Lesson
Read the brief
A useful brief should tell you four things quickly: what the job is, when it happens, where it happens, and what you need to prepare.
Start with anything that could make the job impossible: dates, city, known hours, a fitting, or travel. A remote casting and a 7 a.m. shoot in another city are two very different commitments.
Find the working details
You should be able to pick out the role or profile, casting format, wardrobe or props, requested measurements, production contact and deadline. For video, check framing, lines or action, length, file name and delivery method. Casting platforms can attach instructions, sides, media and a due date to a request, so read the whole request before you shoot.
Read the commercial terms separately: client, product, media, territory, term and any exclusivity. A fee without usage terms does not describe the whole booking.
Do not fill the gaps by guessing. A missing call time may simply mean the schedule is still moving; a missing territory or usage term affects the deal itself. Ask the booker or the person who sent the brief before confirming anything that depends on that detail.
Keep the version you received. Details can move between the first message, callback and confirmation, and comparing documents is safer than comparing memories.
Sources: Casting Networks — Media Requests · Select London — Booking Conditions