Actor Aesthetic

Health insurance can feel intimidating, especially as an actor.

In this episode, Maggie shares voice memos from actors across the country who open up about their real-life experiences with health insurance, including:

• Qualifying for Equity health insurance through theatre work

• Getting coverage through employer-sponsored plans

After a long break from the podcast, Maggie is back for an honest life update about everything that’s happened over the past few years... from working in performance marketing and fashion, to burnout, identity shifts, getting married, and figuring out what resilience actually looks like in your 20s and early 30s.

In this episode, Maggie talks about:

• stepping away from act...

Hot take: If you're relying only on acting income to survive in 2025… you're either incredibly lucky, or dangerously stressed.

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Maggie breaks down the real financial blueprint behind her life as a working actor — including exactly how much she makes, what she pays in rent, how she saves for her wedding, and why a full-time job hasn’t killed her theatre dreams (in fact, it’...

Feeling disconnected from your rep book? In this episode, Maggie Bera shares how to rebuild your audition binder with songs that reflect your personality, casting energy, and vocal strengths. She breaks down why most sopranos struggle to find current, callback-worthy material—and how to fix it.

Plus, Maggie shares the origin story behind one of Actor Aesthetic’s most popular downloads, now completely revamped for 2025: ...

After nearly a year away from the mic, I’m back... with a story I never thought I’d be telling.

On May 13, I had cervical disc replacement surgery at C6-C7. In this episode, I’m opening up about what led me to that decision, how the recovery process has really felt, and what it’s been like returning to the stage, the audition room, and my full-time job after surgery.

If you’ve ever pushed through pain ...

Thinking about moving back to NYC to pursue your career in theatre? Now that the pandemic has subsided, here's what you need to know.

Also discussed on this weeks podcast is side jobs for actors (remote and hybrid), balancing your part time and full time gigs with acting, working towards financial stability outside of the arts, EPA's and ECCs, and how to deal with sickness during auditions, rehearsals and performances.

Have a topic...

The spookiest week of the year... and it's not Halloween (even though TJMAXX put out all their Halloween decorations already... can't we have one more month of summer?!)

Going into a tech week of her own, host and actor Maggie Bera breaks down exactly what to expect walking into tech week for a musical.

Buy the Fontus lozenges here. 

Have a topic suggestion you'd like to have discussed on the pod? Email maggie@actoraesthetic.c...

If you're not performing professionally on Broadway, on tour, or on a cruise ship, where might one find work? Regional theatre!

In this episode, actress and host Maggie Bera breaks down booking regional theatre jobs, packing and travel tips, Non-Equity vs Equity contracts, Equity Chorus contracts vs Equity Principal contracts, out-of-town actors vs. local actors, housing for regional contracts, auditioning in NYC, and MORE!

Have a ...

From working your side job in the holding room, to playing the waiting game, to Equity audition rules (and unspoken rules), to running around NYC signing up before the audition closes, this episode literally has it all.

40 minutes of JAM-PACKED info you'll want to hear before your next audition.

Have a topic suggestion you'd like to have discussed on the pod? Email maggie@actoraesthetic.com.

Visit actoraesthetic.com for more i...

You're scrolling through YouTube and you see yet another Broadway star performing a song at a fancy cabaret... chances are, they're singing at 54 Below!!!

But did you know you don't necessarily need to be an established performer with an insane resume to perform there? Tune in to learn how you can get involved in your next show.

Have a topic suggestion you'd like to have discussed on the pod? Email maggie@actoraesthetic.com.

Visit ...

When exactly should I join Equity? How will I know when the time is right for me? Is it worth it?

Answering the NUMBER ONE question we get here to better help you understand how the union works... and what makes the most sense for YOU!

Have a topic suggestion you'd like to have discussed on the pod? Email maggie@actoraesthetic.com.

Visit actoraesthetic.com for more info.

Follow host Maggie Bera on social media

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Have an audition coming up? Hadestown? Mean Girls? Six?

Guess what... chances are you WON'T be singing a musical theatre song. 

These days, professional musicals are very heavily calling  pop songs for their initial auditions.

Why? Many of them are BASED in pop music! Hence... casting directors are now asking you to bring in a song off the radio.

Have no fear! Tune in to hear how to find your next pop song, and what to do...

Getting to do something you love every day? YES. Getting PAID to do something you love every day? HECK YES.

Going months not knowing when your next acting job will be? Needing to work another job to sustain yourself in the meantime? Facing daily rejection? The what-ifs? Only defining your self-worth by how "successful" you think you are in the industry? Ehhhhhhh.....

There are a trillion pros + cons to pursuing your passion of thea...

Ask your friends who moved to NYC which neighborhood they live in. Harlem? Hamilton Heights? Washington Heights? Or do they live out in Queens? Brooklyn?

Maybe they live across the water in New Jersey... Hoboken? Weehawken? Jersey City?

As a 2 year Hoboken resident, host Maggie Bera gives you her tips for moving to Manhattan, and why you may just want to consider Jersey (YEAH YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT!)

Have a topic suggestion you'd lik...

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER! In this episode, host Maggie Bera has the absolute honor of chatting with actress Spencer Martinez. You may know her from her platform, LimeLight - a community that has revisioned the industry by taking care of the masses.

Spencer Martinez, a South Jersey native with a love for Musical Theatre, earned her BA at FDU, becoming the first in her family to graduate. After backpacking through Europe, she kicked ...

HOW DO YOU DO IT ALL, MAGGIE? In this episode, host Maggie Bera recaps what could possibly be (or at least feels like) the longest week of her life. Lol. And if you're an actor in the city right now, you're probably going thru something very similar.

Running back and forth between auditions, working a 9 to 5 in marketing and social media, learning a new skill (or at least trying), memorizing a lot of material at once, remembering t...

Bella Coppola is California raised, Texas educated, and New York based. She earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Texas State University. She recently finished up playing Jane Seymour in Six on Broadway! She is currently in the pre-broadway workshop for SMASH. Coppola’s music is out on all main music platforms. Check out her popular singles “Forbidden Fruit,” “Vodka Lemonade,” and “I Regret...

Whether this ain't your first audition season rodeo or you’re simply brand new to the city, this episode is packed with a few nuggets of wisdom for ya.

Host Maggie Bera dishes her best advice for surviving NYC Audition Season, Equity Principal Auditions and Equity Chorus Calls, and how to work SMARTER and not HARDER as a non-union actor.

It takes a village!

Have a topic suggestion you'd like to have discussed on the pod? Emai...

Feeling absolutely BONKERS this "audition season?" (hate the term but you know what it is)

You're not alone.

This week we're talking EPAs and ECCs in NYC (all the acronyms, baby), asking for help, reaching out to your sphere, updating your reels and website, and more.

Have a topic suggestion you'd like to have discussed on the pod? Email maggie@actoraesthetic.com.

Visit actoraesthetic.com for more info.

Follow host Maggie Bera...