Check Avail

And now to define a crucial yet commonly misunderstood industry term: check avail.

After completing a successful audition, a casting director may decide to put an actor on check avail. This request reserves a certain amount of dates for an upcoming shoot. Although those potential shooting dates are reserved on the actor's calendar, they have not yet officially booked the role. The casting director will often put multiple actors on check avail and then make a decision on the best candidate after consulting with their studio.

While you are on check avail, it is important to remain patient and transparent with your agent. It usually takes several days for the studio to reach a final decision, so make sure those dates remain free and available. After the studio and casting director make their decision, you’ll either book the project or be released, freeing your schedule for other potential projects.

If you are released from a check avail, do not lose hope! Because you’ve made it this far into the process, it’s only a matter of time before you book a future role. The casting director enjoys your work, so keep the hope alive!

Stay positive,
Andrew