Podcast Summary
Podcast: Everyday VOpreneur® with Marc Scott
Episode: "You’re Not Auditioning For Just One Role with Casting Director Andy Roth"
Date: February 5, 2026
Guest: Andy Roth, Voiceover Casting Director
Episode Overview
In this enriching conversation, Marc Scott sits down with veteran casting director Andy Roth, whose career spans over three decades and thousands of cast commercials and projects. The central theme: Voice actors aren’t just auditioning for one job—they’re always auditioning for relationships, for future opportunities, and for presence in the minds of casting professionals. Together, they unravel industry myths, discuss the nuances of auditioning, building relationships, and harnessing social media, and provide practical, confidence-boosting advice for VOpreneurs.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Loving the Audition Process
Main Idea: Auditioning should be viewed as an integral, continuing part of a voice actor’s career—not a chore, but an opportunity.
- Falling in love with auditioning:
- Both agree it's natural for auditioning to feel tedious at times, but attitude matters.
- Andy likens it to maintaining a relationship: sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it’s work, but you stick with it for the big picture.
- “Anybody can do it when everything's going great... It's the people that can go in and do a good job, even when they're like, ‘I'm so tired…’” (Andy Roth, 05:58)
2. What Casting Directors Listen For
Main Idea: Authenticity, not perfection, grabs a casting director’s attention.
- Andy’s focus:
- “What I'm listening for is who a person is.” (09:45)
- Nerves are detectable, but being authentically yourself stands out.
- Auditions are rarely one-and-done: excellent auditions are often banked for future projects.
- "If I've asked you to audition, I want you there." (Andy Roth, 08:08)
- Gatekeeper Myth Debunked:
- “Nobody’s trying to keep you out... You're never auditioning for just whatever you're auditioning for.” (Andy Roth, 09:54 & 13:52)
- Casting directors are cheerleaders, not gatekeepers; everyone in the VO ecosystem is part of completing the “hive.”
3. The Importance of Relationships
Main Idea: Consistency, professionalism, and connection matter more than “who you know”—it’s about “who knows you.”
- Building relationships:
- "It's not who you know, it's who knows you." (Andy Roth, 15:41)
- Submitting good auditions, following directions, and interacting in classes/workshops all foster relationships.
- Social media helps casting directors flesh out who you are—your work, your interests, your professionalism.
4. Social Media: Double-Edged Sword
Main Idea: Use social media as a curated, living resume—without fear of oversharing.
- Influencer and follower counts rarely impact casting decisions.
- "If I'm casting a commercial and I go on your Insta and I see you have 47 commercials, you know... that's the thing that matters." (Andy Roth, 19:53)
- Leverage social media to control your narrative and be discoverable.
- Don’t fret about “bragging”—share your successes to attract the right people
- "If other voice actors get upset because you’re talking too much about your work, who cares? They’re not the people that are hiring you anyway..." (Marc Scott, 21:46)
5. The Mechanics of Casting and Auditions
Main Idea: Auditions are stored, referenced, and can lead to unexpected opportunities—don’t obsess over making a single audition “perfect”.
- Banking auditions:
- "Most of us bank auditions... You're never auditioning for just whatever you're auditioning for." (Andy Roth, 10:45)
- Strong but Wrong:
- Excellent reads for the wrong role often land actors other jobs (“strong but wrong” folder—credit Rachel Slatke).
6. Making Choices and Overthinking
Main Idea: Make honest, authentic choices—don’t “overact” or try too hard to “stand out.”
- “Make the obvious choice”
- “I absolutely hate it when people are like, don’t make the obvious choice... I need your unique, special version of the same.” (Andy Roth, 26:37)
- Overthinking:
- “Being yourself is effortless... unless you’re nervous.” (Andy Roth, 31:06)
- Both actors and casting professionals experience decision paralysis; it’s a human, not only an actor, problem.
7. On "Crazy" Takes
Main Idea: If you try something outside the box, do so only if it genuinely serves the read—not just to be different.
- “If you’re doing it because it’s right for the spot, then great, do it. If you’re doing it because you want to show your range, don’t.” (Andy Roth, 35:41)
- Don’t force “crazy” takes—context always matters.
8. Casting Directors' Real Concerns
Main Idea: Castability is about making the director’s life easier—reliability, adaptability, and professionalism trump dazzling performance.
- Directors want actors that don’t make the process harder, can adjust on the fly, and don’t need excessive hand-holding.
9. Industry Trends and AI
Faster, Better, Cheaper
- Efficiency is more important than ever: "The business is getting more and more efficient. It’s getting faster and faster and faster." (Andy Roth, 47:00)
- Method acting, “the perfect take”—these are valued only if you can deliver them quickly.
- AI is not (yet) replacing human talent: "Not there yet." (Andy Roth, 49:13)
- Attempts to use AI for major projects have flopped due to lack of quality.
10. Physicality in the Booth
Main Idea: Use your body to inform your read—physicality, even subtle, brings authenticity.
- "Acting is a physics term—it’s about doing something that affects a receiver. Our communication is primarily physical." (Andy Roth, 54:41)
- Try the “palm trick” to feel immediate emotional change (56:21–56:50).
- Even in confined spaces, find ways to move: “Build a bigger booth!” but also “your brain will compensate if you can’t.” (60:14–60:34)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On relationships, not transactions:
"You’re auditioning for a relationship, is really what it is." (Andy Roth, 11:05) -
On being seen as a peer:
"We’re all equals. We do different jobs. But nobody can do any of this without all the other jobs." (Andy Roth, 13:00) -
On decision-making and overthinking:
"The answer to almost every question in this industry is ‘I don’t know’ or ‘it depends.’" (Andy Roth, 34:35) -
On social media anxiety:
"If other voice actors get upset because you're talking too much about your work, who cares? They're not the people that are hiring you anyway." (Marc Scott, 21:46) -
On casting priorities:
"If I’ve experienced you being good at the job even once, then in my world, you’re good at the job." (Andy Roth, 37:07) -
On industry trends:
"Getting better at something doesn’t feel like anything. It’s like getting taller. You don’t feel like you’re getting taller." (Andy Roth, 46:22) -
On physical acting:
"If I can’t take a screenshot of what you’re doing and feel like I know how you felt, you weren’t really doing it." (Andy Roth, 54:41)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:59 — Andy’s career & what he loves about casting
- 04:08 — Marc’s struggle with audition mindset, redefining the value of auditions
- 06:57 — What Andy listens for: nerves, authenticity, relationships
- 10:45 — Casting directors “bank” auditions; no audition is wasted
- 13:00 — Debunking the “gatekeeper” myth; casting as part of a team effort
- 17:35 — Building relationships: It’s who knows you
- 19:21 — Social media’s real value: seeing experience, not follower count
- 21:46 — Importance of marketing yourself without fear of judgment
- 26:37 — Why “make the obvious choice” is good advice
- 31:06 — The pitfalls of overthinking auditions
- 38:45 — File naming, directions, and what really causes a pass
- 44:54 — Industry trends: faster, better, cheaper
- 49:09 — Is AI taking over? “Not there yet.”
- 54:37 — The importance of physicality in voice acting
- 56:21 — The “palm trick”: instant physicality demo
- 60:07 — Room to move: “Build a bigger booth!”
- 62:58 — Final takeaways: authenticity, relaxation, confidence
Actionable Takeaways
- Remember, every audition is an opportunity for future work.
- Be authentic: Don’t overthink your choices; do what feels right and true to you.
- Market yourself: Use social media and your website as active, positive resumes. Don’t fear “bragging” if it’s relevant and professional.
- Follow directions: Proper file naming, slating, and brief reading are simple but critical.
- Physicality is power: Use your body—even in small ways—to access your natural communication brain and bring authenticity to reads.
- Relax—and keep going: Missing out on a role is not missing out on your career; there’s always another opportunity.
For more resources and to connect with Andy Roth:
- Andy's Website & Class Listings
- Find him at VO Atlanta, Get Out of Your Booth Conference, and on social media.
Connect with Marc Scott:
Summary by Everyday VOpreneur® Podcast Summarizer.