Backstage

What Backstage does

Backstage, founded in 1960 and headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, operates a subscription-based online talent marketplace connecting actors, voiceover artists, models, UGC creators, and production crew with casting opportunities from studios, production companies, and brands. The platform functions as a two-sided marketplace: talent create profiles with media uploads, search casting calls, and apply to jobs (self-serve via web and iOS app), while casting directors post jobs and search a talent database. The core revenue model is annual subscription memberships paid by talent, with a 58% first-year discount publicly promoted; enterprise demand-side revenue is also generated via direct sales to studios and production companies. The platform has expanded through an aggressive M&A program, acquiring FilmFreeway (film festival submissions), Coverfly (talent discovery), Voice123 (voiceover marketplace), ShareGrid (production gear rental), StarNow, The Mandy Network, and Sonicbids, creating an end-to-end ecosystem for creative professionals.

The company's go-to-market is predominantly product-led growth (PLG): talent self-onboard via the website and app, supplemented by enterprise direct sales to studios including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Amazon Studios, TikTok, Hulu, ABC, NBC, Fox, and AMC. Marketing is multi-channel, leveraging owned media (Backstage digital magazine, podcast 'In the Envelope,' video content), community Q&A forums, social media across major platforms, and an email newsletter. The company serves customers across the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Argentina. Scale metrics include 259,463+ talent profiles, 164,830+ freelancers and companies, and 555,364+ projects completed. The company is privately held and has received institutional backing from Ridgemont Equity Partners (2019) and TA Associates (2021).

Technically, Backstage runs a web-based casting marketplace with a proprietary talent profile system supporting multi-profile capabilities and unlimited media uploads, custom job alerts via search criteria, and a top-rated iOS mobile application. The platform also serves as the integration umbrella for its acquired subsidiaries (each operated as a retained brand), collectively addressing talent discovery, festival submissions, voiceover matching, and production gear rental. Headcount is 51-100 employees. No AI/ML capabilities, public APIs, or third-party integrations were disclosed in the input data, indicating a conventional marketplace technology stack rather than an AI-native platform.

Name

Backstage

Legal name

Backstage

Website

https://backstage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Backstage operates a subscription-based talent marketplace platform, founded in 1960, connecting actors, voiceover artists, models, UGC creators, and production crew with casting opportunities from studios, production companies, and brands via web and iOS channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Casting and Talent Marketplace

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Talent Casting & Auditions (Casting Directors, Open Calls) (HSACAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Talent Booking Agencies (Live Performance) (MPAIAGAB), Production & Talent Services (Casting, Crew, Production Management) (MPAAAMAF)

Keywords

• Talent casting marketplace
• Acting auditions platform
• Voiceover talent network
• Casting call listings
• Creative talent recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Memberships: Talent pays for membership plans to access casting calls, apply to jobs, and use platform tools. Special discounts offered for first-year subscriptions (58% savings mentioned). Platform serves both talent seekers (posting jobs) and talent (subscribing for access).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Backstage operates an online casting marketplace that connects creative talent (actors, models, voiceover artists, influencers, production crew) with casting calls, auditions, and job opportunities posted by production companies and studios. Talent pays subscription membership fees to build profiles, search jobs, and apply to casting calls, while studios post jobs and search the talent database. The platform also includes acquired brands FilmFreeway (film festival submissions), Coverfly (talent discovery), Voice123 (voiceover marketplace), and ShareGrid (production gear rental).

Product overview

Backstage operates as a unified talent marketplace platform offering casting calls, auditions, and job opportunities for actors, models, voiceover artists, influencers, content creators, and production crew. The platform includes core talent profile management, job search tools, agent/manager workflow tools, community Q&A features, industry news/magazine content, and video resources. The company has expanded through acquisitions: FilmFreeway (submission management for film festivals), Coverfly (talent discovery/Red AMP), Voice123 (voiceover marketplace), and ShareGrid (peer-to-peer production gear rental).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Backstage Platform A web and mobile talent marketplace platform where creative professionals (actors, models, voiceover artists, influencers, production crew) create profiles and apply to casting calls, while casting directors and producers post jobs and search the talent database.
• FilmFreeway Submission management platform for film festivals, enabling filmmakers to submit their work to thousands of festivals worldwide.
• Coverfly Talent discovery and screenwriting competition platform that helps identify and showcase promising performers and writers.
• Voice123 Marketplace connecting voiceover talent with casting opportunities for commercials, audiobooks, video games, and other voice work.
• ShareGrid Peer-to-peer rental service for production gear, enabling filmmakers and photographers to rent high-end equipment affordably and build professional relationships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66 years of insider industry knowledge
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ShareGridminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2022ShareGrid is a peer-to-peer rental service for production gear, founded in 2015. Backstage acquired ShareGrid and continues to operate it as a standalone business with added support. ShareGrid enables filmmakers and photographers to rent high-end gear affordably and build professional relationships.
• FilmFreewaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2021Acquired by Backstage for $200 million alongside Coverfly and Voice123. FilmFreeway is a submission platform for film festivals and filmmakers, enhancing Backstage's suite of tools for creative professionals.
• CoverflycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2021Acquired by Backstage for $200 million alongside FilmFreeway and Voice123. Coverfly provides talent discovery and screening tools, enhancing Backstage's capabilities for creative professionals.
• Voice123coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2021Acquired by Backstage for $200 million alongside FilmFreeway and Coverfly. Voice123 is a voiceover talent marketplace, expanding Backstage's offerings in the voiceover segment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Voices.com: Voices.com is the largest independent voiceover talent marketplace, directly competing with Backstage's Voice123 subsidiary. Both operate two-sided marketplaces connecting voice talent with casting opportunities for commercials, audiobooks, and corporate narration.
• Casting Networks: Casting Networks (formerly Breakdown Services / Actor's Access) is the most direct competitor to Backstage, operating casting and talent management platforms for actors, agents, and casting directors across film, TV, theater, and commercial productions. The two platforms compete head-to-head on subscription talent access and enterprise casting tools.
• Casting Frontier: Casting Frontier is a casting platform that connects talent with auditions and casting directors across film, TV, and commercial productions. It is a direct competitor to Backstage in the online casting marketplace category.
• ProductionHUB: ProductionHUB is a production services marketplace connecting crew, vendors, and production companies across the film and video industry. It overlaps with Backstage's crew hiring and production services offerings as the platform has expanded beyond talent.
• ExploreTalent: ExploreTalent is a direct competitor operating a casting and talent marketplace for actors and models. It competes with Backstage for talent subscriptions and audition-driven discovery, particularly among aspiring performers.

Emerging players

• Staff Me Up: Staff Me Up is a niche production crew and staffing platform serving the entertainment industry. It competes with Backstage's expanded crew-hiring functionality but focuses specifically on below-the-line production staffing rather than on-camera talent.

Broad incumbents

• Indeed: Indeed is a broad incumbent employment marketplace that competes with Backstage at the edges of the talent-hiring use case, particularly for production crew and gig-based creative roles. Its scale and free-to-talent model create indirect competitive pressure on Backstage's subscription pricing.
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a broad incumbent professional networking platform that increasingly encroaches on talent discovery and casting use cases through creator/influencer features and recruiter tools. While not specialized for entertainment casting, its scale and free profile model represent a long-tail competitive threat.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/backstage
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BackStageCasting
• Facebookfacebook.com/backstage
• Instagraminstagram.com/backstagecast
• TikToktiktok.com/@backstagecasting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/back-stage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backstage