The Working Actor NYC

Patrick Richwood & Benjamin Howes
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🎭 Being a working actor in New York City isn’t easy. Maybe you’re hustling to book better roles, or you’re just starting out and trying to break into show business. Auditions, rejections, survival jobs, and navigating an industry that often feels impossible — we get it. We’ve been there. With decades on stage and screen, Patrick Richwood (Hollywood films, TV, national tours) and Benjamin Howes (Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, TV and film) share candid conversations that are honest, often hilarious, and always grounded in real experience. From backstage stories and industry secrets to practical tips and coping strategies, The Working Actor NYC podcast gives you the inside scoop on what it really takes to build, maintain, and love your acting career. Whether your dream is Broadway, the big screen, or anything in between, join us for weekly episodes designed to help you work smarter, laugh louder, and stay in the game.

  1. Actor Type vs Brand: LIVE in The Green Room

    31 MARS

    Actor Type vs Brand: LIVE in The Green Room

    Type gets you in the room. Brand gets you cast. In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC Podcast, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood introduce their new format — featuring real-world field reports, live audience questions, and deep dives into essential acting career topics. This week, they tackle one of the most misunderstood concepts in the industry: type vs brand — and how understanding the difference can help actors move from co-star roles to series regular opportunities. Featuring insights from casting director sessions and practical tools actors can apply immediately.

    56 min
  2. Stop Treating Self Tapes Like A Chore

    16 MARS

    Stop Treating Self Tapes Like A Chore

    If self-tapes feel like punishment, there’s a good chance you’re approaching them completely wrong. Self-tapes didn’t kill auditions. They just changed the rules. Self-tape auditions are now the standard for film, TV, and many theatre projects — but many actors still treat self tapes like a chore instead of a creative opportunity. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood share practical self-tape audition tips, discuss how to approach acting self tapes creatively, and talk about what actually helps actors stand out on camera. Self-tapes have completely changed the way actors audition — and a lot of actors still treat them like a chore. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood unpack the mindset shift that can make self-taping not just tolerable… but actually creative and empowering. Yes, many actors miss the energy of being in the room with casting directors. But the self-tape era has also opened up new opportunities: more control over your performance, the ability to collaborate with your own community of readers, and a chance to approach the audition like a miniature piece of storytelling. We talk about: • Why self-tapes feel isolating — and why that might be a myth • How building a circle of readers can actually strengthen your acting community • Whether props help or hurt your audition • Why overproducing your self-tape can backfire • The difference between playing it safe and making specific choices • How to start thinking of self-tapes as a creative opportunity instead of a burden Because here’s the truth: the rules of the industry have changed. And the actors who adapt fastest are the ones who keep working. If you’re still treating self-tapes like something you have to get through, this conversation might help you start using them to your advantage.

    24 min
  3. The Seasons of an Acting Career (And How to Survive the Transitions)

    2 MARS

    The Seasons of an Acting Career (And How to Survive the Transitions)

    A conversation about longevity, identity, and staying alive to the work. Acting careers don’t follow straight lines — they move through seasons. In this episode, we explore the reality every long-term actor eventually faces: the transition from one chapter of work to another. Roles evolve, identities shift, and the challenge becomes not holding onto what once worked, but staying responsive to what the work is asking of you now. We discuss: The emotional reality of aging into new casting territoryLetting go of roles that defined earlier chaptersWhy some actors struggle during transitionsHow curiosity sustains longevity in the professionPractical ways to recognize where your career is heading nextThis conversation isn’t about surviving change. It’s about remaining artistically alive as your career evolves. Because longevity in acting isn’t about holding on — it’s about knowing when to release.

    26 min
  4. The Truth About Actor Training (BFA vs. Real World)

    16 FEB.

    The Truth About Actor Training (BFA vs. Real World)

    A BFA doesn't make you a working actor. What’s the difference between foundational training and ongoing training as a professional actor? In this episode, we unpack the distinction between degree-based programs (BFA/MFA) and the kind of training actors pursue once they’re working in the industry. Neither of us came up through conservatory programs — but we’re both deeply committed to ongoing training. Benjamin talks about the classes that shaped him at HB Studio in New York. Patrick reflects on the private studio in Hollywood that transformed his craft. In both cases, the work demanded imagination, truth, and personal responsibility — not just trying to impress a teacher. We explore: The strengths of foundational programsThe pitfalls of thinking a degree means you’re “done”Why some actors struggle to transition from student to professionalHow class can become a shield from the marketplaceAnd why community and continued growth matter at every levelTraining doesn’t end when school does. And the actors who last are the ones who keep sharpening the tool. If you’re navigating your own path — whether in school, out of school, or years into your career — this conversation will help you think about training in a more strategic way.

    24 min
  5. Acting in 2026: Goals, Momentum, and What’s Actually Changing

    2 FEB.

    Acting in 2026: Goals, Momentum, and What’s Actually Changing

    Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood are back with Season 2 of The Working Actor NYC Podcast — and they’re starting 2026 with an honest conversation about goals, momentum, and what’s actually changing in the acting industry. In this episode, they talk about: Why traditional goal-setting doesn’t always serve actorsThe difference between chasing moments and building momentumIndustry shifts they’re already noticing in 2026How working actors can orient themselves without burning out or clinging to outdated ideasThis isn’t about resolutions or hype. It’s about clarity, adaptability, and staying awake to the work as it evolves. Whether you’re resetting after a tough year or looking ahead with intention, this episode is about starting the season grounded, curious, and connected.

    25 min
  6. From Podcast To Coaching: Our 2025 Year In Review

    2025-12-22

    From Podcast To Coaching: Our 2025 Year In Review

    This is our Christmas week episode — and a look back at a year that changed everything. In this conversation, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood reflect on 2025: the growth, the surprises, and the evolution of The Working Actor NYC. What started as an audio-only podcast recorded at a dining table became: • a video podcast • a full YouTube channel • daily short-form content • weekly long-form episodes • and, unexpectedly, a coaching practice serving actors around the world We talk about: – the origin story of The Working Actor NYC – our most popular and favorite podcast episodes – what content resonated most this year – how coaching grew out of the work organically – and the community that made all of it possible Mostly, this episode is about gratitude. For the listeners. For the viewers. And for each other. Thank you for being here. Truly. 🎄

    24 min
  7. What Successful Actors Do Every Day

    2025-12-08

    What Successful Actors Do Every Day

    Every working actor knows the feeling: watching a truly top-level performer and thinking… “How do they do that every day?” In this episode, Patrick Richwood and Benjamin Howes break down the real habits, routines, and rituals we’ve seen in the pros — the ones that keep them consistent, resilient, and ready, even when life throws curveballs. We talk about things like: 🎭 Would you still show up to the theatre every day if an injury kept you offstage? Some performers do — to stay connected to the show, keep their body in therapy, listen from the wings, and remain a part of the company. That level of commitment is a habit, not an accident. 🔥 Mindset that keeps you from spiraling 🥗 Diet, hydration, and fuel that actually support performing 💪 Warm-ups and physical routines Broadway actors swear by 😂 And yes — plenty of the usual chaos and jokes you expect when Patrick and Benjamin get together These habits aren’t about perfection. They’re about the tiny choices that keep you grounded, prepared, and professional — whether you’re on Broadway, on tour, or building momentum in your hometown.

    26 min
  8. The Ultimate Actor Gift Guide 2025: From Useful... To Absolutely Unhinged 🎭🎄

    2025-11-24

    The Ultimate Actor Gift Guide 2025: From Useful... To Absolutely Unhinged 🎭🎄

    It’s the holidays, and that means one thing: people everywhere are trying to figure out what on earth to buy the actor in their life. So in this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Patrick and I put together the ultimate gift guide — featuring 20 actor gifts that range from genuinely helpful… to deeply questionable… to what fever dream did this Etsy creator wake up from? We’ve got everything from: 🎭 A website promising “How To Get A Restaurant Job With Zero Experience” 🕯️ A “Smells Like World’s Best Actor” candle 🎖️ A Tony Award replica (tell me you don’t want one…) 🛋️ Your own face on street furniture (yes, really) 🔪 A Sweeney Todd straight razor (please don’t give this to method actors) 🧣 A Shakespeare throw blanket for the drama queen in your life 🧑‍🎨 And… The Working Actor NYC Merch Table, obviously. (Truly the perfect gift. I don’t make the rules.) Some gifts are sweet. Some are ridiculous. Some are surprisingly awesome. And one of them is literally a bus stop bench with your headshot on it. But honestly? The best gift for your actor might just be what we talk about at the end: love, support, and a soft place to land when the industry gets loud. Happy holidays from The Working Actor NYC — now go get your theatre kid something magical.

    25 min
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Om

🎭 Being a working actor in New York City isn’t easy. Maybe you’re hustling to book better roles, or you’re just starting out and trying to break into show business. Auditions, rejections, survival jobs, and navigating an industry that often feels impossible — we get it. We’ve been there. With decades on stage and screen, Patrick Richwood (Hollywood films, TV, national tours) and Benjamin Howes (Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, TV and film) share candid conversations that are honest, often hilarious, and always grounded in real experience. From backstage stories and industry secrets to practical tips and coping strategies, The Working Actor NYC podcast gives you the inside scoop on what it really takes to build, maintain, and love your acting career. Whether your dream is Broadway, the big screen, or anything in between, join us for weekly episodes designed to help you work smarter, laugh louder, and stay in the game.

Information

  • Skapad av
    Patrick Richwood & Benjamin Howes
  • Aktiva år
    2025 - 2026
  • Avsnitt
    31
  • Åldersgräns
    Vuxet innehåll
  • Copyright
    © The Working Actor NYC 2025
  • Programmets webbplats
    The Working Actor NYC

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