The Spotlight Podcast

Advice for graduating students from agent Alex Segal, from Cole Kitchenn.

TV casting director Nicky Bligh (CDG) talks about her casting process and gives advice to actors on the next steps after graduating

Sooki McShane, a member of the Casting Directors' Guild, discusses the casting process for stage productions and offers advice to actors preparing their showcases.

What are the key things an actor needs to know about finding an agent? If you’re a performer looking for representation or a final year drama school student, then learn from one of the best in the business – John Summerfield from Waring & McKenna

Career advice is the topic of our latest Spotlight podcast, as Spotlight’s PR manager and careers expert Emma Dyson guides us through every aspect of Spotlight’s free career advice service, Spotlight Mondays.

Emma talks through how to book, gives a taster of advice for the most commonly-asked questions, and suggests a few careers-related questions actors can ask to help boost their career.

Stage Managers are a vital part of the theatrical process, and any performers who are new to the world of theatre or aspire to direct on stage need to understand the role they play.

For our latest podcast, we speak to Andy Rowley, the executive director of the Stage Management Association on all aspects of the job and how it relates to acting.

Andy talks us through the role of stage managers and the SMA, as well discussing how actors can work with stage managers and advice from a stage management perspective for any actors turning their hand to theatre directing.

Finding an agent is one of the most common acting issues that we get asked for advice on by our members here at Spotlight, so, for our latest podcast, we’ve taken your questions to provide a bite-sized guide to researching and approaching agents.

In this podcast, Spotlight’s PR manager and careers expert Emma Dyson – herself a former agent – takes you through the whole process, including:

How to research agencies and agents

How to contact an agent

How to get an agent to see your work

Choosing the agency that’s right for you.

The differences between PMA agencies, boutique agencies, co-ops and more

How to find an agent if you’re not based in London

How commission structures typically work