How Do I Connect with Casting Directors on Social Media (Without Being Weird)?
You’ve followed that casting director. You’ve watched their Stories. Now what?
- “Am I allowed to DM them?”
- “How do I connect without coming off as desperate or awkward?”
Here’s the truth:
Everyone is different. But yes, you can connect with casting directors on social media. But only if you do it the right way.
And no—it’s not about “sliding into DMs” with a link to your reel (please pinky promise me you won’t do that).
Connection on Social Media Is Like Real Life—Start There
Before you send anything, ask yourself “What is the temperature of this relationship?”
❄️ Is this a cold relationship?
🌤️ Is it warm? Have we engaged many times before?
🔥 Is it hot—have we worked together, met in person, or connected recently?
The temperature of the relationship matters when reaching out. The colder it is, the more time and care you need to warm it up!
Push vs. Pull Marketing: My Favorite Framework
I teach this in my book Social Media for Actors—and it’s so important here.
❌ Push Strategy = “Watch my reel!” “Cast me!” “Here’s my resume!”
This feels like a cold call—and it puts pressure on the other person.
🧲 Pull Strategy = You post great content. You support their work. You respond thoughtfully to something they shared. It pulls people in. It builds connections naturally. No begging required.
So What Should You Do?
✅ Engage first
Before you ever message someone, spend time responding to their stories, commenting on their posts, and cheering them on over time. Be a real human.
✅ Reply to something they shared
If you do send a DM, reply to a Story or something they posted. Keep it short and sincere. This isn’t a pitch—it’s a response.
Ex: “That panel you did yesterday? So insightful—thank you for sharing it.”
Ex: “Loved your post on callbacks—felt seen. Appreciate your honesty.”
✅ Be brief. Be gracious. Be gone.
Don’t send your resume. Don’t ask for advice unless invited. And don’t follow up with, “Can you check out my work?”
✅ Let your profile do the talking
If they do get curious (which they will do over time if you engage authentically) and click over to account- your bio, posts, and vibe should show that you’re a working actor with a clear sense of self. So make sure your content is doing its job.
Don’t slide into DMs. Ease into relationships.
Treat industry folks like the professionals (and humans) they are. You’re not trying to “get something”—you’re trying to build trust over time. That’s how real connections happen.
Want more help building industry relationships on Instagram—without being spammy?
📘 My book Social Media for Actors has 2 chapters dedicated to online relationship-building ⬇️
See you on social,
