If you’ve ever followed the work of theater directors, you may notice that they often work with many of the same actors repeatedly. Whether you’re an actor, dancer, singer or model, it’s important to remember that cultivating relationships with decision makers in the entertainment industry is paramount to career longevity. If a successful director takes a liking to you, that could mean steady work for you for years to come.
Try to memorize your lines before your first rehearsal. There’s no better way to blow a director away than by showing him or her that you’ve come prepared and ready to work.
Always be on time (and preferably early.) I know I always stress this and you probably think I sound like a broken record, but in the entertainment industry time is money and there’s no such thing as being fashionably late.
Come to rehearsal prepared to take notes. You can use a pencil to mark up your script or bring an extra notebook. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember all of the notes that the director will give, or changes in blocking, so make sure you write them down. And be sure to review these notes often so that they sink in.
Be courteous of the staff and crew during rehearsal. Unnecessary chatter can be frustrating and distracting to others in the theater, so when you’re not rehearsing one of your scenes, stay focused so you’ll be ready to tackle your scene when it’s your turn.
One of the last rules of thumb is to always take great care of your costume and your props. Most costume directors will require that you leave your costume at the theater, however sometimes actors become absent-minded and may take a costume or prop home with them accidentally. I once had a friend who not only took a part of his costume home (a Starbucks apron) but also promptly lost it. He spent the next day driving to various Starbucks locations trying to buy an apron from one of the baristas. While it may sound like a funny story now - trust me - it was no laughing matter.
Are you ready to use these tips to impress theater directors and ensure a long-lasting, and successful career on the stage? Visit http://StarSearchCasting.com today and check out our casting calls for theater auditions in your area and abroad. Good luck!
In 1992, 21-year old model Kimberly Pandelios told her husband that she was meeting with a photographer. However the man who’d led her to believe he was a photographer was actually a registered sex offender who lured Pandelios into the Angeles National Forest where he sexually assaulted and killed her.
Kimberly was probably a lot like many young, aspiring models. She was beautiful, vibrant and eager to take on the world. She’d had some success modeling swimwear and lingerie when she’d discovered a model-wanted ad in a local weekly newspaper. She had hoped the opportunity would help her make some headway in her career. Instead, she met a tragic end.
Unfortunately, this story is not an uncommon one. And it doesn’t just happen to new models. Linda Sobek, a former Raiders cheerleader and Playboy model met a similar fate when she left her home to attend a photo shoot. In her case, the photographer who killed her was at the time a reputable photographer who had actually amassed a small fortune and some fame and who’s work had appeared in many automotive magazines.
We often discuss the growing number of Internet scams that constantly target aspiring models, but one Star Search Casting member recently discussed the importance of remaining aware of the dangers that face models in the real world as well. Every day people reach out to aspiring models on the street, in stores, or through newspaper or online classifieds with legitimate offers. However, there are also criminals who use these same methods to lure models with malicious intent.
To avoid becoming the victim of dangerous crime, always remember to:
Ask for references from photographers, agents or other industry professionals before agreeing to work with them.
Take a friend or family member with you to photo shoots and meetings with agents, photographers or other industry professionals, especially if you’ve not worked with them in the past and you have not secured the job through a reputable agency.
Be cautious of applying to blind ads in newspapers or online. If you choose to apply to these ads, be sure to thoroughly research the agency or photographer that you will be meeting with.
And last but not least, always go with your instincts. Intuition is one of the most powerful resources you have to protect you from dangerous situations. Therefore don’t get involved with a project or an agency if you have a bad feeling about it.
For more information on scams and crimes affecting aspiring models, singers, actors and dancers, log on to http://StarSearchCasting.com daily and review our entertainment industry Scam Watch.
. http://www.scarykidssociety.com/profile/elitecastingnetwork
Catering to its nearly 266,000 members located on six continents, Star Search Casting uses Google gadgets to help its growing number of international users translate web pages instantly.
Since its launch in 1998, Star Search Casting has quickly become the leading casting website in the United States. Moreover, as it’s popularity increased among U.S. users, the website soon welcomed a growing number of international users, and now caters to Star Search Casting members based on six continents. In an effort to maintain its commitment to actors, dancers, singers and models in all areas of the world, Star Search Casting has now added the Google Gadget’s Translate feature to help Star Search Casting member access casting calls and other resources in 25 languages.
“The number of singers, actors, dancers and models from other countries who use our website is constantly growing,” says Jonathan Parker, founder of Star Search Casting. “We hope that the translation tool will make it easier for users whose first language isn’t English to access the information, tools and resources on our website.”
Both Google and Star Search Casting are known for providing cutting-edge, innovative web applications and tools for its web visitors. Google’s Translate tool helps webmasters cater to multilingual web visitors, without having to maintain multiple multilingual websites. Actors, models, singers and dancers who access the Star Search Casting website can use the tool to translate text in a number of languages including French, German, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Spanish.
By catering to a global base of singers, dancers, actors and models, Star Search Casting helps casting directors and other entertainment industry professionals scout talent all over the world. Additionally, Star Search Casting is opening the doors for performers in the U.S. to seize opportunities in other countries.
“There are exciting opportunities to dance, sing, act and model all across the globe and our website is helping aspiring entertainers open their eyes to a world of possibilities,” says Parker. “We’ve gotten emails from American performers who have landed jobs in Asia, and Asian performers who’ve landed jobs in the U.S. so there’s definitely a global exchange of talent and it’s exciting to be apart of it.”
To view Star Search Casting’s database of talent from all over the world or to use the Google translation tool to view the website’s pages in one of 25 different languages, visit http://StarSearchCasting.com.
Previously we began talking about what you need to know to book a job with a new designer. For expert advice, we interviewed Ivory Narvell, founder of the Miss Spokesmodel International modeling competition and designer of ReignSuit, a new line of swimwear launching this year. Ivory Narvell has worked with lots of models, including Dani Evans from America’s Next Top Model and was more than happy to give our members and us the scoop on how they can grab the attention of new designers.
When we interviewed Ivory Narvell, she gave us so much great advice that we decided to create a list of the top tips Ivory shared with us during her interview. Check out these tips below. We’re sure they’ll be extremely helpful in your quest to land jobs modeling with new designers.
Top Tips from Ivory Narvell, fashion designer and runway coach:
Always be on time – if not early. Time is money and no one likes to wait on a model.
Know what you really want to do in this industry and where you fit in.
Learn as many skills as you can. Even if you are considered too short for most agencies to hire you for a fashion show, perfect your runway walk anyway. You never know what opportunities may arise.
Don’t get discouraged if you’re experiencing lots of rejection. Different designers want different things from models. You’ll get your shot.
Know the ins and outs of the industry so that when a designer or agency approaches you about a job, you can discuss the opportunity intelligently. There are a lot of girls who have a great look but don’t get booked because they don’t appear to take the industry seriously.
Even if you do not have a professional portfolio, make sure you have snap shots of yourself, preferably with no make up. Also have full body shots because designers will need to see your body type.
When you’re taking your photos, always make sure there is proper lighting and never over-exaggerate when posing.
Special thanks to Ivory Narvell for sharing her expert advice with us. Ready to put Ivory’s advice to the test? Visit http://StarSearchCasting.com for casting calls from designers and agencies, plus a whole lot more!
While you may have to have quite a bit of experience (or a lucky break) before you’re able to land a job modeling major fashion brands like Gucci or Calvin Klein, there are tons of new designers out there who are looking for models just like you. Often up and coming designers have great ideas, innovative designs and superb collections, but small budgets. Therefore new designers often look for new models that are willing to work for experience, or a smaller fee than more experienced models. That’s where you come in.
So what does it take to get the attention of new designers and book a job modeling their latest clothing lines? For the answer, I caught up with Ivory Narvell to get the inside scoop. Ivory Narvell has worked in the industry as a runway coach and stylist and now she’s launching ReignSuit, her new line of swimwear. She’s helped lots of new models, including Dani Evans (America’s Next Model) on their road towards fame as the founder of the Miss Spokesmodel International modeling competition. Here’s what Ivory had to say…
Jon: What characteristics do you look for in models when selecting them to model your designs?
Ivory: As a swimwear designer I look for someone with a naturally fit body. Proportion is very important too. For fit models, their measurements must match our sizing charts. For runway models, they must have a great runway walk. For print models, again proportion is a must. Additionally, they must be able to pose well, have great skin and take direction.
Jon: What advice would you give to models who are submitting their photos for consideration to work with designers?
Ivory: It can be a tough industry and not everyone will love you, so it’s important that you develop thick skin. However, while you may not be the right model for one job, keep going and stay positive because you might be the right model for the next job.
Jon: There’s so much competition in the industry. What measures can new models take to standout and get designers to notice them?
Ivory: After a model call, make sure you follow up with a thank you letter by mail. I recall an instance when a model who wasn’t very memorable sent me a thank you letter after a casting call. While she didn’t get the job initially, because she sent the letter which made her instantly standout, I booked her at a later time.
Wow, what great advice! If you want to read more advice from Ivory Narvell, log in tomorrow for more great tips. Ivory gave us a lot more information, so make sure you read tomorrow’s blog. For more information on modeling jobs and casting calls available on our website, visit http://StarSearchCasting.com and check out our auditions page.
If you’re a fan of reality television, then you’ve probably noticed that quite a few actors, singers, dancers and models are jumping on the bandwagon and taking jobs as on-air personalities and television show hosts. These jobs offer great opportunities for visibility and exposure, and can help make actors household names.
To land a job as a television host or on-air personality, you have to be charismatic, engaging and be able to get people excited about the information you’re presenting or the show you’re hosting. If you consider yourself to be well spoken, articulate and confident then you would probably make a great host or on-air personality. Some well-known on-air personalities and television hosts include Ryan Seacrest (American Idol) and Sugar Ray lead singer, Mark McGrath (Extra). Another great example is Kelly Ripa. She started in the business as a soap opera actress, and now she’s the host of one of the most successful television morning shows, Live with Regis and Kelly.
Carmen Cecilia Limardo, known more fondly as “CC” is a Star Search Casting member and an experienced television host. She’s worked in the industry since 1993 and has been an on-air correspondent on shows appearing on Univision and Telemundo as well as the host of the sports, music and comedy show, Thunderbox. CC has a dynamic voice, and this attribute has largely contributed to her success. In addition to helping her land great jobs as a television host, she’s also done voiceovers for commercials for Marshall’s, Burger King, US Airways, Disney, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s and tons of other popular U.S. brands.
We’ve had lots of casting calls on our websites for on-air personalities and hosts. When casting directors post these auditions, they often use words like charming, dashing and confident to describe the type of talent they are looking for. Does that sound like you? If so, you could be well on your way to launching a career as a successful television host!
So what are you waiting for? Visit www.StarSearchCasting.com today to search for casting calls for television hosts and on-air personalities. And in the meantime, if you want to get experience as a television host, public access channels are a great way to get your feet wet. Contact your local cable company to learn more about hosting opportunities on existing shows or starting your own show. Good luck!
As the number of entertainment scams targeting aspiring actors, singers, dancers and models escalate, and scammers become more sophisticated in their methods, it can be tricky to identify the difference between a scam and a legitimate opportunity. In response to the growing number of modeling scam victims, Elite Casting Network ( www.EliteCastingNetwork.com ), in addition to becoming the number one casting website, has also become the leading provider of up-to-date information on the latest entertainment industry scams. Elite Casting Network educates users on how to spot a scam; actively monitors all site activity to prevent members from becoming the victim of popular internet scams; and encourages members to report suspicious activities and warn others if they’ve uncovered a scam.
“Our members use our site not only because they know they’ll get access to valuable casting opportunities, but also because they know our website is a safe environment that’s actively monitored to prevent scammers from taking advantage of them,” says Jonathan Parker, CEO of Elite Casting Network, Inc. “In addition to making sure that the site is safe, we also try to educate our members on how to spot a scam. Many Internet users think that if a site or service charges money that it’s automatically a scam, but this is one of the most misleading pieces of advice circulating the web. More accurately, if the site or service asks for money but only accepts cash or money orders, that’s an immediate red flag.”
The staff at Elite Casting Network is very knowledgeable of scamming trends and it’s this knowledge that helps to keep the site and its members safe. Elite Casting Network staff members regularly and routinely updates its members on the latest industry scams. When members log in to their website, the Entertainment Scam Alert section provides instant updates on the most recent scammer activity targeting aspiring actors, dancers, models and actors. Additionally Elite Casting Network staff members post information about these scams in the site's forums to make sure members are informed and aware of potential scams. Many of these posts occur within 24-48 hours of the scam’s first appearance on the internet.
In response to escalating Internet scams, the staff at Elite Casting Network monitors all of the messages on the site regularly to ensure the safety of its members. Additionally when members access their messages, Elite Casting Network provides their members with an option at the top of each message to flag the message if they encounter spam or abuse.
Elite Casting Network members also work to keep the site safe, and to keep fellow members from falling victim to Internet scams. Elite Casting Network members are encouraged to post information about acting scams in the site’s forums if they encounter a scam or have become the victim of a scam. The forums are also a great way for members to learn more information about how to spot and avoid popular scams & frauds.
All of these measures combined help to combat over 90% of scam attempts on the Elite Casting Network website. For more information on the latest entertainment industry related scams, log on to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com visit the online community for up-to-date, comprehensive information, tools and tips on how to avoid and spot modeling scams today.
If you’ve been checking out our casting calls then you know that there are a variety of jobs out there available to aspiring actors and actresses. If you’re considering breaking into the entertainment industry, and you’re athletic, adventurous and you’re looking for a bit of excitement, then a career as a stunt person might just be the job for you!
I don’t know about you but I love action films and I’ve always wondered what it’s like for actors like Jackie Chan (Rush Hour) and Matt Damon (The Bourne Ultimatum) who’ve starred in some of the most exciting films to hit the box office. I’ve always been even more curious to learn about the stunt doubles who’ve worked alongside them handling the more dangerous stunts – everything from jumping off of buildings to high speed car chases that end in a fiery crash.
Mark Bedell is a Star Search Casting member who’s seen the action firsthand! Mark Bedell, like many of our members is a multi-talented actor who has really worked hard to make a name for himself in the entertainment business. He has worked as an actor in nearly 20 projects, including roles on the popular soap opera Passions. In addition to his acting work, he’s worked as a stunt coordinator and stunt performer on more than 20 projects. Talk about an adrenaline rush!
While a career as a stunt person can be action-packed as well as lucrative, it’s important to point out that there are lots of dangers and risks involved. You may suffer from muscle strain, sprains, broken bones, concussions and other minor and sometimes major injuries. Serious injuries, in addition to being painful, can also lead to loss of current and future jobs.
If you still think you might enjoy a career as a stunt person, then it’s important that you develop a list of skills to help you land a job. Stunt people often have taken classes to learn a variety of skills and talents such as martial arts, horseback riding, fencing and scuba diving among other useful skills. Stunt people also often spend a great amount of time in the gym because it’s important that they remain in shape to help them deal with the challenges of the job, as well as ward off injury.
Even if you don’t think you’re cut out for the intensive demands of film and television stunts, it’s important that all actors and actresses stay in tip-top shape. While directors turn to stunt specialists for much of the stunt work done in films, you may still be required to throw a punch in a scene or engage in rigorous physical activity. Recently a friend of mine was required to perform a stunt in a pool in an independent film. He had a great time doing it, and was filled with pride once it was complete.
To learn more about the variety of jobs that are available to you in the entertainment industry, whether you’re interested in becoming a stunt person, or something a bit less risky, visit our auditions page at http://www.StarSearchCasting.com today and explore jobs that would be perfect for you.
Scams can cost aspiring models a fortune! Whether it’s a modeling school that requires you to take pricey modeling classes or illegitimate agency that sends you a fake check to cash, modeling scams in all forms can cost you both your hard earned money as well as your dignity.
One of the latest scams that has come to our attention involves phone numbers that can drive your phone bill through the roof. If you get any emails with the phone prefix +4470 – do not call the number. Phone calls to these numbers will transfer you to an unpublished phone number and can cost you up to £2 per minute, which is almost four American dollars.
A scammer using the name Erick Kent has been identified as one of the individuals using these high-priced phone numbers to lure unsuspecting models. See below for an example of the messages he’s been sending:
"Dear **********
Thank you very much for your quick reply.
Pembroke Recruitment Agency is a free lance model recruiting agency.
You were contracted for a part time or full time position depending on your options. Your photo was considered attractive enough so we decided to contact you. At the moment we are under obligation from DR modeling firm and we would like to hire you on their behalf.
At the moment your area of content will be trade shows, Print, runway music videos. Location will be London, England.
It will be necessary you send resumes , photos and any documentation that will properly describe you and explain better what you do.
Thanks,
Erick Kent
Pembroke Recruitment Agency
14d Blvd Westminster London UK.
+447031899189"
If you receive an email from Erick Kent or the Pembroke Recruitment Agency, do not respond. If you receive suspicious correspondence from any other individuals and you’re not sure what to do, post the email to the community forum for feedback and advice from the Elite Casting Network staff and other members.
For more information on Internet scams targeting aspiring models, actors, dancers and singers, visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and log in daily to read our Scam Watch.
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