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1. Stand between two really lame people at the open casting call.
2. Wear something memorable but not crazy.
“Don’t wear a costume just to be silly,” explains Monson. “And don’t dress like a stockbroker if you work at K-Mart. You will just be uncomfortable and it will show.”
3. Wear something that flatters your figure and flaunts your personality.
“If you have big boobs, don’t wear a hoodie – show them off,” says Monson. “Same goes for that six pack, guys.”
4. Don’t make the producer’s job harder with your clothing.
Don’t wear any garments with visible logos. “They’ll have to be blurred out,” according to Monson. Also avoid wearing all black, all white, noisy jewelry or sports team logos.
5. Answer Your Phone.
Monson points out to make sure your phone accepts blocked and private numbers. She’s seen people miss out on a TV opportunity because the network couldn’t get ahold of them.
6. Amp up your energy in the waiting room.
“By the time us casting directors get around to interviewing you, we’re going to be tired,” Monson said. “We keep an eye on the waiting room to get a better idea of who people are, so always be on.”
7. If you’re nervous, be honest about it—or start drinking.
“Tell me you’re nervous,” Monson says. “It almost always releases the fear of being nervous so you can just be you.”"If that doesn’t work, go get a shot of whiskey and then come back!”
8. Use your flaws to your advantage.
Your imperfections could set you apart.”Do you have six toes? A lazy eye? Anger management issues? These are not deal breakers, by any means, ” says Monson. “They just might be the it factor we’re looking for.”
9. Pretend you’re presenting a movie trailer about your life.
“Think about it … the main reason a moviegoer wants to see any given movie is usually because they’ve seen a killer trailer!” Monson explains. “A trailer highlights all the best parts about the film, but leaves you hanging just enough to get you off your butt and go pay a premium to see it on the big screen.”
10. Use your audition to say who you are and aren’t.
The best way to do that is to think about a person who might be your polar opposite cast member, Monson tells us.”This will be your on-air nemesis … tell us who you think that might be because it helps us figure out how you would fit into the cast,” she explains.
11. Never make a tape just sitting in your room.
“Show us your world,” Monson says. “Nothing is more boring than you standing in front of a white wall or sitting at your computer, so take us around your house or to work.”
12. Never lie.
Monson says this is the biggest deal-breaker in the business. A criminal record or embarrassing past won’t make casting directors rule you out, but lying about them will.
13. Don’t babble.
Casting directors get bored easily, according to Monson. Pick a succinct script and stick to it.
14. Don’t be picky.
Monson shared a story of a friend who wanted to lose weight who skipped “The Biggest Loser” audition process, which is inundated with applications. The friend instead directed her attention to a smaller Discovery Channel show. She was cast and lost 80 pounds.
15. Don’t try to act stupid.
Monson says being fake is very obvious to the casting directors. They’re also not impressed by weird stunts.
16. Don’t hide your body.
“If you’re fat, own it,” Monson says. “If you have a six-pack, show it off.”
17. Form an opinion.
“You must have a strong opinion if you plan on getting cast on a reality show, so the sooner you form one, the better,” advises Monson. “It can be anything.”
18. Don’t overdo your application.
“Under no circumstances are you to give one word answers when filling out an application, but that doesn’t give you carte blanche to write a sequel to Gone With The Wind if the mood strikes you,” Monson warns.
Unlike an FAQ, an SAQ is a question you SHOULD be asking, but might not know to ask. So, instead of asking What Reality TV Shows Are Casting?, you SHOULD be asking: What Reality TV Show Is Right For Me?
Ever wonder how JWoww wooed her way onto reality TV? Maybe this will shed some light. I got hold of one of JWoww’s reality show applications.
True to form, she filled out the app like she acts on the show: BANANAS!
I particularly liked the answer to the question DO YOU HAVE ANY CELEBRITY CRUSHES?
JWoww’s answer: FUCK THEM ALL.
Read on for more pithy gems from inside the remarkably legible mind of “business owner” and “Yoga enthusiast,” JWoww. She runs shit!
Since many of you might have yet to see the inside of a reality show audition room, I thought I’d show you. Be warned, it’s not glamorous. If you saw my 20/20 piece last year, you should know that it was shot on the rooftop of the W Hotel in Hollywood. It was super posh. That is not typical.
In fact, most reality television audition rooms look like hostage interrogation rooms. You have to stand (or sit) there facing blinding light, answering questions being barked at you by a casting director you can barely see through said blinding lights, hoping all the while you’re impressing the shit out of them.
When I was interviewed on 20/20, I lent some advice to an article they posted on their site called “How To Become A Reality TV Star.” I think it gives some pretty good insight, so I wanted to share it here. Enjoy!
Want to trade real life for reality-TV stardom? Well, here are 20 tips from casting pros for how to avoid a wipeout and be a survivor in the shark tank that is reality-TV casting:
For months, Ashley Hebert has been navigating the bumpy road towards matrimony. We’ve watched our bubbly Bachelorette laugh, cry, and thanks to Bentley, cry some more. But through all the helicopter rides up and Thai boxing knock downs, one thing has stayed the same: Ashley’s rockin’ bod.
Tonight’s Bachelorette boldly goes where no Bachelorette has gone before. Except for last season and the season before that. The episode starts with Chris Harrison informing the Bachelors that they’ll be leaving the mansion forever and heading to where they filmed the Hangover 2. Yup, The Bachelorette is going to Thailand.
Once nestled into a cushy resort far away from the grit and grime, Constantine scores the first date card. Rainy weather ruins Ashley’s plan to jet out to a private island and get their Survivor on. Instead, they ditch the boat and head into town where they get matching Mike Tyson face tattoos.
Keep reading for more!
Read more »
Did you miss my big network debut last night? Check it out here!
I take the 20/20 cameras – and the lovely Deborah Roberts – behind the scenes at a reality TV casting call audition in the heart of Hollywood, CA.
As per usual, last night’s The Bachelorette did not disappoint. How could it when in the first 30 seconds you were promised flash mobs, freak-outs and fake tears?
Let’s start at the beginning. Bacherlorette Ashley takes Ben, a lawyer from “N’awlins,” to a dance studio where they learn a totally dumb dance. Pop quiz: How do you make an awkward first date even more awkward? Answer: Force your suitor to dance in the middle of a field with hundreds of people watching. Now, how do you make that into good TV? Turn it into a flash mob. That’s exactly what Ashley did. And yes, it was super lame.
The next day, the masked avenger, Jeff, finally reveals what’s under his utterly ridiculous mask. Is it a giant mole? A lazy eye? Nope, just an old guy, according to Ashley.
Oh, Ashley, what have you gotten yourself into? In the first 30 seconds of last night’s The Bachelorette, we see Ashley possibly getting married to one guy in Vegas while seeing another guy admit he has zero interest in his Bachelorette—other than in her tight butt.
I missed last week’s episode, so it was nice to see a mansion swarming with reasonably attractive guys. Most are hot, one is weird. The weird one, mind you, is intentionally being a douche by wearing an Eyes Wide Shut mask to cover his mug so Ashley can get to know the real him before she sees what he looks like. If he really wanted her to get to know the real him, he should be wearing an “I’m With Stupid” T-shirt.
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