Is Backstage Worth It? An Honest Look for Actors

Backstage can be worth it if you are starting out, non-union or looking for student films, theatre, commercials and independent projects you can submit to yourself. It is less useful for union actors chasing network TV and studio film, which mostly cast through Breakdown Services and agents. We asked 21 casting directors where they post their breakdowns, and checked Backstage's prices and features on its own site.

What is Backstage?

Backstage is a casting platform where productions post jobs and performers submit themselves. It calls itself "the most trusted name in casting since 1960". Its performer page lists search filters, saved-search alerts, a profile, messaging and a media locker, and says every casting notice is reviewed before it goes live. When we checked its casting listings on 10 November 2026, it showed 14,449 jobs across 4,684 productions in all locations.

Its help centre covers Backstage alongside StarNow and Mandy. The site groups work into film, TV and video, theatre, voiceover, commercial and branded content, modelling, user-generated content and influencers, and vertical series.

How much does Backstage cost?

These are the prices Backstage's plans page showed on 10 November 2026, in US dollars. The yearly price was a welcome offer, and offers change, so check before you pay.

Backstage's help centre says all plans renew automatically until you cancel. Monthly plans aren't refundable; six-month and yearly plans can be refunded if you cancel within 30 days of buying or renewing.

Can you use Backstage for free?

Partly. Backstage offers a free talent profile, but its help centre says applying to jobs requires a paid subscription, even when a production invites you to apply. A paid plan adds a profile casting can find in its Talent Database, saved searches with alerts, the ability to apply to all listed jobs, and a dashboard to track your applications.

What kinds of roles are on Backstage?

Mostly entry-level and independent work, in Kym Jackson's experience. She groups Backstage with sites such as Now Casting and StarNow: a lot of non-union projects and short films, with the odd low-budget union film. Those roles are easier to get auditions for and easier to book, which she sees as a plus when you're new. It's a good place to get better at auditioning and build your demo reel.

Listings show whether a job is union, non-union or both, and some don't state the pay, so read each one closely. For parents, Karen Workman told us children's auditions are listed on the same legitimate sites as adults', and named Backstage alongside Actors Access, Casting Networks and Casting Frontier.

Do casting directors post on Backstage?

Not the ones we asked. Of the 21 casting directors who told us where they post breakdowns, none named Backstage. Fifteen named Breakdown Services or its tools, such as Breakdown Express, Actors Access and Eco Cast. The rest, mostly casting outside the US, named Casting Networks, Showcast, Spotlight or Casting Workbook. Risa Bramon Garcia sometimes uses Now Casting, and Amanda Mitchell occasionally uses StarNow for a broader search.

That doesn't mean Backstage has no real projects: it says casting directors and creators post thousands of notices every day. But if your goal is studio film and network TV, most of those roles reach agents through Breakdown Services.

How does Backstage compare with Actors Access and Casting Networks?

They serve different levels of work. Kym explains that casting chooses which Breakdown Services roles to share on Actors Access, and that Casting Networks is known for commercials. Blair Hickey and Brian Wold put the difference simply: what kind of projects each site serves, and who is looking at the submissions. Our guide to casting sites for actors compares them all, and how to use Actors Access covers the profile most US screen actors start with.

Who is Backstage worth it for?

Treat it as a business expense and decide what it does for you right now. Blair Hickey and Brian Wold's test: know exactly what you are paying for and what you expect to get from it, rather than signing up because someone told you to.

• Likely worth it: new and non-union actors who need auditions, footage and credits; actors after theatre, student films, commercials, voiceover or content work; actors outside LA who want to search other cities.
• Probably not first: union actors with agents who mainly want network and studio roles. Start with Actors Access and Casting Networks.

A single month is a low-risk test: track how many jobs you apply for and how many auditions you get.

How do you get the most from Backstage?

Submit like a professional. Blair and Brian's advice for any self-submission: show casting you are the answer to their problem, with a specific, targeted profile, not a generic "look at me". Desperate notes and wacky photos read as desperate. Casting director Ricki Maslar adds: only submit for roles you actually fit, because submitting far outside the age range won't catch her attention, it will annoy her. Our self-submission guide has more.

What scams should you watch for?

Screened listings help, but check every project yourself. Kym's rules: never pay anyone to audition for a role, look up the casting director and production on IMDbPro, and never send nudity, bank details or other personal information. Casting director Kerry Barden told us no one in Hollywood will charge you to audition. Gary Marsh adds a test for any casting service: if it promises fame for a fee, it's too good to be true. Read our guide to open casting calls before you apply to anything unfamiliar.

Want the whole library? Start your 7-day free trial and watch every answer on this page.

All rates current from backstage.com and help.backstage.com as of 10 November 2026.