Before you can break into any aspect of show business, be it film, television or stage, you will need to be well versed on the protocols of the casting call. This open audition is a way for directors, producers and scouts to see talent perform and make decisions on who they think is best for specific roles in upcoming productions, commercials and movies. A casting call can be open, meaning anyone can attend, or closed in which case you need to be invited by a director or agent. When starting out it is imperative as a performer that you get comfortable with the casting call process and attend as many as possible to better your chances of being discovered.

No matter what type of show business you plan on making a career out of, from film and television to stage and dance you will have to audition at some point. Even those with so called natural talent have to audition for major film roles and don’t be surprised to know that very famous actors are turned down for parts due to not having a specific look or demeanor. That’s just the nature of the business. Everyone, from academy award winners to first timers have to attend a casting call and the better you get at performing on stage the more success you will have in future auditions.

If you live in or around the New York or Los Angeles area you will have a much easier time attending a casting call. Most film and television production studios are located in these cities and therefore the opportunities are much greater to find an open casting call then if you lived in Detroit. However, other up and coming cities have become popular for singing show and reality show casting calls including Dallas, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco, but if you are serious about show business and have a burning desire to act on stage then being in New York or LA is best for your career.

Once you’ve found a casting call you can attend you will need to prepare by having an updated resume, a current professional head shot and a good idea of what the audition is for. Going in blind is not recommended. If you are a man in his late 20’s, and attend an audition simply because it was advertised only to find out the part is for a teenage girl you’ve pretty much wasted your time. Read the ads carefully and phone ahead to get as much information as possible so you can ready yourself in advance, pick out the right clothes that fit the role and can practice scenes that relate to the audition.

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