How to Thrive During Acting Casting Calls

Acting casting calls are the open auditions where pretty much anyone who knows about the audition can show up and try-out. These are also often referred to as cattle calls because of the herding of actors through the process. For movies and television shows, producers hold open acting casting calls to fill the ranks of extras and supporting players. Most of the featured actors are found through agents and managers. Its a standard on Broadway that every show and musical that comes to town has an open acting casting call. This means that an unknown star could be found? Is that star you?

As with any audition, you need to be prepared for every acting casting call. This means knowing what you are trying out for. That might seem like an obvious point but there are a lot of unprofessionals out there who show up just because it is an open call. Every casting notice will tell you exactly what the show is all about. Will you need to sing and dance? Will you need to present a specific monologue? Are the producers looking for a particular type? In other words if they are looking for a blonde surfer dude type and youre a clean cut military type why would you go to that acting casting call? Yes, you might have strong talents but that is not what they are looking for and you dont want to waste the producers time.

You also have to be prepared for acting casting calls by making sure that your picture and resume are up to date. Another obvious point that many actors dont seem to grasp is having a picture that looks like the person who is showing up for the audition. Of course there are some exceptions. For instance, your picture might be of you clean shaven but you now have a beard. That works because at least a producer or director can see what you look like both ways. However, if your picture has you in a beard they might have selected that look and if you show up clean shaven, youre not giving them what they expected. Its a minor point but something to be aware of. It you go back and forth between beards or scruff and clean shaven, have both versions of your picture. This also applies to women in terms of radically changing your hairstyle and color.

When you show up for any acting casting call, chances are you wont be alone. Dont let the size of crowd intimidate you. You will be given your chance to shine. Being early allows you not to feel rushed or frantic. When you enter into the room where the producers, directors and casting directors are waiting make eye contact with everyone, be personable and listen carefully for what they might ask of you. Dont let your nerves do you in. If you are serious about your acting career then you should treat the acting casting calls as part of your daily business routine. Successfully navigating through these types of auditions gets easier with experience. Bottom line, the more acting casting calls you go on the stronger youll become.