Open model casting calls provide the perfect opportunity for brands to uncover hidden talent and fresh faces for their ad campaigns. However, they can also be difficult to manage if you haven’t coordinated one before. It’s best to have a plan in place and be prepared for a significant response.
Open casting calls are often called “cattle calls” due to the large “herds” of people they tend to draw, which just gives you another reason to do your prep work beforehand. Here are some tips for holding open model casting calls and ensure you have a strong turnout, find the right model (or models) to represent your brand, and that casting runs as smoothly as possible.
Get the Word Out
First, you must get the word out that your casting is taking place. If you want to attract a diverse talent pool, post your casting notice in multiple locations. For instance, casting sites such as Backstage, Mandy, and LA Casting, Inc. are good places to start. Be sure to outline in the casting notice whether you are looking for anything specific or if the models are required to bring anything to the casting.
If you want to discover fresh faces, consider posting your casting notice in other places, like on your social media pages. If you don’t have a large following or want to expand your reach, consider posting to other social media pages or groups. For instance, there’s an entire Facebook community devoted to Los Angeles casting calls.
Perhaps the face of your next ad campaign hasn’t yet discovered their passion for modeling. So print out the casting notice and post it anywhere you believe you might find who you’re looking for. You could post notices in a community career center, on a college campus bulletin board, or on the board at your local grocery store or coffee shop.
Find the Right Space
You’ll need to book a place to hold your open casting. Keep in mind that model castings should always be held in public areas. Ideally, you’ll want to rent a professional studio with a large waiting room for models to gather in while waiting to be seen.
Try to choose a convenient location to hold the casting. People may be less inclined to attend if they have to drive long distances.
When you have a potential location, visit it in person to get a feel for the space if you can. Ask what the studio’s maximum capacity is and how many people you can have in the holding room at any given time. Make sure you take a look at their rules to ensure your event will not violate any of them.
Since you’ll likely have to book the studio in advance and many studios charge an hourly rate, estimate how many models you want to see and how long you want to spend with each. Calculating these two figures will give you a rough idea of how much time you’ll need to book for the studio space.
Stick to a Schedule
Be prepared to stick to a strict schedule. The longer you spend with each model, the fewer models you’ll be able to see. Moving models through the audition process quickly will also help with crowd control. Don’t rush the process; just be mindful of the time you have available.
It’s typically a good idea to have a sign-in sheet and call models into the audition room in the order of their arrival. If a large group starts to gather in the holding area, you can ask some to wait outside or return later. Toward the end of the casting, be prepared to turn some models away if there is still a large group waiting to be seen.
If you are unable to see everyone who attends the casting, ask those you didn’t meet with to leave their comp card with you for review. If you like what you see, you can invite them to a callback or another casting down the line.
Take Detailed Notes
At an open casting, you may wind up seeing more models than you can count, so avoid relying on your memory. Instead, take detailed notes or have an assistant on hand to do so for you.
Begin by asking for the model’s comp card. Keep in mind that some models may not have a comp card to share with you, especially those just starting their careers. If that’s the case, have them fill out an information sheet with their contact information, stats, clothing sizes, and any other pertinent details you need.
Take test shots at the casting. Write down any notes you would like to remember about the model on their comp card or information sheet. Keep all materials together, including the comp card, test shots, notes, and information sheet. Organizing your paperwork will help you remember who’s who long after the casting is over and assist you in making the final selections for your ad campaign.
Provide Feedback
To ensure you select the best model for your project, give each auditioning model some direction and engage them in conversation during the casting. Observing them in interactions and movements will show you whether they’re the right fit to represent your brand authentically.
A model may have the right look, but they also need to be able to incorporate feedback and have the right essence to complement your brand’s appeal. So try to get a sense of who they are and if their personality is the right match for your brand messaging.
Want to get a head start on finding the right talent to complement your next ad campaign? Agencies like InnoVision Talent Agency have a full roster of diverse talent to browse. So run your casting like a pro (or hire a pro for help!) and discover that hidden gem of a model who will make your brand’s ad campaign truly shine.