Actors Deserve More Than a ‘No’: Give Them Their Headshots Back
(Photo: Bway Printing)
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Here’s a simple fix to a long-standing annoyance in the audition process: if you're not moving an actor forward, give them their headshot and résumé back.
That’s it. That’s the post.
Okay — not really, but this should be common courtesy by now. Headshots are expensive. So is printing on thick, professional-grade paper. So is keeping résumés up to date and formatting them just the way you like. And for actors already juggling travel, work, and audition prep, watching those materials disappear into a trash bin or filing cabinet — never to be seen again — adds insult to injury.
So when actor Stefanie Renee Salyers made a TikTok recently praising a casting team for returning headshots and résumés to performers who weren’t moving forward, it struck a chord. Because yes — this should be the norm. Her video was celebratory, but also served as a reminder: if one team can build this basic respect into their process, others can too.
Let’s be real: most actors aren’t expecting a parade when they don’t get cast. But they are hoping to walk away feeling like their time and effort were valued. Giving them back the tools they brought into the room — tools that cost them actual money — is a small but powerful gesture. One that acknowledges the hustle it takes to even show up.
It also creates goodwill. You might not cast someone today, but if they leave feeling respected, they’ll be more likely to come back tomorrow — and tell their friends. Word travels fast in this industry, and how you treat people in the room matters just as much as who you put on stage.
To be clear, no one is saying casting directors should track someone down on the subway to return their 8x10. But if you’re auditioning in person and asking for physical materials, and you’ve already made your decision, there should be a system in place to return those materials at the end of the audition day — even if it's just a labeled pile near the door.
Doing so sends a small but powerful message: “We see your effort. We respect your investment. And we’re not going to waste what you gave us, even if this role isn’t yours.”
It’s not just about saving a few bucks (though for a lot of actors, every dollar counts). It’s about treating people — especially emerging artists — with the kind of care that makes this industry better, not colder.