How to Get Noticed by Casting Directors - Talent Manager/Casting Director RJ Magee (Ep. 1)

RJ Magee, a casting director, talent manager, director, actor, and educator, shares his journey and experiences in the entertainment industry. He discusses his interest in casting and how he started as a casting intern at the Arden Theatre Company. RJ also talks about his work as a talent manager and freelance casting director. RJ provides insights into the auditioning process and the qualities that make an actor stand out. He also discusses the significance of networking and the difference between auditioning and performing. The conversation explores the synergy that happens when you show up to auditions, and the importance of getting representation, and of course, much more!

00:00 Introduction and Background
00:51 Interest in Casting
02:50 Partnership with Manager
04:17 Freelance Casting Office
06:12 Pursuing MFA and Teaching
09:01 Current Work at Longwood University
11:07 Motivation for Pursuing Multiple Roles
13:52 Transition from Actor to Casting Director
15:38 Challenges and Saturation in the Industry
16:53 Key to Longevity in the Acting Career
18:01 Importance of Having Other Skills
19:23 Getting a Degree in Business Administration
20:53 Bridging the Gap Between Graduation and Becoming a Working Actor
22:55 Changes in Auditioning Process
24:32 Standout Qualities in Auditions
32:11 Importance of Special Skills
38:02 Networking in the Industry
40:47 Auditioning as a Different Skill than Performing
43:18 Importance of Preparation and Doing Good Work in Auditions
44:50 The Synergy of Different Roles
45:08 The Importance of Having an Agent
46:52 How to Get Representation
47:28 Success Rate of Getting Representation
47:58 The Role of Agents and Managers
48:25 Tips for Getting Representation
49:46 Targeting Shows and Roles
50:42 Creating a Cover Letter
51:50 Casting a Wide Net
52:40 Building Relationships
54:11 The Difference Between Managers and Agents
54:43 The Financial Aspect of Representation
56:04 When to Get an Agent
58:09 Navigating the Non-Union World
01:01:02 The Role of EPAs and ECCs
01:02:09 Audition Opportunities Outside of New York
01:03:04 Preparing for Combined Audition Events
01:04:10 The Impact of Social Media
01:05:14 The Influence of Social Media on Casting
01:06:40 Using Social Media for Networking
01:07:50 Reaching Out to Industry Professionals on Social Media
01:08:24 The Importance of Being Social
01:09:53 The Value of In-Person Connections
01:11:18 Being Proactive in Networking
01:11:58 Balancing Multiple Interests
01:13:11 The Reality of Pursuing a Career in the Performing Arts
01:14:39 The Importance of Loving What You Do
01:15:30 Theality TV Show
01:17:20 Contact Information
01:17:53 Conclusion

James (00:00)
Hey, everyone. Welcome to the Actrazilla podcast. I’m James Larson and on the podcast today we have RJ McGee. Welcome, RJ. Thanks for joining me today.

RJ Magee (00:13)
Thank you for having me.

James (00:14)
Yeah, of course, RJ is super talented, and he is a casting director. He’s a talent manager. He’s a director. He’s a career coach, a creative producer, an educator, and I know he is a talented actor as well. Yeah, we were we were talking about how we met at auditions and I asked the question before about. Yeah.

how, you know, just about all these different roles that you do. It’s been fun to kind of see on Facebook, kind of the interplay between all of them. And I would just love to know more about your journey between them.

RJ Magee (00:50)
Yeah,

well, it’s a great question. And again, thank you for having me. So I finished my undergrad in 2012 at Temple University. And I was in a performance program. But while I was in that program, I sort of realized that I did have some interest in exploring what we call the other side of the table. I didn’t totally know what that looked like. I always knew that casting was something that interested me.

I don’t think I ever really knew what it truly meant to be a professional casting director. But while I was in school, I interned at the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia as the casting intern for the summer, which was great because a lot of people were traveling during the summer. The Arden doesn’t produce during the summer. So I was given quite a bit of responsibility on setting up casting assignments.

and auditions for their upcoming season. And actually what was interesting about it was I sort of learned that I wasn’t really ready yet to fully divest myself from performing. So when I graduated, I sort of hit the ground running and that’s where you and I met. I was sort of just doing the New York pounding the pavement thing. I actually had lived in Philadelphia. It wasn’t until much later that I lived in New York City, but I commuted from Philadelphia to New York.

James (02:14)
Wow.

RJ Mage...