The Callback That Didn't Lead to a Role but Still Opened Doors
I recently had a callback for an animated project I was super excited about. But there was one small issue: recording was scheduled to start the same week I was heading out of town.
I didn’t have the job yet, but I was on the shortlist which meant I needed to be available just in case. So, I immediately reached out to my agent to figure out the situation. (Just one more reason why agents are the best! They’ve got your back!)
We came up with a plan: if I booked the role, I’d build a makeshift booth with my travel gear and make it work from the road. That said, the whole situation was stressing me out a little. I had that classic “if you want to book work, just plan a vacation” moment. And sure enough, bam! A big opportunity popped up right before I was supposed to leave.
The callback was on a Friday, with recording originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. I was the first actor to read with the client, and I thought it went great. The session was really fun, and it was awesome to meet the creative team behind the project.
Toward the end, I asked about the recording schedule—just to see if anything had changed. And lucky me, they told me that due to new circumstances, they were hoping to record that same day instead of next week. That was perfect for me. I was free that day and definitely preferred getting it done before travel.
I wrapped up the callback feeling good. A few hours later, my agent reached out to let me know they ended up going with someone else for this role—but they also shared that the client loved my read and wants to keep me in mind for future projects.
Honestly, I still count that as a win. I gave a performance I was proud of, made a great impression with a new client, and got on their radar. That’s a huge part of this business—planting seeds for the future.
Not only that, but I could now travel with peace of mind and no stress about building a makeshift booth on the fly.
So if you’re reading this and find yourself in a similar situation, just remember: booking or not, a great callback is never a waste of time. Every opportunity is a chance to connect, show what you bring to the table, and build toward the next gig—even if it’s not this one.