Guides / The Self-Tape Setup Guide
The Self-Tape Setup Guide
Everything you need before you hit record. Light, frame, sound, look, slate, reader and sending the tape, with gear you probably already own.
Self-tapes “have become the industry standard,” in SAG-AFTRA’s words. Casting directors have said publicly that they watch the performance, not the production values. This guide keeps everything else out of the way, without expensive gear.
What’s inside
- Lighting, framing and sound, using a phone, a window and a quiet room
- Look: dressing the part with what you already have, since there’s no need to buy new clothes for every audition
- Slating: what to say, where to look, and how to keep nerves from showing, with my own example slate and a child’s version
- The reader, the eyeline and sending the tape: who reads the other lines, where your child looks, file naming, links that work, and deadlines in the right time zone (using Spotlight’s self-tape advice)
- Worksheet: Pre-Recording Setup Checklist to run before every session
Who it’s for
Families recording self-tapes at home, whether it’s your first one or your fiftieth. Self-tape basics are the same everywhere, so this guide applies wherever you live.
What it isn’t
It doesn’t replace a specific casting or union submission instruction. When they differ, follow the instructions.
Good to know: This guide is also Chapter 1 of The Audition-Ready Toolkit and Chapter 4 of The Complete Stage Parent System. If you move up later, your code gives you the full $19 back.
What you get
- The-Self-Tape-Setup-Guide.pdf: 7 pages, with a fillable checklist
- Two upgrade codes near the end of the guide: TAPEUP (Toolkit for $30) and TAPECOMPLETE (Complete System for $100)
Questions
Do we need professional equipment?
No. The guide is built around a modern phone, window light and a quiet room. Upgrade only once you’ve used up the free fixes.
What if the casting instructions say something different?
Follow the instructions. This guide covers the defaults for when nothing more specific is stated.
How do the codes work?
Upgrade codes are printed near the end of each guide (just before the Sources page). A code works only if you already own the guide it’s tied to. Sign in to Gumroad with the email you bought it with, then enter the code at checkout. One code per product.
Questions, or a problem with your file?
Email [email protected].
These guides are educational. They are not legal, tax or financial advice, and they don’t replace a licensed professional or the rules where you live. Laws, union rules and fees change, so confirm current details with the relevant authority or union before you rely on them. The facts in this edition were checked on 5 October 2026, and the sources are listed at the back of the guide.
The “Example” boxes are illustrative composites of common situations, not stories about specific real families.
Refunds: All sales are final. These are instant digital downloads. If a file is broken, I’ll fix or replace it. Full refund policy