What does it take to get a job from Mandy!?

I apply for several daily, I have good experience and a full CV. Some of them I feel could suit me to a tee (I know competition is fierce and I'm not naive) but I get barely any interest. Some applications don't even. get viewed even though I may have applied pretty quick off the mark. I have never had one paid job from here in ages - though I get paid work elsewhere - obviously everything is quieter than normal generally atm. Is there a trick to it or something fundamental I am doing wrong? Feel free to peep at my profile to see if I am coming across like a nob or something. But I had a subscription a while ago and in one year I did one paid job - a testimonial (which was really fun btw!) so I cancelled my subscription and only recently renewed it (earlier this year) but I feel like I must be doing something wrong.Anyone else have this?


  • 3 years ago
  • 8,553
  • 42

Hi Kerri,
Exactly the same thing has been happening to me. I had some success in the past, mainly when this site was CCP. I did continue when it changed to Mandy and I then let my subscription lapse.
However since I renewed my subscription within the last year. I have applied for a number of roles and been viewed but then no further contact. To be honest if I don't get any castings before my renewal is due, I am not going to bother continuing on this site!
Best wishes
Jimmy.


  • 3 years ago
  • 1
Toni Brooks
Actor

It's really hit and miss but a job my agent put me up for (through Spotlight) had 8,000 applications.It's getting harder and harder to get work at all.


  • 3 years ago
  • 2

Wow @Toni ! That is tough!! My agent is really busy putting us forward for things but I joust wan ta few more film credits so she suggested I go here again to have a look for other opportunities. it is so frustrating! 8000??!?!?! Mind boggling.


  • 3 years ago
  • 3
Julia Lacey
Actor

Hi Kerri, lovely to see you on here. It is touch and go more luck than anything else I reckon. Don't worry the cream always rises to the top and you are a strong actress. We are in strange times I guess. Keep well and sending very best wishes. Julia XXX


  • 3 years ago
  • 4

If you think about it, there's virtually no theatre, and therefore a high number of actors* who would normally, at any one time, be employed there, aren't. So we're all left fighting over the scraps that are available. Which would explain the insanely high number of applicants for Spotlight castings.

* If you think about the cast sizes for long running musicals especially.


  • 3 years ago
  • 5

Hi Kerri,

I hear you, I know it's easier said than done but the cake is very very much smaller than a year ago, it won't always be like this. things will improve as COVID improves (hopefully) I have skills in the financial trade & even that is tough, I do freelance work financially but even that is saturated (A small finance role that would bearlyu get 10 applicants had over 1,000 applications it's not just this industry. You're not alone it's proper frustrating. But you have a great CV please keep going :)


  • 3 years ago
  • 6

Thankyou @Tony. I know you are all right. It’s just getting to that point for me where I’m less pragmatic and more frustrated. I just want to do my job and that seems a long way off.


  • 3 years ago
  • 7
User Deleted
This profile has been archived

It is so comforting knowing others feel the same here !

I have noticed that sometimes I would see the exact same job advertise on StarNow
So who knows how many other sites some employers advertise on


  • 3 years ago
  • 8
David Vale
Actor

I probably apply for one or two per week. There are less jobs, but probably also less applicants for ancients like me. I always seem to get just enough jobs per year to cover the cost. The better paid jobs here are usually on Spotlight as well.
You just have to make sure you do as much as you can to make your headshots and showreel good and then keep going.


  • 3 years ago
  • 9

Hi Kerri, I got a day's paid (Equity standard) filming after applying for a job on Mandy last year. No audition as I was cast from my CV/reel which was nice. I was working with two other actors - one much younger male and a female actor roughly in my age bracket. I happened to ask the director during a break how many applications he'd had for the roles on Mandy and there were 200 for the other male role, slightly less for mine, and about 50 for the female role, he told me. If this is in any way typical then needless to say there are a lot of applications for paid projects on here. This was actually the last gig I got on Mandy so I'm not exactly hitting the heights on here either. But I don't think I'm doing anything wrong as such and I doubt very much whether you are either. Try not to get too frustrated, keep your pecker up and as others say, keep going.


  • 3 years ago
  • 10

Wow! Well done for getting cast but the pickings are really slim now that all of us are out of work - especially theatre work. I am going to stick with 'mandy for a while. My agent is getting me castings too which is fab but I just wanted a few more film credits. I'll keep on keeping on!


  • 3 years ago
  • 11
Toni Brooks
Actor

Fingers crossed things will look up Kerri and we'll all be working soon. Hugs x


  • 3 years ago
  • 12

This is a good post, Kerri, and from seeing all the responses to it, it's good to know others are feeling the same way. Better days are coming, friends. Let's keep our chins up. :)


  • 3 years ago
  • 13
Melissa Hartzel
Actor, Talent

Hi Kerri! You aren’t doing anything wrong! Your reel is really good, nice headshots etc. The only thing I could think of was that your profile says Brighton first and London second and in COVID times, production companies seem to be keen for actors to be local to the production. Could it be worth switching so it says London first (if the majority of jobs you’re applying to are in London)? Just a thought x


  • 3 years ago
  • 14
Paul Thomas
Actor

I wonder if a lot of the jobs that are being posted, are falling through due to the rules changing so much and the risks involved. I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the student ones are being put up so that they get experience of posting jobs, seeing the responses and understanding how the system works - even if they can't actually cast them at the moment (maybe that's just my imagination running wild though!)

Good luck everyone. Fingers crossed this will all pass soon!

Paul Thomas


  • 3 years ago
  • 15

Melissa that is such good advice!!! thank you for taking time to look at my profile. I am going to switch my locations around today. FAbulous.


  • 3 years ago
  • 16

Hi Kerri, I thought It was just me that applied for a lot of jobs on here, they get viewed and then no response. I’m lucky to have had a few nice jobs through my agent this year but I just wonder if it’s worth carrying on with Mandy. I definitely did better with CCP but we were in different times. Good luck for 2021.


  • 3 years ago
  • 17

Hi Kerri. I also have not had any work from Mandy for a whole year. But, I have hope so I still paid for another year as I have a newly updated showreel.


  • 3 years ago
  • 18
Gary Birch
Actor

I’ll just be frank and honest... anything where you are relying on digital submissions exclusively won’t get much traction at all. Same goes for agents who only rely on submissions via spotlight to get work. It’s any industry of relationships and thus the people who get lots of auditions and meetings, have probably got impressive cv’s and top agents who know a lot of people. You say you have a full cv but on IMDb you have one credit? I don’t even bother listing most of my Mandy works as credits as it really doesn’t add and can in fact degrade your resume. I only use this for ability to get some money sometimes but it’s rare and I would say pretty standard that actors often don’t get seen.


  • 3 years ago
  • 19
User Deleted
This profile has been archived

I have cancelled my membership ( premium) today. The site I think started with good intentions but I am afraid in my experience it attracts employers who are here to find actors on the cheap. I have had one job ever at equity rates but approached all the time for jobs that are low pay or no pay.-which I decline often with combat from the person/company I have declined. I appreciate for some building a reel or experience these opportunities are ok but not for me .. ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE X


  • 3 years ago
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