The 98%

This is a call to arms! Alexa and Katie fervently believe more needs to be done with the regulation of casting calls on websites that are mainly used by self submitting actors. Actors desperate for work + loosely regulated casting calls = a breeding ground for exploitative behaviour, sexist language and at the least an extremely tiresome submitting experience for actors and the worst...potentially dangerous situations. Please use the hashtag #RegulateAndState on social media to call out inappropriate and questionable casting calls and push for casting websites to REGULATE the castings that are posted and STATE to offenders why their posts are inappropriate/not acceptable and that if they offend again they will not be allowed to post on the site. It is not an actors job to report casting calls and push for them to be reviewed when they shouldn't have been posted in the first place. Actors pay subscriptions to submit themselves to jobs, not vet the postings. #REGULATEANDSTATE *TW* - Please note that from 39 mins in to 44 mins there is mention of a script with the content of a woman being raped and having a self inflicted abortion. That is all that is stated but we wanted to flag it here so it doesn't come as a shock.

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Series 2 of The 98% is already into double digit episodes! How fast has that gone! Back to basics this episode, Alexa and Katie sit and have a chat, a check in, a laugh and share some more thoughts and anecdotes on this little thing we called #actorslife. So get your headphones, "slather your tata's" and tune in! Thank you SO much for all your support of The 98%. We can't wait to share the remainder of Series 2 with you! While you're here why not rate and review The 98% on iTunes and celebrate the continuation of Series 2 by giving Alexa and Katie a boost by visiting their patreon https://www.patreon.com/the98percentpod

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

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From the self titled "Aachan Baachan show" in the deep African bush to the mean streets of London, Mike Rogers joins Alexa and Katie for the latest green room episode. The 98% and The Show People Podcast dedicated their special Christmas crossover episode to the dancing Hamley's Elves who went viral over the Christmas period and now Alexa and Katie have tracked chief Elf, Mike, to have him on The 98% to talk about what it's like going viral, how it landed him an agent and the culture shock he experienced coming to London from South Africa.

Follow Mike on twitter @MikeRogersZA and instagram @mikerogerza and @mikeperforms

Thank you so much for your continued support of The 98%. We are still getting new listeners thanks to you spreading the word, RTing us on twitter and joining in the important conversations we're starting. Every download, share, RT, rate and review helps so much. If you'd like to take your support to the next level please visit out patreon page to see what perks may be lying in store for you! https://www.patreon.com/

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weeks guest, Tom Ramsay, and Alexa and Katie have a new word; 'Sexualinity'. Sexuality and Masculinity. Two things that shouldn't have an affect on someone's journey as a performer but this industry has other ideas. In this important episode Tom inspiringly opens up about how his struggles with his sexuality didn't just end after coming out to friends and family and how the old fashioned expectations of masculinity can lead to a decline in mental health and a feeling of misplacement in an industry held up in large part by the people it doesn't let fit in. After saying goodbye to pursuing performing work Tom has been pursuing directing and other creative avenues. Since recording this episode has accepted a job as Literary Manager for Aria/From Page To Stage! If you have a new musical you'd like to submit for consideration go to frompage2stage.com!

Follow Tom on twitter @tomramsay_ If you have anything you'd like to share about this weeks subject matter please get in touch. You could write your account out for us to read on a "Call back" episode about this topic or you can tweet us to have your voice heard. Our DM's are also open for anyone to get in touch. Please share this episode far and wide so more people can hear Tom's important message and remember, as Tom says, "You're doing good boo."

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To follow on from our episode last week on why #YesOrNo matters we chat to Emma Manton, an actor and volunteer for Equity who has been in negotiations with some big wigs alongside Equity staff members fighting for actors to be heard and they've just had a HUGE success!! Not only was it amazing to hear what is being done behind the scenes to move towards mutual respect for actors by giving them a yes or no this is an awesome little episode to hear about why our union is so important and why you should support it! Let's spread the word and remind actors that it's there for us and to always #TellEquity! Find Emma on twitter @emmalmanton and us @the98percentpod

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"It's like shooting a lame dog. Just put me out of my misery."

There's not much more to say here that isn't in the episode apart from that Alexa and Katie want to say on behalf of them, and all actors, that they so so appreciate the casting directors who do give a yes or no after auditions. Those who have been doing it all along, those who have started since the hashtag took twitter by storm and those doing all they can to facilitate giving one when they can.

But it is not yet universally acknowledged that giving a yes or no should be part and parcel of the audition process, each and every time. Hopefully the industry is moving towards that whilst understanding actors are people first, actors second. In this episode Alexa and Katie discuss why this is so important and how the performing industry can benefit as a whole when this common courtesy is extended to all its members.

A Call Back episode about the logistical goings on with the #YesOrNo movement and what changes have recently been made will be coming soon so keep your ears peeled!

Do you have a story on this topic? A good or bad way you've heard a yes or no? Would you like to share your thoughts on what we discussed in the episode? Please get in touch! [email protected] or tweet @the98percentpod

Whilst you're perusing the internet check out The 98%'s website www.the98percentpod.com - there's lots of fun stuff on there!

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexa was so pleased to be asked to speak on a panel for a live podcast recording with Industry Minds in association with Bumble celebrating International Women's Day and opening up the conversation about mental health in the creative arts.

These are Alexa's moments from the event, talking about what is within actors control to help make the day to day actor grind that tiny bit easier. You can listen to the full episode by finding the Industry Minds podcast and downloading the episode from May 9th. Thank you so much Scarlett and Cathy for all the work you're doing to support mental health in this industry! Follow them on twitter @IndustryMindsuk

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The 98%'s second green room episode is with the amazingly articulate and insightful Robyn Holdaway. Robyn talks to Katie and Alexa all about 98% life as a non-binary actor in this eye opening and interesting chat about things most people may have never pondered! "In its original form 'queer' means different or odd and I like that. I don't fit into the box people want to put me in to and that's a wonderful thing and it gives me a lot. So when you ask what non-binary means, it's only what it means to me." Follow Robyn on twitter @RobynHoldaway and us @the98percentpod Make sure you've subscribed to The 98% so you get access to new episodes as soon as they drop every other week! (And maybe some bonuses in the mean time!) If you'd like to support the podcast even more, ANY contribution to patreon is hugely appreciated and gives a massive smile after days of endless editing! Go check out our perks! https://www.patreon.com/the98percentpod

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something lots of performers do when the phone's not ringing is make their own work. While this isn't something Alexa and Katie feel actors should feel pressured to achieve, it can be an avenue that provides a type of fulfilment and control that the normal life of an actor doesn't. Isabelle Schuler (actor) and Martha Reed (writer) joined forces to create projects that Isabelle says has "helped her immeasurably." Now an actor/writer/producer and writer/director Isabelle and Martha share their advice and experience of delving in to the world of creating your own work. Follow their production company on twitter! @fromsonnet2song And let us know what you think of the episode/podcast by tweeting us @the98percentpod or emailing us [email protected]. We love hearing from you! Do you make your own work? Would you like to write a blog post on it (or on anything to do with 98% life!)? Get in touch!!

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

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Introducing...The Green Room! Episodes of Series 2 of The 98% where Alexa and Katie chat to members of The 98% about their real life #actorslife journey and something that is unique to them. The first green room guest is Elliot James Langridge who talks about how he got started in the industry, why his story could have been very different and how he hasn't let dyslexia hold him back. Follow Elliot on twitter and instagram: @elliotjames87 The 98% Podcast isn't here to list off guests CV's or talk specifically about certain projects - as you know by now Alexa and Katie are more interested to hear about experiences and thoughts around being an actor. It doesn't matter what you've worked on, we all have stories worth sharing! If you'd like to know more about the green room guests and see the work they've done...you can google them! :D

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Need a reader for a self tape? Want to earn money reading for others? Have access to castings and a community made by actors, for actors by subscribing to WeAudition, an online video chat community loved by actors and casting directors around the world! Get 25% off your subscription with the discount code 9825 - where you can then earn your money back + more by reading for and rehearsing with actors from the comfort of your own home!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.