Casting Calls 101

Casting calls are just about one of the most important things in a singer, model or actor’s career. It is the first step they take towards becoming a significant part of their chosen industry.

Casting calls or auditions are usually not open to the general public and negotiations for an actor to get in a casting call are usually done between casting agents. An actor could also find out about casting calls from ads on TV or Print Media but these are usually what people call “cattle calls” or casting calls for non-speaking acting parts in a movie, commercial or TV episode. Getting in mailing lists could be one way of finding out if any agency is having a casting call but this usually requires an actor to be a member of an actors’ guild of some sort.

If you are planning to venture into the world of acting or performing you must know that casting calls are unavoidable – you will go through it several times in this kind of career. The following are a couple of things you must know when attending a casting call :

1. Dress for the part – If you’re auditioning for the part of the mad scientist who will kidnap the superhero’s love interest, then look like it! When auditioning for certain characters, you will need to convince casting directors that you are fit to play the role – by showing and not telling them.

2. Do not over-act – Sometimes during casting calls, you will be required to say some lines or perform a monologue. Remember to cook it up well, meaning, act the scene out just right. If the script requires you to exude silent grief, don’t roll on the floor and wail in tears! There’s no “silent” grief in that.

3. If you’re auditioning for a play or musical, prepare a song piece. Casting directors may require you to sing in acapella so make sure you get enough sleep the night before your audition. Skip the party and sleep early! Also, prepare an instrumental CD of your chosen audition piece. You never know, some casting directors may require you to sing with musical accompaniment.

4. If you’re auditioning for a Reality TV Show, that’s the time when you can ditch the Superman outfit and just be yourself. But take note – reality show casting directors want people with unique personalities or lifestyles.


And lastly, exude confidence! There’s nothing more eye-catching than a person who lights up the room with a confident and genuine smile on his/her face.