Actors: How to Snag that TV Guest Star Role and Be Successful on Set

As a working actor, some of the best roles you can land are guest star roles for TV series. The money is good and it's an opportunity to become much more visible and have a lot more people see what you can do. Plus guest star roles give you invaluable experience working on a large and professional set. And landing guest star roles aren't just a fantasy; it's something you can actually achieve with the right preparation and understanding. You have to prepare quality reels, rehearse auditions and continuously study and improve your craft. Yet this is only half the battle. The second part of the actor’s journey is knowing how to maintain that trajectory of success after you’ve gotten the job. You need to know how to navigate the industry after you've gotten your foot in the door - so that door of opportunity does not close on you. 

There is a lot of information out there on the audition process for actors, but very little on how to actually do a good job once you're on set. If you're on your first guest star role, there's a lot you need to know to be successful. You want to make sure you perform well and that the cast and crew enjoy working with you so you can build your reputation and discover more roles. You want to make sure that your presence is a present to those around you. It isn't always easy making a good first impression on set but actors who accomplish this are able to secure more longevity in their careers. We’ll show you how to attain this same success.

Maddie Corman is an award winning actor and writer who has guest starred on over 35 television series including all three LAW & ORDERs, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, and THE GOOD WIFE and has had recurring roles in recent shows like YOUNGER and MADAME SECRETARY. Maddie has also been featured as a series regular on MR. PRESIDENT, starring George C. Scott, ALL AMERICAN GIRL, and ALMOST THERE. Maddie is also a writer and director. Her short film HOW WAS YOUR DAY was selected by Tribeca Film Festival and her first full length play ACCIDENTLY BRAVE was produced by the Tony Award winning  Daryl Roth (KINKY BOOTS, INDECENT), which had a critically acclaimed run and also won the Off Broadway Alliance award for best solo performance. Maddie has decades of experience finding work as a guest star on countless  acclaimed series and knows better than most what it takes to find success in this way.

Maddie will provide invaluable guidance and tools on how to land guest star roles on TV series and how to make a good impression on set so you can keep on finding more work. Maddie will show you her own reel to use as inspiration and how to properly prepare for a great audition from wardrobe to improvisation to cues. She will also teach you key specifics around auditioning such as what they are looking for, how to continue prepping while you are waiting, and tips on small talk when you first walk into the room. Maddie will also prepare you for all types of auditions whether in-person, over zoom, or self-tapped, provide you with unique advice on how what to do after booking the role, and how to act on set like how to read your call sheet, nail your blocking, and what to do when you’re not needed on set.

Maddie is tremendously excited to share her infinite wealth of knowledge and expertise with the Stage 32 community.