The Booking Agency vs Backstage
TBA vs Backstage: full creative discovery vs acting and performance casting
| The Booking Agency | Backstage | |
|---|---|---|
| Talent type | Creative professionals: photographers, videographers, DJs, event planners, performers | Actors, voice artists, commercial models, performers |
| Booking model | Browse profiles, contact directly | Audition submission and casting call flow |
| Geographic reach | 160+ countries, 340K+ cities | US and UK dominant |
| Crew and production roles | Videographers, directors, photographers, makeup artists | Performance talent only - no crew categories |
| Union talent | Not filtered by union status | SAG-AFTRA and Equity indicated |
| Platform fee on booking | None - talent subscribe; clients browse free | Casting access via subscription; production tools priced separately |
Where TBA wins
- +Full creative spectrum: photography, video, DJs, event planners, makeup - not only performers
- +Travel-aware talent discovery with city and location context
- +Subscription model: talent subscribe to be listed; clients browse free with no per-booking casting fee
- +Global coverage across 160+ countries vs US and UK focus
- +Direct profile discovery without audition or submission flow
Where Backstage wins
- +Deep acting and performance talent database with credits and training history
- +Audition posting and structured casting workflow for productions
- +Union-affiliated talent (SAG-AFTRA, Equity) clearly indicated
- +Agent representation and casting director relationships
- +Strong voice-over talent pool for studio work
Use case breakdown
Cast a lead actor for an independent feature
Backstage has the deepest acting talent database with credits and casting workflow.
Competitor wins
Hire a videographer for the same film production
TBA has videographers with film production experience. Backstage has no crew categories.
TBA wins
Find a voice-over artist for a brand video
Both platforms have voice talent. Backstage has more volume and union clarity; TBA has global reach and simpler discovery.
Tie
Model
Casting platform for performers (subscription for talent, casting call management for productions)
Geographic reach
US and UK primarily
Best for
Casting and audition management for screen, stage, and commercial performance
Not ideal for
Photography, videography, event staffing, crew roles, non-performance creative work
Switching from Backstage?
If you work in performance and also offer production skills (directing, producing, writing), your TBA profile reaches clients who need those skills outside the casting context. Link TBA from your Backstage profile to direct non-audition inquiries.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use TBA instead of Backstage for hiring talent?
For actors, voice artists, and stage performers, Backstage has the deeper catalog and structured audition workflow. For photographers, videographers, event planners, makeup artists, and other creative professionals, TBA is purpose-built. If you need both performers and crew for a production, TBA covers the non-performance roles Backstage does not.
Does TBA have voice-over artists?
Yes. TBA lists voice-over and voice artists with portfolio samples and city context. For large-scale commercial or broadcast casting with union specifications, Backstage has a more structured workflow. For project-based and independent productions, TBA works well for voice talent discovery.
Ready to try The Booking Agency?
Browse talent across 160+ countries. Post a job free. No transaction fees.