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The Working Actor NYC

The Working Actor NYC

by Patrick Richwood & Benjamin Howes

Performing Arts TV & Film

Season 2

Who's Really In Control Of Your Acting Career?

Stop waiting for permission to own the parts of your career that already belong to you. What does it really mean to be in control of your acting career? In this Independence Day episode of The Working Actor NYC Podcast, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood unpack the difference between control, ownership and true creative independence. Using real comments from actors in the community, they explore what belongs to you, what belongs to your team, and what nobody gets to control at all. From agents, auditions and financial independence to craft, confidence, self-sufficiency and the work you do before anyone gives you permission, this conversation is a practical and honest look at how actors can take more ownership of their careers without pretending they control the entire industry. Because the more clearly you know what belongs to you, the less time you waste worrying about what doesn’t.

Why Does Every Room Feel Like An Audition?

Why does walking into a room full of your peers feel so intimidating? Benjamin and Patrick unpack the invisible scorecard we all carry—and why genuine curiosity might be the best networking strategy you'll ever learn. When you walk into a room full of people in your industry... what's the first thing your brain starts measuring? Who's more successful? Who already knows everyone? Who looks more confident? Who just looked over your shoulder? Whether it's a film festival, a casting director workshop, an opening night, or a networking event, many of us stop having conversations and start auditioning for the room. This week on The Working Actor NYC Podcast, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood unpack the invisible scorecard we all seem to carry—and why "schmoozing" feels so uncomfortable for so many creative people. Using Benjamin's recent experience at Tribeca Film Festival as a jumping-off point, they explore: Why networking often feels fake The psychology of comparing ourselves to everyone in the room How curiosity changes every conversation Why community—not performance—is what actually builds careers The simple question that transformed Benjamin's experience of the festival One realization sits at the heart of the conversation: "I stopped trying to be interesting. I became interested." If you've ever walked into an industry event feeling like everyone else belonged more than you did, this episode is for you.

How Working Actors Survive Rejection (Without Losing Their Minds)

Actors deal with rejection a lot. This week, we're ranking their coping strategies from healthy to completely unhinged. This week on The Working Actor NYC Podcast, we're diving into one of the most important—and ridiculous—parts of being an actor: coping with the ups and downs of the business. After a field report from Tribeca Festival, where Benjamin shares what he's learning from inside one of the world's most important film festivals, we turn our attention to the weird, wonderful, and occasionally alarming ways actors deal with rejection, uncertainty, and career chaos. Meditation? Healthy. Calling your actor friends? Probably healthy. Aggressively vacuuming your apartment after not booking the role? The jury is still out. We rate real actor coping strategies submitted by viewers and deciding whether they're Healthy, Questionable, or Completely Unhinged.

Actors Share Their Most Unhinged Audition Stories

Every actor has at least one audition story they still think about at 2am. This week, we gathered around the internet campfire to relive some of the funniest, most mortifying, most chaotic audition stories we’ve ever heard — hopping into a bread truck to make it to Ripley Grier, singing West Side Story with a surprise bell choir accompaniment, self tapes shot like Oscar-winning cinema before anyone knew what a self tape even was, and the kind of unhinged audition notes that still haunt actors decades later. Somewhere between the trauma and the laughter, we realized every actor has survived at least one audition that should have sent them directly into witness protection. But underneath the chaos is something real: the resilience it takes to keep showing up. We talk about rejection, overthinking, bad direction, casting workshops, awkward industry moments, and the weird emotional endurance test that is building a career as an actor. If you’ve ever walked out of an audition replaying every second in your head… this episode is for you. Pull up a chair, bring your own horror story, and join us for one of the funniest and most honest conversations we’ve had yet.

Actors: You Did The Work... And Still Didn't Get Asked Back

The rejection you didn't see coming. What happens when you help build a project… and then the project moves forward without you? In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC podcast, Benjamin and Patrick dig into one of the most painful — and least discussed — experiences actors face: being part of the reading, workshop, lab, or regional production… and then not being invited back. Benjamin shares his recent experience of being dropped from a Broadway-bound project, and members of the acting community share their own stories of rejection, replacement, heartbreak, resilience, and recovery. This episode includes: • stories from actors who helped build shows and were later replaced • conversations about self-worth and rejection in the acting industry • thoughts on how actors recover emotionally and professionally • field reports from NYC casting offices and the theater community • a discussion about series regular auditions, managers, and “moving up the ladder” in TV Featuring stories and perspectives from: Kimberly Doreen Burns Lauren Pastorek Jackie Petroccia If you’ve ever felt left behind by this business… this episode is for you.

Do You Have To Be Selfish To Succeed As An Actor?

Do you need to be selfish to succeed as an actor… or is that just insecurity in disguise? We break down confidence, ego, and the real behaviors that shape a career in the room. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, we tackle a deceptively simple question: do you have to be selfish to succeed as an actor? What starts as a surprising on-set interaction quickly opens up a deeper conversation about confidence, status signaling, and the fine line between self-belief and ego. From actors subtly “flashing credentials” to moments of bold self-positioning in the room, we unpack what these behaviors actually mean—and whether they help or hurt in a collaborative industry. Along the way, we break down real audition struggles, including a listener-submitted story about a dance call gone wrong, and explore the mental habits that can either derail or save you in high-pressure moments. We also dig into the idea of “infrastructure” in an actor’s career—from daily habits to unexpected homework like watching television with intention—and how clarity, resilience, and self-awareness ultimately shape long-term success more than any single moment of confidence or ego.

The Lie That You're "Behind" As An Actor

Are you falling behind as an actor… or does it just feel that way? In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood dive into one of the most destructive beliefs actors carry: the idea that everyone else is ahead. They unpack the comparison trap, the illusion created by social media, and why acting careers don’t follow timelines — even though we keep trying to force them onto one. They also discuss late starts, the long middle of an acting career, and why longevity matters more than early success. If you’ve ever felt like you started too late, haven’t booked enough, or watched others “pass you by,” this conversation will change how you think about your career. Because you’re not behind. You’re just in the middle.

Actor Type vs Brand: LIVE in The Green Room

Type gets you in the room. Brand gets you cast. In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC Podcast, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood introduce their new format — featuring real-world field reports, live audience questions, and deep dives into essential acting career topics. This week, they tackle one of the most misunderstood concepts in the industry: type vs brand — and how understanding the difference can help actors move from co-star roles to series regular opportunities. Featuring insights from casting director sessions and practical tools actors can apply immediately.

Stop Treating Self Tapes Like A Chore

If self-tapes feel like punishment, there’s a good chance you’re approaching them completely wrong. Self-tapes didn’t kill auditions. They just changed the rules. Self-tape auditions are now the standard for film, TV, and many theatre projects — but many actors still treat self tapes like a chore instead of a creative opportunity. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood share practical self-tape audition tips, discuss how to approach acting self tapes creatively, and talk about what actually helps actors stand out on camera. Self-tapes have completely changed the way actors audition — and a lot of actors still treat them like a chore. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood unpack the mindset shift that can make self-taping not just tolerable… but actually creative and empowering. Yes, many actors miss the energy of being in the room with casting directors. But the self-tape era has also opened up new opportunities: more control over your performance, the ability to collaborate with your own community of readers, and a chance to approach the audition like a miniature piece of storytelling. We talk about: • Why self-tapes feel isolating — and why that might be a myth • How building a circle of readers can actually strengthen your acting community • Whether props help or hurt your audition • Why overproducing your self-tape can backfire • The difference between playing it safe and making specific choices • How to start thinking of self-tapes as a creative opportunity instead of a burden Because here’s the truth: the rules of the industry have changed. And the actors who adapt fastest are the ones who keep working. If you’re still treating self-tapes like something you have to get through, this conversation might help you start using them to your advantage.

The Seasons of an Acting Career (And How to Survive the Transitions)

A conversation about longevity, identity, and staying alive to the work. Acting careers don’t follow straight lines — they move through seasons. In this episode, we explore the reality every long-term actor eventually faces: the transition from one chapter of work to another. Roles evolve, identities shift, and the challenge becomes not holding onto what once worked, but staying responsive to what the work is asking of you now. We discuss: The emotional reality of aging into new casting territory Letting go of roles that defined earlier chapters Why some actors struggle during transitions How curiosity sustains longevity in the profession Practical ways to recognize where your career is heading next This conversation isn’t about surviving change. It’s about remaining artistically alive as your career evolves. Because longevity in acting isn’t about holding on — it’s about knowing when to release.

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