Performer Roles & Open Calls

A role is the label that describes what someone does on your lineup — Vocalist, Dancer, DJ, Headliner, Aerialist, Stand-up comedian, whatever fits your event. You can type any label you want; there's no fixed list to choose from.

This is different from account type (artist, organizer) — a role is just a description attached to a specific spot on a specific event's lineup, not a permission or an account setting.

Roles show up in two places: Public Events (direct invitations and public open calls) and Private Events (invitations, plus a private way to open specific roles for application). To manage your event's to-do list, see Event Tasks.

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Two ways to fill a role

Direct invitation

When you invite a specific artist from Show My Stage's directory, you type their role right into the invite (for example "Headliner", "DJ", "Live band"). That label is what appears next to their name once they're confirmed.

Open roster slots

Instead of (or alongside) direct invitations, you can open a role slot and let artists apply:

1. Go to your event's Artists tab and add a role — a label (e.g. "Vocalist") and how many you need (e.g. 2).
2. Select ⚙ Casting on that role to configure it:

A role closes automatically once it's filled (if auto-close is on), when its deadline passes, or any time you close it manually.

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How artists apply

Artists browsing open calls can apply to a specific role, or choose Any available role if they're flexible. You review applications from your event's Applications tab and confirm or decline each one.

After you confirm an applicant, check their role label. Confirmed applicants are added to your lineup with a generic "Performer" label by default — if you want their specific role (e.g. "Vocalist") to show on your public lineup instead, edit it from the Artists tab after confirming.

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Keeping a role open without going public

Public open calls appear in Show My Stage's artist discovery feeds — great for maximum reach, but not right for every event. If your event is private, you can still open specific roles and share an unlisted apply link for just those roles (from each role's ⚙ Casting settings). Anyone with that link can see the role details and apply — but nothing else about your event.

What an applicant sees via the unlisted link:

• Event name, date, metro area, and event type
• Organizer's display name (you can hide this per event)
• The open role(s), their requirements, compensation, and deadline

What they never see: your venue address, guest list, RSVP count, or the rest of your lineup. This is a separate, narrower link from the audience RSVP link described in Private Events — the two are never interchangeable.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a standard list of roles I have to pick from? No — type whatever describes the role: Vocalist, Guitarist, MC, Photographer, Aerialist, Stand-up comedian, anything. Show My Stage matches applicants to open roles by reading your role label and requirements text, not a fixed category list.

Can one artist apply to more than one role? Yes, if more than one role is open and they qualify, they can submit separate applications.

What happens to open roles if I switch my event from open call to invite-only? Existing applications aren't deleted, but the role stops accepting new ones. You can still review and decide on applications already submitted.

Can I reopen a role after it's closed? Yes — toggle Open for applications back on from ⚙ Casting, as long as the event hasn't already happened.

Does an artist need a Show My Stage profile to apply? Yes — open calls (public or via unlisted link) are for artists with a profile on the platform, unlike audience RSVPs which don't require one.