" actually are sent out by a service called "Breakdown Services" and are only available to licensed Talent Agencies.

Then the agents at these agencies submit photos, resumes, and sometimes "demo-reels" to the casting directors. Then the casting directors call in the actors that fit the roles they are casting, usually many many actors are called in.

Then they narrow it down to the best actors who came in and "call back" these actors to read again for the director, sometimes the writer, producer, etc. Then they narrow it down further, and sometimes there are 3 - 4 "call backs" before an actor is finally hired.

Occasionally a casting director will call in an actor who sends a photo and resume on their own without an agent, however it is difficult for talent to find the addresses and casting directors. That is what this website is for. To help people get their photo and resume to the correct casting directors, and to find legit open casting calls.

Does It Cost Anything To Audition?

NO! Never ever pay someone to audition. If they ask you to pay, then it is surely a scam. Legit casting directors, agents, and managers never charge any upfront fees whatsoever. You should never be asked or required to attend any specific classes, use any specific photographers, or pay ANY upfront fees.

Agents typically get 10% of your paycheck AFTER you work. Managers typically get 15%. Casting Directors get paid by the studio or production company. The only fee you should ever pay for is legit extras casting agencies, such as Central Casting in Burbank, CA. They may charge a small photo imaging fee of around $20, this is because they must take a digital photo of all extras for consistency in their files, and to make sure that they know what the extra looked like when they registered.

So the answer is NO! It costs absolutely nothing to audition for the Disney Channel!

Audition Guidelines

1. Always know what you are auditioning for.
2. Arrive thirty minutes prior to the audition time. This will allow ample time to check in and warm up, check out your competition.
3. Bring at least 2 photos and resumes. Photos should reflect current physical likeness (should always be updated!).
4. Do not chew gum ( all directors hate it).
5. When attending callbacks, always wear the same attire worn at audition. Try to do everything you did the first time because it has already worked during the first audition.
6. Be confident, smile, always have a positive attitude.
7. Act excited about everything you asked to do.

Actors/Improvisation:

Be prepared for improvisation.
Different voices and dialects are a plus.
Prepare a dramatic and comedic monologue no more than 2 minutes in length.
Note if the audition is going to provide sides (a portion of the script).

Singers:

Bring 2 selections of sheet music, 1 up-tempo and 1 ballad, in legible condition.
Be prepared to sing the best 16 bars.
Know your vocal range.
Sheet music should have full musical notation and in the key in which you will perform.
If audition requires movement, dress appropriately.

Dancers:

Wear appropriate dance attire.
Bring appropriate dance shoes.
If the audition requires singing, bring at least 2 selections of sheet music, 1 up-tempo and 1 ballad. Be prepared to sing the best 16 bars.

Desire To Be Famous

Just a note about wanting to be famous. If your goal is to be "famous", the best thing to do is to keep it to yourself.

When you audition with a casting director or an agent, they almost always ask you what your goals are and why you want to be an actor. If you say "I want to be famous", they will surely end the interview and show you the door.

Always say something like "Acting is my passion and destiny. I can't be happy doing something else, and I want to be the very best actor that I can possibly be. I want to always learn and study acting (or dance, singing, etc) and never be satisfied at where my talent level is!". Now they will definitely LOVE hearing something along those lines!

But be sincere when you say that, because "being famous" should never be a reason that you want to be an actor.

Important Safety Information

Do NOT send a home address when submitting. I always recommend using a PO BOX. Also, this is another reason that getting an agent as soon as possible is of utmost importance. Then your agents contact information is all that is listed on the resume, cover letter, and envelope. There is an earlier post about how to get an agent in my blog archives (or table of contents).

Also, NEVER meet someone outside of a professional environment such as a studio or casting/agents office. Do NOT meet someone at a restaurant, private residence, etc. You should ALWAYS let someone else know EXACTLY where you are going, WHO you are meeting, and WHEN you are going there.

And a parent or guardian must ALWAYS accompany minors. A parent or guardian should NEVER be out of eyesight of the minor, whether it be at auditions or on set.

Advice For Parents

1) Respect the word "business" in "show business”. Do not let the spotlights and excitement overshadow that this is, in reality, a business.

2) Be honest with your child and make sure he/she understands the commitment involved and truly wants to pursue a career in show business. Make certain your child understands that contact with peers at school may be limited and time to devote to social/school/sports activities will decrease as well. Auditions are usually after school and there is often little advance warning. Emphasize that auditions can be as frequent as three times per week and that performing arts instruction will also take up “free time.” Also, make it clear that booking a job can involve a time commitment of one day to several months, and can sometimes include touring or relocating.

3) Be prepared! Pack an audition/work bag and refresh the contents periodically. Include a change of clothes, grooming supplies, snacks (nothing messy or sticky), quiet games, coloring books/activity books, juice boxes (light colored juices that will not stain), your child's work permit and social security card, your child’s set aside trust fund information (if applicable), your child's birth certificate or passport, union identification (if applicable), your identification (license or passport), toll money, change for parking meters, audition diary. Have this all ready to go at a moment’s notice.

4) Your child must be within your sight and sound at all times while working in film/TV/commercials. If there is an obstruction on the set preventing you from viewing your child, ask the employer/production to please provide a monitor for your viewing. This is a Union regulation; so do not feel intimidated about asking or speaking up if you feel uncomfortable with a situation that will affect your child's safety and/or welfare. Do not bring siblings to set. This will distract you from keeping a close eye on the child working.

Advice For Child Actors

1. Have fun and enjoy every performance.

2. Learn as much as possible from the professionals you work with.

3. Get your rest, and drink plenty of water!

4. Be respectful and do what you are asked to do to make the child wrangler's job easy.

5. Remember you are there to do a job.

6. Share the experience with your friends and family.

7. Visit as many places as you can.

8. Be thankful for the opportunity.

9. Use your down time to keep up with schoolwork.

10. Laugh, Laugh, Laugh.

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Disney Casting

Invite a Disney Channel Casting Director To Your Play or Showcase

Table of Contents

Please Help Keep This Free Casting Website Online!

Blog Archive

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Note For Young Performers

How Films and TV Shows are Cast

Demo Reel Information

Do I Need An Agent To Work On Disney Channel?

Disney Channel Extras

Which Disney Channel Production do you want to work on the most?

Does It Cost Anything To Audition?

Audition Guidelines

Desire To Be Famous

Important Safety Information

Advice For Parents

Advice For Child Actors

Disney Channel Open Casting Call Search

The following are my additional Acting Auditions and Information Websites

Disney Channel Acting Suggested Readings

Click Here For A List of Alan Baltes' Suggested Acting/Auditions Readings And DVD's!