The Actor’s Key

I come to Actors Key because it is the most convenient place for me and I like the people they bring in. However, the past few times I’ve been in I have NOT been impressed with the staff. Today I was there, and one of the girls working the front desk had a pretty uppity attitude. I even felt embarrassed in front of several people because of the tone in her response and most importantly, her face when I asked a simple question about my workshop. I tried to avoid eye contact with the front desk girls after that. That’s not how it should be. Their job should be to make you feel welcome, considering I spend my hard earned money to come there. However, they WERE super nice to other women they actually knew, just not women they don’t know it seems. The time before this, the female reader I had was the equivalent of doing a scene with a brick wall. I know that readers don’t go full out like the actors. I’ve been a reader for casting, I know the drill. But you cannot be a total monotone, lifeless, dull, brick wall to someone, especially when you see that you doing that is catching them off guard and especially when said reader is supposed to be an actress themselves. I’ve never had a reader be that way– ever. And whenever I have read with actors, they thank me personally for actually giving them a little something to make them feel like they’re actually doing it for real, and that it helps them. Normally people that read with me on workshops or auditions would do the same but this girl was an awful reader, and I don’t know how she got that job.

One of the better casting director places in town. Lots of heavy hitters and newer associates come here.
There’s loads of free 2 hour street parking and the facilities are nice, clean and well lit.
I’ve been here over 10 times though, and it’s always freezing. So bring a jacket!
Sometimes the wait is quite long so prep accordingly!

I took a CD workshop with Jeff Greenberg (Modern Family). The girl at the desk was super friendly and accommodating, place was clean, nice bathrooms etc. But the thing I love most was that I actually got in front of a CD that has true expertise. I don’t know if I will get called in for a real audition, of course, but this experience has opened my eyes. I really didn’t know actors did this sort of thing… now i know! YAY! :D

My absolute FAVORITE place to take workshops. Clean, quiet, spacious and a very comfortable format. The people who work here are quick to offer a smile and a hello. The atmosphere is top notch and makes me feel at ease going in to read for a CD. Also, the readers they provide are EXCELLENT. I can’t stress enough how much I love this place!

Actor’s Key is the BEST!!! Their workshops are run professionally and efficiently, they get excellent CDs who provide honest and helpful feedback and their readers are top notch!!! My favorite place to cultivate industry relationships!!!

Still think this place is the best for CD workshops. However, in two years, NEVER have I once been called in by anyone. I’m SAG-​AFTRA, I had excellent scores, been told by a manager who reps someone getting famous now «Your choices will get you callbacks», and I’ve heard others have gotten called in even with hardly anything on their resume. I’ve had a lot of training, a lot of these people I met liked me, all 5’s or 4’s, I have no agent (who knows if that would help if I had one), I’m union, I know it needs to be if the role is right for you, but two years already… come on! It’s like these people I met just plain forgot about me and I even post carded them a lot, took more classes, looked for reps with no success.
My question is this… if I get an agent, will they be able to get me out to these CDs I’ve met here? I know there were a good number who liked me, told me I was so funny, et. I felt very positive about one who just laughed so much at my read and told me I was a character and not to add more to it because the character was already in me/​my voice/​persona. The more I do and the more I spend I seem to hurt myself in this business, like I don’t count but my money is all they want. I have decided not to take anymore workshops anywhere since I already took a good number of them with many already and waiting for a good agent to get me out now to these CDs. My guess is, they just forgot about me and I know there are factors as to who gets called in and when if the role is right, but two years+ already doesn’t seem good to me while others, especially a lot of the same people keep getting called in. There are friends of mine who have had less education than me, took a few workshops, and got called in. It just seems a waste if I keep going back again to these workshops when nothing happens. My goal is to get a good agent, get sent out and book stuff, not keep spending money constantly for 7+ years at something people who step off the plane are getting immediately with little or no experience.
Like I was saying, on the one hand, an agent might not get anyone out. On the OTHER HAND, taking these classes one might just get called in by the CD (that hasn’t happened with me), but on the other hand, if I had an agent and if they submit me to these CDs, would there then be a chance I’d be called in, or is my constant not getting called in after many workshops going to affect me? I know it’s all a numbers game, but I’m talking about when I have an agent at some point (I’m working on that right now), and if I mention to them all the CDs I’ve met (some will for sure remember me), if they pitch me to them, will not getting called in by them already hurt my chances or will it have been worth meeting them at the workshops and getting great feedback/​scores?

I really like this place. I’ve been called in a few times from CDs I’ve seen here. There’s a lot of space. Parking is easy. Always a lot of choices of Casting Directors and fair prices. The only con is that sometimes the staff isn’t super welcoming or friendly or they’re chit chatting with each other but it’s not everyone or everytime. I really like this place and will continue coming back for workshops. If you’re lucky enough to get Shannon as a reader you’re already in great shape!

Everyone there is helpful, friendly, and professional. The casting directors I have met so far have been great about giving useful information and direction that can be applied at an audition to rock it! Great prices, especially when they run workshop specials. Well worth the time and money!

The Actors Key was an informative as well as fun experience for me. I took the Jamie Snow Workshop and was great to see from the outside in how casting really works and gain a deeper insight to prepare myself better, which I felt The Actors Key did for me. I was given priceless information about which type of scene would better suit me, and I am grateful that Jamie and everyone at The Actors Key have great workshops that I can go to for an all around educational and helpful and exciting experience. Thanks!
–Sergio Grdina

I love the Actor’s Key in Burbank. The staff is always so friendly, welcoming, and professional. It’s a great environment for actors to practice their auditioning skills, and the great thing about that is you’re actually reading for casting directors who are currently working in television and film. I also like the agent and manager reading opportunities when they come into the Actor’s Key. This company offers a great resource for networking, and honing those auditioning skills.

Kris and Katie rule! Also…
— Best casting director workshop I’ve been to
— Get to choose your own sides from the company’s vast resources or actually get your own sides approved!
— Plenty of casting directors who are actually CURRENTLY CASTING major network tv series and indie features. I’m focused on network jobs at the moment, myself.
— Don’t come here if you’ve never acted, unless you’re doing workshops with acting coaches or something. You don’t want CDs to see you before you’ve had some training.
— Great facility! Have wi-​fi, plenty of space to chill.
— Great resources for scenes! Although it would behoove you to research your own scenes to best showcase what you bring to the party.
— Do your research! Come prepared! You can waste money here if you don’t — and workshops aren’t cheap.
— Actress I worked with on an indie told me about this place, and her career has really started to move…
— I *LIKE* getting feedback from casting directors — because you almost NEVER get it on actual auditions!
— Workshops give you the opportunity to show CDs your chops — more often than not, new actors get called for co-​stars, with little to no opportunity to show what you can do.
I hope very few actors read this review. Mine!

ActorsKey is the BEST place to go for CD workshops.
1) You get to come prepared.

When we audition, we get to prepare it (even if just for a few hours or a day) — why should we get something cold and than just HOPE it’s a good scene or that we nail it?
2) You do the scene by yourself, audition style.
Just like when you audition… why put up a scene in front of casting? Let alone a cold scene. Let alone a cold scene with an actor who could be absolutely horrible.
3) You choose the material.
You can choose how casting sees you and make sure you showcase yourself.
OVERALL Actors Key is just the best way to go because it caters to what we need as actors. If you don’t have an agent or you aren’t getting into the rooms you want, than this is absolutely the best place to go. They have an amazing reputation. They run on time. Almost all of the CDs in the area that do casting workshops, go to Actors Key.
If you are going to spend money on workshops (and as actors we more or less HAVE to do workshops these days), you might as well get the most out of it by going to a place that lets you showcase your best self.
Plus you can pay $ 320 and get $ 400 worth of Workshops which is a nice discount/​special.
PLUS you can do multiple workshops in a day which is awesome for time management.

The Actor’s Key has been nothing short of GREAT. The CD’s all spent ample time with very solid notes and feedback. The environment is professional, clean and calm. The website and communication regarding the events and special opportunities are terrific. The wait list option, with immediate notice of cancellations/​opportunities– brilliant. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. I can’t say enough great things about them.
I see other comments about the wait-​I doubt it is much different from other places– if you can double up and take two different CD’s in one night, versus coming back on two nights– it works out really well.

Love love LOVE actors key! Not only is this an extremely professional place to take workshops from but I’ve always had a warm and inviting experience. I rate them the best in LA because off all the success I’ve had with casting directors and the overall experience has always been wonderful & easy! I really like that you get one on one time with each CD & an evaluation sheet of constructed criticism. I always leave feeling I really get «my» time & my money’s worth. Thank you Actors key!

This place is awesome! It is BY FAR the best place to do casting workshops in town. Ever since I started here I have booked roles on several TV shows, and I can honestly say that 90% of my auditions for Series Regulars, Guest Stars, and Co-​Stars have been a direct result of meeting Casting at The Actor’s Key. You get to bring in your own scene, you get to do it 1-​on-​1 for casting (like a real audition) and you get sheets with scores and feedback on your acting from casting after your read, in addition to verbal feedback.
I’ve learned a ton of tangible acting knowledge that improved my work very quickly once I got started. You can literally track your learning progress because once you start getting all 5’s on your score sheets, it means you’re giving casting what they’re looking for, and if someone you’ve read for has a job that fits your type, you often get called in for the audition. That’s been my experience.
If you go to the «Success Stories» part of the website, you’ll find pages and pages of actors getting auditions and booking TV shows after meeting casting at Actor’s Key.
You get to bring in your own scene, which gives you the chance to memorize a scene that you feel best showcases your voice as an actor. And you don’t have to pick from the website, you can find a scene from something that’s already aired and get it approved within 48 hours. And you get a score sheet after your read where the casting director or associate rates different elements of your work on a scale of 1 – 5. THIS MEANS YOU LEARN WHAT YOU’RE DOING RIGHT AND/​OR WRONG.
Cold Reading Casting Workshops are way less useful. In real auditions, it is never a cold read. All theatrical auditions I’ve been on, I get the material the night before and memorize it. Same thing with shoots, you never hear the AD on a set go «Okay, rolling, sound speed, background. Talent, please make sure you all have your scripts in your hands, and action.» Cold reading workshops are far inferior because they don’t give you the same opportunity to put your best, well-​prepared, foot forward as you would in a real audition or job. Cold reading is not acting. Why would you want to not be prepared?
To address the complaint I read in the review about supposedly waiting a long time. First of all, it’s not true. If you get there early, you wait way less time, and depending on how quickly the casting person gives feedback, I am almost always home way quicker than I used to be when I used to take those cold reading cd workshops. And if you wanna see other actors work, watch tivo. I don’t go to casting workshops to watch theater, I go to learn and establish professional relationships. But, it’s really a moot point because at auditions, you wait. At shoots, you wait. Sometimes for hours in a small trailer, and you do it because you love acting and are committed to the craft.
The idea that wait times or wall colors or a single isolated experience with a weird guest are a good reason to (instead of going to Actor’s Key) do an inferior cold reading workshop where you will learn less and have a lot less of a chance to get called in for auditions is silly to me. Also, you don’t get a score sheet at those other places, and you get way less feedback from Casting.
If you want to get better at auditions, and you want to have more of them, go to Actor’s Key. It’s way better and more effective than any other casting workshop establishment, and I’ve been to them all.
Also, I want to make it clear that I do not work for Actor’s Key, I just love the place. Going there has made my career and I’m very grateful that it exists.

I can only say that I’ve done workshops at several places around town and the Actor’s Key is hands down THE BEST place to do them. Their format of doing the Q&A before the one on ones with the CD may make for a little longer evening if you were not able to get there early, but the great part is that you aren’t stuck in a room watching other people’s scenes. You can use your time how you choose (reading, memorizing, watching TV on your iPad on their free WiFi network, walk to Porto’s for a coffee, etc.) In fact, that’s the thing that Actor’s Key has been able to really capture is allowing the actor to control their entire workshop experience. The website is unbelievably easy to use and their cancellation policy is fair and uncomplicated. There are a ton of sides to choose from and YOU choose them yourself. You then sit through the Q&A, ask whatever questions you want, and then go in ONE ON ONE with the CD and the reader, like a real audition. If you don’t want to wait until the end, you can choose to show up early and sign up first. It’s first come, first served. Almost every aspect of the process is under your control. The readers are all working actors themselves and are fantastic and helpful. They cold read MUCH better than any CD assistant that I’ve ever read with.
As for these other reviewers on here who say that it is not a learning experience, let me just say that after doing workshops at the Actor’s Key for over a year, I went from not booking at all to booking CONSISTENTLY because of what I have LEARNED through the process at the Actor’s Key. Yes, a lot of the «information» is the same in the Q&A’s, but what is unique is that I get to «rehearse» auditioning for different CDs, get feedback, and improve for the next one. The CDs are not there to teach me how to act, they are there to give me specific information on auditioning for their office so I can market to them correctly and then to watch my mock audition and provide feedback. The opportunities to learn through this process are immeasurable.
Many places have the CDs show up and they pair you up with some random actor and have you cold read a scene. How this is supposed to demonstrate any sort of similarity to an actual audition, I’m not sure. The first thing all of the CDs say is «be prepared», so the forum at the Actors Key allows you to practice doing just that. They set it up so that what you learn is up to you. If you see it as a «paid audition”(which it is not), then that’s your choice and you probably won’t get too much out of it. However, if you see it as an opportunity to really practice your auditioning chops on the field before game day with someone who watches literally thousands of auditions and to find out from the CDs themselves how their office works, you will be surprised at how much you learn.
IF workshops are for you and IF you want a great place to work out your auditioning with the TOP CDs in town (check out their website), go to The Actor’s Key.
UPDATE: After receiving two emails where someone asked me if I owned the place or just worked there because my review was so positive… the answer is neither. I’m grateful though that they brought this to my attention because it gives me the opportunity to address this. To clarify… this place offers me exactly what I want in order to keep my auditioning skills sharp. Period. Let me just say that if you have a moral or personal issue with doing workshops, then don’t do them. As for the quality of the CD/​Agent guests, all anyone has to do is look at the website to see the list of the guests.

This is THE LONGEST WAIT IN TOWN. Every time I’ve come here, I wind up waiting for literally two to three+ hours (in a nearly silent multi-​story white-​walled doctor’s waiting room) for my seven minutes with casting. Just ask around — such an experience is par for the course here.
The only major upside is the 1-​on-​1 audition-​like feel when you finally get your seven minutes in heaven. The thing is — this is straight up illegal. You are definitely paying for a job interview/​audition, which again, is bonafide illegal. The only way casting director workshops exist is under the guise that they are «educational» in nature. Sure, there’s a Q&A, but let’s not kid ourselves. It’s very much an audition.
Though, if you, like me, see it fit to give lots of your money to places like this (and I still do — I STILL go to Actors Key) regardless of the ethics and financial hemorrhage «workshops» are against us actors, I’d suggest trying Reel Pros or Act Now for your CD needs. You’ll at least pass the time watching some talented actors perform, instead of twiddling your thumbs in a magazine-​less waiting room. «Paging Dr. No…»
(Two stars because the session runners /​staff are good people.)
EDIT: The owner sent me a friendly message in response to this review, saying she likes the idea of putting magazines in the waiting rooms.

Actor’s Key is the #1 place for CD workshops in Los Angeles. I live in Venice so it can be a trek — but soooo worth it. I just wish they’d open up a location over here!
I’ve been to a few CD workshop joints and many can be super-​duper creepy. They often make me feel dead inside after leaving. NOT SO at The Actor’s Key. The community there is very respectful and encouraging. The casting directors and agents they bring in are top-​notch and always share valuable insight.
This is the BEST place to get face time with casting directors. It’s tough to get your foot in the door. This is not so different than taking a casting director out for lunch. However instead of picking up a $ 45 tab for overpriced salads you get show off your acting chops and chat with the CD for that $ 45.

The Actor’s Key is the most professional, best run, workshop venue in L.A.
I LOVE this place and all of its peeps! Highly, highly recommending it!

The Actor’s Key definitely has the best casting director workshops in L.A. I’ve been to them all. The best thing is that you get to read one on one with the casting director instead of getting paired up with another actor. That takes away a lot of the pressure of performing in front of a bunch of people. All you need to impress is the casting director, not an audience. You also get to bring in a prepared scene of your choice. I have done other workshops where they give you some lame scene you’re not right for and you get paired up with a crappy actor and it makes you look really bad! They have a professional reader that reads with each actor. I’ve read with about three of them and each one is really cool and also a really good actor. I met one of the owners at ActorFest and she couldn’t have been sweeter! I’ll definitely be going to them for a long time to come!