Q. What is The Spotlight Link?

The Spotlight Link is the UK's most popular casting information service, used daily by casting professionals to email out their latest job and audition requirements to agents, and directly to performers.

In 2007, a weekly average of 175 casting breakdowns was sent out via The Spotlight Link, spanning every type of performance work: from TV to dance, film to live events, commercials to musicals. These contained an average of 544 individual roles every week.

Q. How do casting professionals use it?

Casting professionals send out a casting breakdown, which is a summary of the production, the roles required, and other key information including casting, rehearsal and performance dates.

They can either send this just to agents, or to agents and performers who are unrepresented by agents, and who are therefore listed as c/o Spotlight.

Q. How will I receive job information?

If you have an agent, job information will be emailed to them. They will handle all casting breakdowns and job submissions on your behalf.

If you are a Spotlight member but do not have an agent, a brief summary of all relevant job information will be sent directly to your personal email address. If the job seems relevant to you, click on the link at the bottom of the email and then enter your UPDATE PIN number to read the details in full. 

Q. Should I change my Spotlight record to 'c/o Spotlight' instead of my current agent, so that I can get job information myself?

Spotlight does not recommend that you do this, for two reasons:

1. Your agent will be getting more job information than you do directly, because casting professionals often choose to send breakdowns to agents-only. So your agent will get these breakdowns as well as the breakdowns you would be receiving as a performer. If you choose to be c/o Spotlight, you are limiting the number of jobs you can be suggested for.

2. Your agent’s job is to be at their desk, waiting for casting breakdowns to arrive and responding to them immediately. As a performer, you may well be in rehearsals, on tour, attending auditions or just away from your email. If an urgent job comes through on The Spotlight Link, your agent can submit you immediately – whereas by the time you get to your computer it may be too late! So it is much better for your agent to handle casting breakdowns on your behalf.

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The following information is just for Spotlight members who do not have agents (c/o Spotlight)

Q. What if I don’t have an email address, or can’t access my email?

Don’t panic! You can also access job information via your personal homepage on Spotlight. Just visit www.spotlight.com and log in with your UPDATE PIN. Then click on the link which says ‘Breakdowns and Submissions’ to see all the recent casting breakdowns you have been sent.

Q. How do I submit myself for castings?

Firstly, make sure that you are 100% suitable for the role being cast, and that you are available for both the audition and then the production dates.
If you are certain you are right for the part, click to submit your Spotlight web CV. This will be sent immediately to the casting professional concerned, and you will receive an automated confirmation email to let you know that this has been sent.
However tempting it may be, there is no point suggesting yourself for a role if you know that you are not right for it. Be selective: if you don’t have the skills required then just ignore the breakdown. If you waste a casting director’s time they will remember, and may ignore your CV in future.

Q. Can I contact the casting professional directly?

Unless otherwise specified, the casting director wants you to submit yourself for roles via The Spotlight Link, since this is the easiest way for them to organise performer CVs and shortlists. They do not want to receive hard copy CVs / photos, or to be telephoned or emailed directly. All the information they need is on your Spotlight web CV.

Q. Some of the casting information I receive is anonymous. Why?

This is quite normal. Many casting professionals choose not to include their details in casting breakdowns since they don’t want to be inundated by responses. If you think you are suitable for the role, submit your CV as normal and then you will be sent more information if you are chosen for audition.

Q. I submitted myself for a casting breakdown but didn’t hear anything back. Should I follow this up?

No. Casting directors will only get back to you if they want to invite you to audition. So, if you don’t hear back about a job, then it means you weren’t successful on that occasion.

Q. A casting director has made contact and they want me to audition at a hotel / private address. What should I do?

Call Spotlight immediately on 020 7437 7631 if you have any concerns about the conduct of a casting professional or the audition venue they have invited you to. Reputable casting directors will always use professional premises to audition – such as casting suites or studios.

Q. Can I forward Spotlight Link breakdowns to other people?

No! Job information sent out via The Spotlight Link is strictly private and confidential and you should never send it to anyone else. You will be asked to agree to this as part of our Terms and Conditions, the first time you use The Spotlight Link. Any performer who is found to be circulating job information to others will immediately have Spotlight Link emails suspended.
Casting professionals are choosing to send this information to you, and do not want it to go to anyone else. They want to hire Spotlight members because they know this is a guarantee of quality and professionalism. If the system is abused, casting professionals will cease to use it – and all members of Spotlight will lose out.

Q. Can I choose not to receive casting breakdowns?

Of course. You can opt out of The Spotlight Link at any time. Simply log in to www.spotlight.com with your UPDATE PIN to update your contact preferences, or email info@spotlight.com

Q. Do all performers receive the same job information?

Yes. The casting director sends job information to ‘all unrepresented performers’. We are working to make this more targeted in future (e.g. targeted by playing age). For the time being, please just delete any breakdown which isn’t relevant to you.

Q. I am listed as c/o Spotlight AND as having an agent. Does this mean I will get casting breakdowns directly?

No, all casting breakdowns will go to your agent.

Q. I was getting casting breakdowns sent to my inbox, but now they have stopped.  Why is this?

This could be for a number of reasons:
If you have changed email address, you need to let us know by emailing updates@spotlight.com or calling 020 7437 7631.
If you have recently signed with an agent, breakdowns are now going directly to them instead.
Finally, it may just be that a casting professional has not had any recent briefs which are suitable to send directly to performers. In which case, please be patient until they do!