Sometimes, reality TV shows can launch your career.

Reality TV shows can lead to so many opportunities: I bet he never dreamed of being in a nationwide commercial campaign. Be yourself on camera & you never know where it can take you!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

On the other hand, these girls are now all being watched and there are many people out there who will be judging them and may want to see them fail.  Since their moms are main characters in the show, they may also face some harsh criticism and road blocks years from now when the show is no longer carrying the weight of their child’s career.

People may think of them as a joke or not want to deal with them based on the reputation the show has given them.  If you’re given the opportunity to submit your child to a similar casting, definitely weigh out the pros and cons on this one.  While it may seem like a good opportunity for exposure, it may not be the kind of exposure you want your child to have.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Reality Casting Directors want people who are going to be themselves and not try to act like a character that would be good for television.  So if you send out a headshot and they are looking for everyday people for a reality show, they may not call you.  But it really depends on the casting call.  So when you are applying for castings, try to think like a producer.  Think to yourself, does it sound like my acting experience would give me an edge on the competition?  Or, would my acting experience look like I’m just an actor trying to use this reality casting to get exposure?  You can always send both.  And if you’re truly trying to be a serious actor, you may not want to submit to reality casting calls altogether!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Unfortunately the people who want to be on TV and who want to be reality stars are not always the best ones for reality TV.  We don’t want someone who is putting on a show just to get selected.  I’m not always looking for the best looking people for shows either.  Sometimes if a person is too good looking, that could actually ruin their chances for being selected, depending on what the show is.

But no matter what show I am casting, the focus is always finding a good character: Someone who is outgoing, entertaining, and perhaps a little quirky too.  If they seem boring on the phone, it probably wouldn’t get much better if we put them on TV.  So that could be an automatic elimination for someone.  The easiest way to find people and is when they respond to casting notices. Always submit for casting calls you think you are good for.  That is the most proactive way to get a Casting Director’s attention.

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Many non-actors hope to be on a reality show these days to promote their businesses.

If you’re interested in a reality show casting, be prepared to put in some work.  You will most likely have to fill out an application, send photos, and make a video.  And that is just the beginning. Be prepared to answer a lot of personal questions that may or may not be deciding factors when it comes to the casting.

Co-workers, family members, boyfriends, girlfriends, may all have to be involved in the casting.  If you will really want the opportunity, it’s important to let the Casting Director speak to all of these people and send them any info that might be necessary.  If you procrastinate you will totally miss your chance.  And if you are uncomfortable with anything that is asked of you in the beginning, a reality show might not be the right fit for you!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Move over American Idol, there’s a new singing competition airing this spring. 

The show’s innovative format features three stages of competition: the first begins with the blind audition, then the competition enters into a battle phase, and finally, the live performance. The show’s casting team is working with the music industry and searching the country for the best singers to bring to the blind audition process. During the blind auditions the decisions from the coaches are based solely on voice and not on looks. The coaches hear the contestants perform, but they don’t get to see them – thanks to rotating chairs. If a coach is impressed by a contestant’s voice, he/she pushes a button to select the contestant. At this point, the coach’s chair will swivel to face the contestant selected. If more than one coach selects the talent, the power shifts to the contestant, who may choose which coach they want to work with throughout the competition.

The show will be hosted by former TRL video Jockey, Carson Daly, and will also have the judges performing some of their hits.  Click here to see the judges perform their rendition of “Crazy” orignally by  Gnarles Barkley.

With the all-star line-up of judges, and the eager new competitors, we’re sure the show will be a hit! Tune in tonight!

Over the past decade we have witnessed the incredible birth of the medium of reality TV: Bursting with international popularity, and showing no sign of decline, we’re trying to get to the bottom of this phenomenon.

I believe the mass appeal of reality TV is two-sided: on the one hand you have the hungry, voyeuristic viewers, and, on the other hand, you have the hungry, wannabe-overnight-celebrities. Reality television allows viewers to act as shameless witnesses to all ranges of human behavior and experiences. Suddenly, anyone, from anywhere, can watch all walks of life from the privacy of his/her own home. On the other side, you have the wannabe reality TV stars: there’s an obvious opportunity for a quick rise to fame, plus, a get-rich-quick scheme, both of which linger long after the show is over. Also, you need no formal training or look, you just need to be yourself– to the extreme–and be able to sell your story.

The Jersey Shore cast is the perfect example of overnight celebrity: The cast members have risen to incredible fortune and fame just by being a bubble of orange-skinned, penne alla vodka eating human specimen. Character Pauly D now maks $50K every time he DJ’s a gig. Other cast members Snooki and JWOW are planning their very own reality TV show spinoff Snooki and JWOWW Save the World. Soon the pair of guidettes will move into a house together and try to figure out how to live on their own. After their epic success on The Jersey Shore, we’re sure it’ll be a hit. Who doesn’t want to watch a Snooki suck on a pickle or a JWOW get down and dirty in da club? …

Think you’re in the wrong business? Get ahead of the competition at reality TV school with Robert Galinsky. Click here to learn more.

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

This season was orginally slated to be titled “Miami Social Club,” but the Producers over at Bravo had other plans.

What makes this season stand out from all the rest? It features Bravo’s first ever self-styled drag queen to the cast. Elaine Lancaster, whose real name is James Davis , won’t be appearing as a drag queen all the time according to reports.

Bravo turns up the Miami heat this season, question is will you be watching?

- Don’t waste time talking to anyone else in the group.  Casting directors have 8-10 mins to absorb all the personalities in the group. Talking to or about anyone else takes away from your time to shine. The first step is always to find out what makes you interesting.

- Stay focused and don’t try to be the center of attention.

- Before going into the casting call, know how you want to present yourself and stay focused. Do not allow anyone in the group to interrupt your sentence or change your train of thought.

- Don’t be swayed by anyone else’s audition! Stick to your original plan and responses. Reality TV shows are looking for big personalities and independent thinkers . You are only competing with yourself and not anyone else in the group.

- Time is limited: Get to the point. Sum up your thoughts in the first 30 secs. Remember the casting Directors have been listening to hundreds of people all day… so it’s up to you to keep your story interesting. Anything after 30sec might not be retained by the casting Director.

- Dress to Impress: Television can be a shallow world. Show up to the Casting looking TV ready Which means,  hair and makeup done. A headturning outfit is always plus. Be yourself and have fun.

Click here to check out the New York Reality TV School for more Reality Tv tips.

On Thursday December 9^th The Bad Girls Club held an audition for selected girls from NYC. I tagged along with a friend for moral support and to share my story with you!

They called the girls in by groups of 9 and held a group interview asking:
- Tell me about yourself?
- Why are you interesting?
- What makes you a bad girl?

Some girls tried to imitate behavior they had seen on previous seasons of the show, saying things like “I Run NY” which is a play on the most popular bad girl, Natalie Nunn’s  “I run LA” slogan.  Once each girl had a chance to answer the questions, the casting directors asked everyone to leave.  In total 57 women occupied the waiting area at one time. This would be considered a small crowd for a Reality TV Casting, but each girl in attendance was hand selected by a casting director to attend. The good news is they’re still casting: click here for your chance to be on the show! Bad girls only!

By: Cody-Ann Palmer, InstantCast Staff Writer

In January Sears sponsored the first online Survivor casting call. The Popular CBS Reality show pulled in over 2,000 video entries from Survivor hopefuls across the nation.

On December 7th CBS and Sears announced their second online casting call. To apply, upload a 30 to 60 second video of yourself explaining why they think they can win Survivor. The top 10 video submissions will be presented to the general public to be voted on. One lucky Fan will win a trip to Los Angeles to meet with a casting director. Click here to get cast now!

By: Cody-Ann Palmer, InstantCast Editorial Assistant