Eight quick tips for applying to a casting call

In the last months my role as Producer of the photographic project for The Round Peg has grown a lot. At first we were working with one or two models per session, with a team of 4 or 5 people, receiving fifty applications to the casting calls, but with our projects grew in size, our teams grew as well. Right now it is rare to have a team of less than 10 people between models, makeup artists, hair stylists, stylists, assistants and photographers. Our casting calls has grew as well, with clearer visions the usual number of applications is generally over one hundred. This role is very interesting and challenging, and the time spent on it taught me many things. This post is about few of these I would like to share to everyone who is going to apply to a casting call. It does not matter if you are a model, a makeup artist or a photographer: there are few tips that will help you overcome the challenges and be cast for the role you want so much.

Every time I create a casting call I prepare a spreadsheet that will help me keep all the information regarding the applicants. Clearly I evaluate each and everyone of them to pick the shortlisted. If you applied to one of our casting calls, your name is probably in one of my archives!
1 READ the Casting Call If I have some specific requirements for the session, every application who does not match them is just a lost of time. If my Stylist have a Size 12 dress and you re a Size 8 there is nothing I can do: you will NOT be taken into consideration. More important, READ when the session is going to take place and do not reply if you already know that you will not be available on the date.
2 Present Yourself When I receive an application I immediately look if the applicant wrote something to me, a sort of "presentation letter". Writing something about your application is ALWAYS a good idea. A blank application or one with the text "Interested" on it does not impress me: I spend a lot of time writing the casting and a LOT of time processing all the applications, you can spend few minutes telling me why you think you would be perfect for the role... or just write me your enthusiasm: I'd rather work with an imperfect but enthusiast person at my side than with a perfect, flat model. Tell me something, otherwise you will be one of the many...

3 Your Portfolio is your Card First of all you HAVE to have a portfolio. Yes, I received applications from models without one. How do you think I will be able to evaluate you? Then you have to understand that for every crappy photo you will post on your portfolio, you will need at least 4 great photos for make me forget about that one. If you want to work in this environment, your portfolio must be great, and I am talking to everyone: models, makeup artists, hair stylists, stylists, assistants and photographers alike! If you do not have a portfolio, if the only things you can display are some snapshot selfie you took with your point and shoot you will not go far. You will position yourself on the bottom end of the market, and only those at the same level will be willing to work with you! If you are serious about this you must invest in your portfolio and if you do not have one you have to pay someone to help you build it. Update: Many people underlined, and I agree with them, that a portfolio may contain a "clean photo", a sort of snapshot agency-style. Unfortunately I have seen such photos quite rarely in portfolios, but too many times I have seen self photos taken with a point and shoot in a dimly lit room. The firsts (agency-style photo of the model without makeup, a complete natural pictures) add something to the choice, while the second simply draw a line I prefer not to cross.
4 Have a complete profile Many times the portfolio alone is not able to convey all the information about you. Your photos may be quite deceiving, or simply the Producer have to have a clear vision of who he/she is evaluating. If I have two different applicants and they are really close, but one has all the information I need and the other does not, who do you think I will pick? A model who does not share his/her sizes has usually something to hide. Maybe he says he is 6'1" and he is just 5'7", Producers will not take risks. You are in the fashion/editorial/advertising business and it is a VERY competitive business: you want to use EVERY bullet you have.

5 Where can you be contacted? When I apply to casting calls, I include my mobile number, my email and my site. Every single time. I WANT to be contacted and reminding my references is a signal of professionalism. I do not do this just because it is fun, and I am mature enough not to be interested in wasting anybody's time. If you are serious in what you do, if you want to be selected in the casting you have to give the Producers the ability to contact you straight away: if you omit your contact references you omit a very important detail in this business.
6 Say "Thank You" This morning I received an application that ended wishing me all the best even in case I would not have selected him. Saying "Thank You" is the best way of showing appreciation for someone else's work. A sentence like "Thank You for keeping me into consideration" says much much more than that.

7 DON'T LIE! People have requirements, I have requirements. They may be a specific size for a model, or may be a technical requirement for a photographer. In any case if the producer is looking for something specific and you do not possess it, you can either say you don't possess it, or you can avoid applying for a role. It is your choice if pushing your luck a little bit or not, but if you lie about it and you will be selected, things will go bad. Imagine if a producer wants a size 12 (because the wardrobe is for that specific size) and you, size 4, are selected for the role. On the day of the session the Stylist will not be able to do anything with you, the entire team will be stopped because you lied. DON'T, save everyone's time and your reputation.
8 DON'T FLAKE! In the crazy market that London is, the possibilities are endless, therefore from time to time possibilities overlap and you may feel tempted to commit to two different projects. Well, be warned: DON'T DO IT! This is not about being responsible, this is a possible business suicide. People rely on each other and especially in serious projects (paid or not) there are entire teams that are waiting for a single Prima Donna. You don't want to be that one, because in the era of Social Networking bad names travel at the speed of light! In the last years Fabiana and I have worked with fifty or so models, and we got some unfortunate flakers. It happens. What these people probably ignore is the fact that we don't forget, as we have a list of unreliable people. If you are thinking "Big Deal, I will not work with you..." you are just underestimating the power of networking a blog may have. People RELY on the shortlisting confirmations, therefore if you are not sure if you will be able to make it, do yourself a big favor and don't confirm your presence. If you have a session in the morning, be professional and don't overdo the night before: what good can you take from a set of photos where you seem a zombie?
Many of the things I have written in this post are dictated just by common sense, but in my experience I have seen that common sense is not so common while reading the applications for a specific project. Do you feel I have missed some important points? Do you think I forgot to mention some other elements that are vital for the well being of a production? Please, feel free to write your comment: working in team teach that everyone's opinion is valuable!