23 posts tagged “www.starsearchcasting.com”

Are you a really great actor, dancer, singer or model but you’re having a hard time landing jobs? Sometimes talent isn’t enough to seal the deal. If you’re consistently late for your appointments, or come across as being rude or arrogant, no matter how talented you are, you may be passed over time and time again.

Succeeding in the entertainment industry often hinges on the ability to win people over. You have to sell yourself as a performer who is not only talented, but who’s responsible, professional and courteous to others. Want to get cast? Then dedicate as much energy to winning over the casting director that you dedicate to your craft.

So, how do you go about winning over the casting director? Here are a few easy tips that are guaranteed to help you make a positive, lasting impression on the casting director, and help you standout as a talent they’ll want to work with and endorse:

• Submit professional photos that both look like you and reflect your personality.
• Bring extra copies of your headshot and resume to your audition in the event yours have been misplaced.
• Consistently show up for your auditions on time.
• Be polite and professional to everyone in the casting office.
• Dress professionally.
• Demonstrate that you’re well prepared for your audition.
• Be receptive to the casting director and take direction as it’s given.
• Thank the casting director for his or her time before you leave your audition.

And as a little something extra, send a thank you note to the casting director letting them know how much you appreciate them for the opportunity. You can even have note cards or postcards created with your photo on them.

The goal is to standout from all of the other actors, singers, dancers and models that the casting directors will meet with. Even if you don’t get the job, I guarantee that you will leave a lasting, positive impression and the casting director will remember you when other opportunities arise.

Ready to begin using these tips to ace your next audition? Visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com today and check out the thousands of auditions we have posted on our website.

You recently auditioned for a role and the casting director was so impressed that they want to see you again! Congrats! Getting a callback is great validation for a performer. It means that out of the hundreds of people that the casting director initially auditioned, you were among a small few that really stood out.

While the casting director typically selects a handful of people out of hundreds that he or she thinks would be most suitable for lead and supporting roles – it’s rare that the casting director gets the final say. When you go to your callback, you’ll most likely audition in front of high powered decision makers such as network executives if you’re auditioning for a role on a television show, advertising executives if you’re auditioning for a commercial, or the director if you’re auditioning for a film. Additionally, you may even have more than one callback.

This is your shot to land the role, so make sure you take the opportunity seriously. In order to make the most of your callback:

• Arrive early and ask if there have been any changes to the script. Unfortunately actors can spend hours practicing material they’ve received in advance, only to get to an audition and learn that the material has been revised. If you arrive early, you give yourself an opportunity to prepare for issues like this.

• Don’t alter your look. You don’t have to wear the same thing you wore to the initial audition (though many people do), but you want to ensure the casting director remembers you, and that you reflect the same image that you did initially because based on the fact that you’ve been called back, that’s what the casting staff is looking for.

• Try to get a copy of the entire script so that you have a better understanding of who the character is.

• Be friendly, upbeat, positive and professional. If you’re auditioning in front of the director, he or she will not only be evaluating your talent, but also if you’re the type of performer they will want to work with for the duration of the project.

If you don’t land the job, take it all in stride. By securing a callback you’ve proved that you have something really special and others are sure to see it as you continue auditioning for other roles. Additionally, the influential industry executives who you auditioned for during your callback may be interested in calling you in for upcoming projects.

Curious how other performers have handled the pressure of callbacks? Log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and connect with other members in our community forum.

If you’ve checked out our auditions lately then you may have noticed that there are several musicals seeking talented men and women to join their casts! Theatrical classics like Show Boat and Hair and two original musical films are just a few of the posts perfect for Elite Casting Network members who are great at both acting and singing!

Have you ever auditioned for a musical and afterwards you think to yourself, “Why on earth did I pick that song!” Selecting a song for an audition can be a challenge - especially if you’re new to auditioning. Here’s a checklist that you can use to eliminate song choices so that you don’t make the costly mistake of picking the wrong song for your musical theatre audition.

Don’t choose a song…

…If it doesn’t resonate with you. You should really like the song, and enjoy singing it in order to perform it well.

…If portions of the song are out of your range. If during practice you can’t consistently hit all of the notes, pick a new song.

…If it’s not in a key you can sing in and you aren’t able to have it transposed. Don’t assume that the pianist at your audition can transpose music on sight.

…If it doesn’t show off your vocal talents.

…If you have trouble remembering the lyrics.

Once you’ve eliminated songs that aren’t a good fit, begin keeping the songs that are well suited for your voice and for musical theatre auditions in a well-organized notebook. You can also keep your headshots and resumes in the notebook so that you’re always prepared when you arrive at your audition.

Ready to sing your heart out? Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today and check out some of the auditions that we have posted on our website. You can also connect with other members in our community forum to discuss other helpful audition tips. Good luck!

If you’ve checked out our auditions lately then you may have noticed that there are several musicals seeking talented men and women to join their casts! Theatrical classics like Show Boat and Hair and two original musical films are just a few of the posts perfect for Elite Casting Network members who are great at both acting and singing!

Have you ever auditioned for a musical and afterwards you think to yourself, “Why on earth did I pick that song!” Selecting a song for an audition can be a challenge - especially if you’re new to auditioning. Here’s a checklist that you can use to eliminate song choices so that you don’t make the costly mistake of picking the wrong song for your musical theatre audition.

Don’t choose a song…

…If it doesn’t resonate with you. You should really like the song, and enjoy singing it in order to perform it well.

…If portions of the song are out of your range. If during practice you can’t consistently hit all of the notes, pick a new song.

…If it’s not in a key you can sing in and you aren’t able to have it transposed. Don’t assume that the pianist at your audition can transpose music on sight.

…If it doesn’t show off your vocal talents.

…If you have trouble remembering the lyrics.

Once you’ve eliminated songs that aren’t a good fit, begin keeping the songs that are well suited for your voice and for musical theatre auditions in a well-organized notebook. You can also keep your headshots and resumes in the notebook so that you’re always prepared when you arrive at your audition.

Ready to sing your heart out? Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today and check out some of the auditions that we have posted on our website. You can also connect with other members in our community forum to discuss other helpful audition tips. Good luck!

Television and film producers have capitalized on the dance fever that has struck the nation. From shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance to movies like Step Up and How She Move, audiences everywhere are being swept up in the latest dance craze. Many of these shows and films are also encouraging more and more people to pursue dance as a career.

If you’ve watched any of the televised dance shows, then you know that training doesn’t automatically determine talent. Experienced dancers who’ve been training for more than a dozen years often share the stage with novice dancers who’ve learned their moves from watching music videos, or dancing in nightclubs. And sometimes when it’s time to make a decision, it’s the untrained dancer that moves on to the next round. Having passion, dedication and style can sometimes impress a judge even more than 12 years of advanced classes.

While the media is proving that lack of training doesn’t have to hold aspiring dancers back from pursuing their dreams, it is still important that all dancers begin taking classes. While proper technique isn’t a requirement for winning over judges, it is a requirement if you want to ward off injury.

Dance auditions require dancers to pick up choreography - which can sometimes be very complex - very quickly. If dancers haven’t grasped proper technique, strenuous auditions – and performances – can easily lead to injury. Choreography that may require jump landings or deep squats can lead to tendonitis and knee injuries. An improper turnout can lead to wear and tear on the hips. Poor posture can lead to successive back problems.

If you have a natural talent and you’ve decided to pursue dance as a career, begin taking classes as soon as possible. This is an exciting time for you and you don’t want to miss your big break due to an injury that could have been prevented by refining your technique.

For a list of dance studios in your area, visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and visit our 'Entertainment Resources' section.

Do you have representation but still don’t feel like your career is taking off? Often aspiring singers, dancers, actors and models are so excited to sign with an agency, but then the experience leaves much to be desired. There are many reasons why clients are dismayed by their relationship with their agency. Perhaps they are not being sent on auditions frequently or at all. Maybe, especially if they signed with a smaller agency, they don’t feel as though they are getting the personal attention that they expected or were promised.

Are you unhappy with your agent, but you’re simply not sure if you should leave the agency? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel that your agent or manager has a strong knowledge of the business?
• Does your agent or manager have good relationships with casting directors, producers and directors? Or is your agent actively trying to develop these kinds of relationships?
• Does your agent send you out on auditions that you are well suited for?
• Does your agent believe in you?
• Is your agent or manager a skilled negotiator?
• Is your agent or manager trustworthy?
• Does your agent or manager make sure that you’re paid in a timely manner?

If you’ve answered no to several of these questions, then it’s probably time to start exploring other agencies. There’s nothing wrong with exploring your options if you’re unhappy with your representation, as long as you aren’t bound by contractual obligations. But it’s very important that no matter what, you try to leave your old agency without burning any bridges.

Before you do anything else, let your agent or manager know that you’re unhappy. Give him or her a chance to turn things around. Perhaps you somehow got lost in the shuffle and your agent just needed a nudge to give you the additional attention you deserve. If that doesn’t work and you’re still unhappy, be sure to tell your agent that you’re exploring other options before you begin contacting other agents. It’s a small world out there and you don’t want to be perceived by your old agent or a potential new agent as dishonest.

If in the end you part ways, it’s important to be as polite and respectful as possible. Don’t give your old agent any reason to say anything negative about you to others in the industry. Be sure to thank your old agent for the opportunity and any assistance they’ve given you.

If you’re looking for a new agent in your area, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com and click on our 'Talent Resources' page to view the tons of agents in our database. Good luck!