Ryan Saab: Mastering the Human Side of Casting
Welcome to a special preview of the StageLync podcast. I am so excited to give you a little sneak peek into my conversation with Ryan Saab, the Executive Vice President of Talent and Creative Casting for RWS Global.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually happening behind the casting table (or through the lens of a digital submission), this is the episode for you. Ryan Saab manages a massive global ecosystem, overseeing the recruitment of over 7,000 artists and technicians a year across a 100-city audition tour. We dove into everything from how to format your resume so it doesn’t get tossed, to why your social media is essentially your 24/7 brand.
Don’t miss the full story! Tune in to the StageLync podcast next week for the full episode release.
Beyond technical skill, what is the #1 thing you look for in a performer?
For Ryan, it comes down to presence and adaptability. While technique is the “easy” thing to analyze, casting directors are really looking for someone who can own their space in the room. This gives the creative team a sense of trust. If a performer is grounded, emotionally available, and able to adjust their energy when given a correction, they immediately rise to the top of the pile.
In the digital age, does social media actually affect my chances of being hired?
Absolutely. Ryan views social media as a “professional landing page” or brand. It’s a tool that can either hinder a hire or push it over the edge in a positive way. His advice is to be smart: if you want a personal space for friends, keep it private, but maintain a public, professional profile that showcases your talent and represents the kind of worker you are.
Why do “great” performers often get a “no” from casting?
It’s rarely about a lack of talent. Ryan explains that casting is a massive puzzle often restricted by operational needs that the performer never sees. A project might need specific levels of performers (A, B, or C levels) to fit a certain budget or logistical guideline. You might be the “best” in the room, but if you don’t fit the specific operational slice of the puzzle for that day, it’s not a reflection of your worth.
What are the most common mistakes you see on resumes and digital submissions?
It’s the simple things that trip people up. Ryan and I laughed about how many people title their document “Resume.pdf.” With thousands of files to sift through, names get lost. He stresses industry standards: use your name and date in the file title, include your country code in your phone number for international gigs, and keep your headshot looking like your “best self on a normal day.” Clearing the path for the employer to find you easily is half the battle.
How has the casting world changed since the pandemic?
While RWS Global still does a 100-city live tour, they now lean heavily into digital submissions and “pre-screening.” There is now a digital dialogue—for example, a dancer might submit a reel, and the team will ask them to go to a gym and film specific skills as a follow-up. Timelines are also tighter than ever; clients want “faster to market” results, so casting directors have to be strategy experts to find high-quality talent in half the traditional time.
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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