Step 1: The Look! Are you tall?  Do you have confidence?  Are you a natural beauty?  Has anyone ever said you should be a model?  If you have the look and the drive to make it in this business than GO FOR IT!

Step 2: Build Your Portfolio! Compile high quality photos of you looking your best!  Include a headshot and body shot.  Make sure you have good lighting and flattering outfits.  No busy prints wanted.  Show off your natural beauty.  Have a friend or family member help by taking the photos and offering their opinions.

Step 3: Hit an Open Call! Open casting calls are a great way to get your feet wet in the modeling industry.  You can go in pressure free and get a feel for what casting directors will ask of you, what you should be wearing, and how you should behave at an audition.  Think of this as practice!  Don’t worry about the other women at the call, worry about you and your new career!

We wish you the best and can’t wait to hear from our plus size models!

It’s not too late for you to be a part of fashion week: There are tons of models, extras, promotion girls and guys needed in NY, LA, and around the world!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

Be courageous when it comes to your career and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

You should email a couple of days before you meet with the casting director to confirm his/her schedule, suggest options, and set up an appointment instead of stopping by.

Calling a person is OK if they don’t respond to you via email. Don’t be afraid to take the next step to get noticed and to get your point across. If you act serious about your career you will be treated that way. After you’ve met with someone it’s always a good idea to send a thank note or “thank you gift” in return.

Follow these tips and you’re sure to come out on top in your career…and in your life too! Break a leg!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

ELLEGirl has named its 2010 Model Search Winners!

By Mason O’Brien.  InstantCast Staff Writer

New York City’s famous Fashion Week is just around the corner this September and we want you to strut your stuff down the catwalk!

Best of Luck!  We can’t wait to see you rock it on the runway!

By Mason O’Brien.  InstantCast Staff Writer

Are you an aspiring model?

1. Classic: This is old-school modeling at its best. Classic poses are functional and follow basic compositional design – it’s about looking attractive, but not overtly sexy or glamorous. This is the most common form of modeling in catalogs.

2. Commercial Print: Selling the product is more important than the model. Poses are focused on viewing the product in a flattering light. If you’re modeling a handbag, your body should frame the bag, not overshadow it.

3. High Fashion: High-end fashion magazines all about haute couture. These elaborate pieces of clothing are emphasized by contorted, angular, and sometimes even ugly poses. See how the pros do it by flipping through the editorials in Vogue or W !

By Casting Director Renee Godbout

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Say you aren’t working– you might wake up everyday at noon and go to the gym, cook meals, run errands, meet up with friends. Then all of a sudden, you have a new gig that involves 12 hour days and a bad commute.

This will put a damper on your eating habits with only crew meals available, your workout habits since you can get so burned out from work and your relationships with your friends.

Of course, those are two extreme scenarios. But the point is to emphasize the importance of budgeting your time. I like to use calendars on my walls at work and in my house. Planning ahead and writing it down and sticking to the commitment can help you squeeze everything in.

Blackberry schedules and other phone devices could be good for this too. I like to have a visual reminder everyday of what is going on and what is coming up in my life.

With a chaotic, ever changing schedule- I create the old reliable “to do” lists to make sure my errands and workouts get done. There’s nothing that feels better than checking off all of those things and knowing you have met your goals for the day. But be creative and find a way that works for you to keep your life as balanced as possible.

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

However, in this business, you may not always have the comfort of being in your hometown. But there are also amazing opportunities where you go on location!

And I know it sounds great, but I can tell you from personal experience that a long term adjustment is not always easy.

You have to keep in mind that location is NOT vacation! You are working. And a hotel room becomes a hard replacement for your cozy bedroom. As fun as it may be to travel, you may find yourself missing home pretty quickly.

But I have a solution for this! We always tell you to network locally – which is great – but take advantage of any location, whether it’s for business or pleasure and keep the networking going.

Treat the new location like you are a local. Look up events and groups and get involved why you can. You never know what it may lead to, and at the very least you’ll meet new people, make new friends, and hopefully make some valuable connections too!

By Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Social networking is an amazing tool, but you must be careful with what you put out there.

DO: Be friends with your favorite actors, celebrities, contacts, and future employers. This includes Production Companies and Movie Studios etc. or anyone you want to be connected with on face book and follow them on Twitter. This way you’ll get all the inside info on appearances, hosting specials, casting calls, giveaways and news updates.

You’ll have first-hand info in your hands… especially if you get your updates on your mobile! It’s all worth it–use the technology at hand! You will have more to talk about in your auditions and future casting you are on and going out for!  Also, be sure to join groups that you’re interested it, whether it’s acting/modeling etc.

DON’T: Be sure not to be friends with people whom  you’re not that close with…you don’t want a stranger to have your personal info. Over-sharing will not be productive for your career!

By: Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

That’s right, Victoria’s Secret is currently looking for new models to walk the runway. You’ll be seen on CBS when the fashion show airs on December 1st! Click here for our Victoria’s Secret model casting call now!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

1. Get cast in a Doritos Superbowl commercial!
2. Attend these open calls for MTV commercials!
3. Find fame in an Avis car rental commercial!
4. Females needed for Media World TV commercial!
5. Dove commercial needs real women!

…click here for a full listing of all our TV commercials.

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Work it girl!

Want to appear on a popular national talk show that features celeb interviews, cooking segments, and the latest fashion trends? Click here to get cast today!

Click here to learn more about the Wendy Williams show.

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Get paid to walk at at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week!
Walk the runway at Park Avenue Fashion Week!
Strut down the catwalk at NYC Fashion Week!
Model for Face of Fashion this fall at Fashion Week!
Boost your portfolio when you promote fall designs!

Then click here for a full listing of all our modeling calls!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Talk shows and news programs are always promoting back to school fashion. This means they’re looking to cast models of all ages for runway segments.

When I worked at MTV we did this every year for TRL. We always wanted new faces to showcase the hottest looks.

If you have ever seen these segments, you will notice that similarly to TRL, casting directors tend to cast amateur/fresh models rather than the famous faces we recognize on bigger runway shows.

Especially if you stick to your local news shows, they will most likely want beginner models who are trying to build their resumes and who are happy for the exposure rather than doing it for the money. So start looking for these castings now so you can be involved in the back to school bandwagon!

By: Casting Director Courtney Maglione

Many people assume that Talent Agents and Managers do the same thing.

A manager has more of a personalized relationship with an actor than an agent. Because of that, managers will always have fewer clients than agents. They often classes and assist in putting together headshots.

Managers will also make all your important networking connections. For their services, managers will usually receive a 15% commission.

So what exactly can agents do for you?

Agents, on the other hand, are often the ones dealing with contracts and getting the deal signed. Talented agents will work hand and hand with casting directors finding the right fit. They might send more than one actor to an audition because they are working with a larger pool of talent.

Agents also tend to know more about the ins and outs of the industry and what production companies are gearing up for their next shoot. Often times managers are former agents, and therefore can assist in a variety of ways.

The best managers and agents are well connected in the entertainment industry and have the pull to get you into the right auditions. Productions often prefer to work with talent that has gone through one of those channels. Getting discovered still happens but a helping hand can really work wonders.

By Casting Director Renee Godbout

PS – You could get a personal casting consultation with me today! Click here to learn more.

And the prizes are fabulous: The 4th Fantana will not only get to represent Fanta nationwide, she’ll also win a grand total of $5000!

But don’t stress even if you’re not chosen… The second and third runners-up will also get a nice chunk of change. So you think you’ve got what it takes to represent Fanta? Click here to apply to win $5000 and be the next Fantana!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

When money is tight, it’s more important than ever to stand out at your current gig or production. And if you’ve got a network of allies at your job, you’ll be less likely to be laid off. Here are a few simple tips to make sure your new gig is secure:

1. Ask what more you can do around the set. Tell your directors and producers that you would love to be in their new projects.

You can even suggest a certain TV show or movie has openings and explain that you would love to be considered and help out with these projects.

2. Volunteer for new productions. Don’t be afraid of projects that you’re not necessarily right for or experienced in. This will show how you’re willing to stretch beyond your comfort zone and you like being part of new things.

3. Be an instigator. When things start to get quiet, organize some kind of group event – with the approval of the production, of course. Gather the entire cast and crew for a lunch, or watch an old classic movie then have a discussion about it afterward.

4. Don’t forget to network. Take advantage of your downtime and focus on meeting new people everywhere you go. Ask questions, give your opinion, and listen to their advice. Sharing experiences helps everyone!

5. Get there early and stay late. Nothing should be beneath you! Be enthusiastic about everything you are working on. Simply showing that you’re willing to work hard will set apart from everyone else.

By Casting Director Jenny Rawdin

But who’s out there representing the curvy women of the world? Why not you? PZI Jeans is now searching for women to represent their famous jeans!

Catering specifically to women with hips and a booty, PZI Jeans is one of the world’s most notorious demin brands and has a fiercely loyal following!

Their campaigns are a fashionable and fabulous way for models who aren’t a size 0 to get seen nationwide! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportuity – click here to be a PZI Jeans model!