America's Next Top Model Casting in NYC
I attended the America's Next Top Model Cycle 8 casting call at the Park Central Hotel in New York City on August 26, 2006. I arrived at 9:30 AM, and the line was already wrapped around an ENTIRE New York City block.
I waited in line until about 12:15 before I was let into the building. A few interesting things from the line:
The writers for the show were on strike and were outside the building protesting.
There was one lady who was a particularly good line cutter and incurred the wrath of many-a-auditioner.
This line was the only audition line I've ever stood in that was advertised too. I received several advertisements from photographers and beauty consultants and even coupons to the nearby Subway restaurant.
Anyone wishing to tryout for Cycle 8 of America's Next Top Model must be over 18 (bring a photo ID with you, it will be checked at the door), over 5'7" tall, and have a valid US Passport.
According to the advertisement in Backstage Magazine, the show is shooting from October to November of this year.
After waiting hours to be admitted into the building, I was given a cute little CW11/ANTM mirror and fan. We were also given a "Scout Sheet" with a contestant number on it (by the time I got into the building, I was in the 900s). We were brought to a room full of 300-500 chairs and filled out the scout sheets (Identification information, plus a few questions to get to know you). A little advice: Bring your own pen!
Also, I had not eaten lunch before entering the building. Big Mistake! Eat lunch, or bring food with you in your bag.
There is an application form available online from America's Next Top Model. I had printed it out and brought it with me, along with the three pictures they ask for (headshot, bodyshot clothed, bodyshot swimsuit) although several people around me had not. I heard a rumor later in the day that people who did not bring applications were no longer being admitted to the audition.
After waiting in the ballroom until about 3:15, we were led upstairs to a small (very hot) hallway where we all had to squish together. As a note, you are required to bring your belongings with you everywhere you go. Also, you must turn your cellphones off while in the audition areas. So, pack lightly. We waited in the hallway until about 4:00, and then we were brought into a medium-sized room with the casting director, her team and a cameraman. We were lined up from the back corner of the room, to the front corner, along the front wall, and down the other side. All in all, I believe that they squished about 150 of us into the lineup (chest to back, your toe to someone else's heel). We were instructed to look into the camera and say our Name, Age, Height and Weight very quickly (to save time). I do believe that the way you say this information can get you cut or get you into the next round. The casting directors are looking for people who are going to be articulate on camera with good presentation skills, so try to sound excited and strong. The camera man videotaped each one of us as we spoke in succession. Many ladies were instructed to turn their body's to the camera. In other words, you need to make sure that your shoulders are square to the camera.
Out of the approximately 150 girls in the room, 4 were asked to say. I heard that, out of the nearly 2,000 people that auditioned that day, 200 ladies moved on to the next round. Things I noticed about the ladies who were chosen: They were very tall and very thin (130 lbs or less) with very pretty, symmetrical faces.
Many of the girls at the audition had never tried out for anything before. They had stars in their eyes, and desperately wanted to make it on the show. It was very sad to see them leaving the building in tears because they are not used to the rejection that comes with showbusiness.
The casting directors also plucked a few girls from the group to audition for their new Pussycat Dolls series, a reality show that is going to chronicle the making of the Pussycat Dolls' 7th bandmember.
The other rumor is that ANTM is choosing 50 girls from each city and then whittling it down to the final group.
As a note, it was rumored that Miss J was present for the morning's auditions.
A little advice to those who are going to show up later in the day: If you are not in line by 4 o'clock (or when the audition is advertised to end), you will not be seen! They give out numbers to everyone in line until 4 o'clock. If you do not have a number, you will not get into the building!
All in all, I left the audition at about 4:45 PM (over 7 hours from the time I arrived).
And that was my experience at America's Next Top Model!
I waited in line until about 12:15 before I was let into the building. A few interesting things from the line:
The writers for the show were on strike and were outside the building protesting.
There was one lady who was a particularly good line cutter and incurred the wrath of many-a-auditioner.
This line was the only audition line I've ever stood in that was advertised too. I received several advertisements from photographers and beauty consultants and even coupons to the nearby Subway restaurant.
Anyone wishing to tryout for Cycle 8 of America's Next Top Model must be over 18 (bring a photo ID with you, it will be checked at the door), over 5'7" tall, and have a valid US Passport.
According to the advertisement in Backstage Magazine, the show is shooting from October to November of this year.
After waiting hours to be admitted into the building, I was given a cute little CW11/ANTM mirror and fan. We were also given a "Scout Sheet" with a contestant number on it (by the time I got into the building, I was in the 900s). We were brought to a room full of 300-500 chairs and filled out the scout sheets (Identification information, plus a few questions to get to know you). A little advice: Bring your own pen!
Also, I had not eaten lunch before entering the building. Big Mistake! Eat lunch, or bring food with you in your bag.
There is an application form available online from America's Next Top Model. I had printed it out and brought it with me, along with the three pictures they ask for (headshot, bodyshot clothed, bodyshot swimsuit) although several people around me had not. I heard a rumor later in the day that people who did not bring applications were no longer being admitted to the audition.
After waiting in the ballroom until about 3:15, we were led upstairs to a small (very hot) hallway where we all had to squish together. As a note, you are required to bring your belongings with you everywhere you go. Also, you must turn your cellphones off while in the audition areas. So, pack lightly. We waited in the hallway until about 4:00, and then we were brought into a medium-sized room with the casting director, her team and a cameraman. We were lined up from the back corner of the room, to the front corner, along the front wall, and down the other side. All in all, I believe that they squished about 150 of us into the lineup (chest to back, your toe to someone else's heel). We were instructed to look into the camera and say our Name, Age, Height and Weight very quickly (to save time). I do believe that the way you say this information can get you cut or get you into the next round. The casting directors are looking for people who are going to be articulate on camera with good presentation skills, so try to sound excited and strong. The camera man videotaped each one of us as we spoke in succession. Many ladies were instructed to turn their body's to the camera. In other words, you need to make sure that your shoulders are square to the camera.
Out of the approximately 150 girls in the room, 4 were asked to say. I heard that, out of the nearly 2,000 people that auditioned that day, 200 ladies moved on to the next round. Things I noticed about the ladies who were chosen: They were very tall and very thin (130 lbs or less) with very pretty, symmetrical faces.
Many of the girls at the audition had never tried out for anything before. They had stars in their eyes, and desperately wanted to make it on the show. It was very sad to see them leaving the building in tears because they are not used to the rejection that comes with showbusiness.
The casting directors also plucked a few girls from the group to audition for their new Pussycat Dolls series, a reality show that is going to chronicle the making of the Pussycat Dolls' 7th bandmember.
The other rumor is that ANTM is choosing 50 girls from each city and then whittling it down to the final group.
As a note, it was rumored that Miss J was present for the morning's auditions.
A little advice to those who are going to show up later in the day: If you are not in line by 4 o'clock (or when the audition is advertised to end), you will not be seen! They give out numbers to everyone in line until 4 o'clock. If you do not have a number, you will not get into the building!
All in all, I left the audition at about 4:45 PM (over 7 hours from the time I arrived).
And that was my experience at America's Next Top Model!
posted by Evie @ 7:05 AM
1 Comments:
At 10:29 AM,
Lucas Brachish said…
Cool blog... modeling/acting/dancing is a tough industry, and NYC can be a tough town... but at least there are these opportunities around....
I noticed that you mentioned Back Stage Magazine, and thought you might be interested in knowing that Back Stage is now on Myspace ...
http://MySpace.com/BackStageEast
You can add 'em as a "friend," join their networking group, and drop a "comment" on their Myspace pages to help promote yourself!
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