diff --git a/core/actor.lisp b/core/actor.lisp
index 64994e2..4488ecd 100644
--- a/core/actor.lisp
+++ b/core/actor.lisp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   (:local-nicknames (:async :scopes/util/async)
                     (:util :scopes/util))
   (:export #:actor #:bg-actor #:become #:create #:send
-           #:content
+           #:message #:content #:customer
            #:*logger* #:*root*
            #:echo #:inc #:lgi
            #:calculator #:plus #:minus #:show #:send-value))
diff --git a/core/core.lisp b/core/core.lisp
index 094c247..2f83fd3 100644
--- a/core/core.lisp
+++ b/core/core.lisp
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 (defpackage :scopes/core
   (:use :common-lisp)
-  (:local-nicknames (:async :scopes/util/async)
+  (:local-nicknames (actor :scopes/core/actor)
+                    (:async :scopes/util/async)
                     (:config :scopes/config)
                     (:message :scopes/core/message)
                     (:shape :scopes/shape)
@@ -146,13 +147,13 @@
 ;;;; some simple predefined actions
 
 (defun echo (ctx msg &key (domain :scopes) (action :echo))
-  (let ((sndr (message:sender msg)))
-    (if sndr
+  (let ((cust (actor:customer msg)))
+    (if cust
       (let* ((h (shape:head msg))
              (new-msg (message:create `(,domain ,action ,@(cddr h))
                                       :data (shape:data msg))))
-        (send sndr new-msg))
-      (util:lgw "sender missing" msg))))
+        (send cust new-msg))
+      (util:lgw "customer missing" msg))))
 
 (defun do-print (ctx msg)
   (declare (ignore ctx))
diff --git a/core/message.lisp b/core/message.lisp
index 32237ca..dbbd116 100644
--- a/core/message.lisp
+++ b/core/message.lisp
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 
 (defpackage :scopes/core/message
   (:use :common-lisp)
-  (:local-nicknames (:shape :scopes/shape))
+  (:local-nicknames (:actor :scopes/core/actor)
+                    (:shape :scopes/shape))
   (:export #:message-meta #:message #:create
-           #:head #:data #:sender))
+           #:head #:data))
 
 (in-package :scopes/core/message)
 
@@ -13,12 +14,14 @@
 (defun message-meta ()
   (make-instance 'shape:record-meta :head-fields '(:domain :action :class :item)))
 
-(defclass message (shape:record)
-  ((shape:meta :initform (message-meta) :allocation :class)
-   (sender :reader sender :initarg :sender :initform nil)))
+(defclass message (shape:record actor:message)
+  ((shape:meta :initform (message-meta) :allocation :class)))
 
-(defun create (head &key data sender)
-  (shape:create 'message :head head :data data :sender sender))
+(defun create (head &key data customer)
+  (shape:create 'message :head head :data data :customer customer))
 
 (defmethod print-object ((msg message) stream)
-  (shape:print-slots msg stream 'shape:head 'sender 'shape:data))
+  (shape:print-slots msg stream 'shape:head 'actor:customer 'shape:data))
+
+(defmethod actor:content ((msg message))
+  (list (shape:head-plist) (shape:data)))
diff --git a/lib/auth/web.lisp b/lib/auth/web.lisp
index 2ee1f2b..410c068 100644
--- a/lib/auth/web.lisp
+++ b/lib/auth/web.lisp
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 (defpackage :scopes-auth/web
   (:use :common-lisp)
-  (:local-nicknames (:auth :scopes-auth)
+  (:local-nicknames (:actor :scopes/core/actor)
+                    (:auth :scopes-auth)
                     (:config :scopes/config)
                     (:core :scopes/core)
                     (:jwt :scopes/web/jwt)
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@
 (defun login-form (ctx msg)
   (let ((msg (message:create '(:html :render :form :login)
                              :data '(:fields (:login :password) :button "Login")
-                             :sender (message:sender msg))))
+                             :customer (actor:customer msg))))
     (core:echo ctx msg)))
 
 (defun login (ctx msg)
diff --git a/web/server.lisp b/web/server.lisp
index 9185ad3..8979c0e 100644
--- a/web/server.lisp
+++ b/web/server.lisp
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
   (let* ((resp (response:setup ctx env :html-responder html-responder))
          (iact (make-instance 'response:interaction :response resp))
          (msg (message:create 
-                (head env) :data (plist (post-data env)) :sender iact)))
+                (head env) :data (plist (post-data env)) :customer iact)))
     (util:lgd msg)
     ; (check-auth ctx msg env) => (response:render-unauthorized resp)
     (if (core:handle-message ctx msg)