Bill Dance Casting

Bill Dance Casting is a long-running and well-respected background casting company in Los Angeles headed by veteran casting director Bill Dance, who has been providing background talent to Hollywood productions for several decades. The company has earned its reputation through consistent, reliable service to production companies and fair, professional treatment of the background actors on its roster. Bill Dance Casting has worked on an extensive list of feature films, network and cable television series, and streaming productions throughout its history, making it one of the recognizable names in the LA background casting ecosystem. The company operates as an independent entity separate from Central Casting and Entertainment Partners, giving it the flexibility to develop close working relationships with specific productions and their assistant director teams. Bill Dance's personal experience and deep industry connections have kept the company relevant and in demand even as the background casting landscape has evolved.

In today's market, Bill Dance Casting occupies the role of a trusted supplementary background casting company that many Los Angeles productions rely on to fill specific background needs. The company is particularly valued for its ability to provide reliable, professional talent that production teams can count on to show up prepared and behave appropriately on set. While it does not match the massive volume of Central Casting, Bill Dance Casting compensates with more personal attention to both the productions it serves and the actors it represents. The company has adapted to the digital age while maintaining the personal relationships and phone-based communication style that characterized earlier eras of background casting. For actors, this blend of old-school industry relationships and modern accessibility makes Bill Dance Casting a worthwhile addition to their background casting registrations.

Actors register with Bill Dance Casting by submitting their photos and personal information through the company's website or by responding to specific casting calls posted on their social media channels. The registration process requires current photos that accurately show your appearance, along with your physical measurements, clothing sizes, contact information, and any relevant special skills or unique attributes. Once registered, you are entered into the company's database and may be contacted when your profile matches the needs of a current production. Bill Dance Casting also posts open casting calls on social media platforms for specific types and looks, which any registered or unregistered actor can respond to. The company values responsiveness — actors who reply quickly to inquiries and confirm their availability promptly are more likely to be booked and called back for future work.

The booking and work experience through Bill Dance Casting follows standard Los Angeles background work protocols, with actors receiving their call time, location, wardrobe instructions, and rate information prior to the work date. Productions typically contact booked actors the day before or the morning of the work date with final details, and actors are expected to arrive on time with appropriate wardrobe options as specified. Bill Dance Casting handles bookings for both SAG-AFTRA and non-union background performers across a range of production types including feature films, episodic television, pilots, and streaming content. The company's long tenure in the industry means it has established protocols and expectations that run smoothly, and actors who work through Bill Dance Casting regularly report a professional and organized experience. Work days follow the standard 8 to 12 hour range, with all applicable overtime, meal penalties, and special bumps handled according to industry standards.

Bill Dance Casting's talent pool consists primarily of dedicated Los Angeles-based background actors who treat the work as a serious professional commitment, though the company welcomes actors at all experience levels. Both SAG-AFTRA members and non-union performers are represented and booked regularly, with the company maintaining a balanced roster to meet the varying needs of different productions. The actors who thrive in Bill Dance Casting's system tend to be those who are reliable, responsive, punctual, and professional — traits that the company's team values highly and rewards with repeat bookings. Many of the company's most active background actors have been registered for years and have developed a genuine working relationship with the casting team. The company serves as an entry point for actors new to background work as well as a steady source of bookings for experienced performers who understand the rhythms and expectations of the work.

Bill Dance Casting is entirely free for actors — there are no registration fees, monthly subscriptions, or charges of any kind. The company earns its revenue from the production side of the business, not from the talent it casts. Background performers are paid by the production company at standard industry rates, with SAG-AFTRA members earning the contractual minimum of approximately $208 per 8-hour day and non-union performers earning between $120 and $182 per day as of 2025, depending on the production. All standard adjustments for overtime, meal penalties, wardrobe bumps, vehicle bumps, and special conditions apply to work booked through Bill Dance Casting just as they would through any other background casting company. The company handles payroll coordination with the production, ensuring that actors are properly recorded and compensated for their work.

Bill Dance Casting is a recommended supplementary registration for any background actor working in the Los Angeles market. It should not replace your Central Casting registration — think of it as an additional avenue that increases your total volume of available opportunities. The company is particularly well-suited for actors who value personal relationships with their casting companies and who demonstrate the reliability and professionalism that leads to repeat bookings. If you are brand new to background work, start with Central Casting as your primary registration and add Bill Dance Casting once you are settled into the rhythms of background work. If you are outside Los Angeles, focus on the primary background casting companies in your local production market rather than registering with LA-specific companies.

Check Bill Dance Casting's social media pages at least once daily during production season, as specific type calls can be posted at any time and fill quickly. When you work through Bill Dance Casting for the first time, make an exceptional impression — arrive early, have your wardrobe perfectly prepared according to instructions, be friendly but professional with the crew, and stay off your phone during takes. These first impressions determine whether you become a preferred actor who gets called back or a one-time booking. Keep your registration photos current and update them every few months or whenever you make a significant change to your appearance such as cutting or coloring your hair. If you are called for work, always confirm immediately and never cancel unless you have a genuine emergency — no-shows and last-minute cancellations are the fastest way to be blacklisted from a background casting company's active roster.