StarSearchCasting.com Casting Calls Auditions Acting Modeling Singing Dancing

HOLLYWOOD – Elite Casting Network (www.EliteCastingNetwork.com) members who’ve taken advantage of the site’s upgrade specials have already gotten tremendous results. A growing number of models, dancers, singers and actors
are discovering that Elite Casting Network’s Gold, Platinum and Diamond
memberships are the key to launching a successful career in the
entertainment industry. By increasing their membership level, thus
increasing their exposure, they are now being contacted for more
industry gigs than ever before.

Elite
Casting Network, the industry’s leading casting website for more than a
decade, helps actors, dancers, singers and models get access to
invaluable casting leads, dispelling the myth that aspiring
entertainers can’t succeed in Hollywood without an agent. Members at
all levels are finding success on the website, but actors, singers,
dancers and models who have recently upgraded are having record
success. Lynette Thomas, a Elite Casting Network member from Memphis,
Tennessee is a perfect example. “I have been getting jobs and calls
everyday since I upgraded,” says Lynette. “I just got another call for
a print modeling job. I love this site.”

Lindsay
MacDonald, another Elite Casting Network member from Rhode Island who
recently upgraded to a Diamond membership is experiencing the same
success. “I’ve had a Elite Casting Network membership for awhile now
but I just upgraded to a Diamond membership and my views are
increasing,” she said. A one-year Diamond membership, only $199.95, is
a great way for actors, singers, dancers and models
to showcase their talent to casting directors, talent scouts and other
entertainment industry professionals who visit Elite Casting Network
every day to search for new talent.

Elite
Casting Network members who upgrade their memberships can upload up to
100 photos as well as video and audio files. Additionally, members who
purchase a one-year membership will also get the same level membership
for the entire year at Star Search Casting (http://www.StarSearchCasting.com).
With two memberships from leading casting websites, actors, dancers,
singers and models will not only get more exposure, but also have
access to unlimited casting opportunities and resources.

“I
have been trying to find jobs for awhile now and it’s been hard to do
so without paying lots of money,” said Elle Viane from Washington.
However once she learned about Elite Casting Network and signed up, she
not only found an affordable resource, but she also landed a role in a
film that begins shooting this summer.

For
more information on joining the tons of actors, singers, dancers and
models experiencing record success at Elite Casting Network, visit www.EliteCastingNetwork.com. Sign up or upgrade your membership today!

You recently auditioned for a role and the casting director
was so impressed that they want to see you again! Congrats! Getting a
callback is great validation for a performer. It means that out of the
hundreds of people that the casting director initially auditioned, you were among a small few that really stood out.

While
the casting director typically selects a handful of people out of
hundreds that he or she thinks would be most suitable for lead and supporting roles – it’s rare that the casting director gets the final say. When you go to your callback, you’ll most likely audition in front of high powered decision makers such as network executives
if you’re auditioning for a role on a television show, advertising
executives if you’re auditioning for a commercial, or the director if
you’re auditioning for a film. Additionally, you may even have more than one callback.

This is your shot to land the role, so make sure you take the opportunity seriously. In order to make the most of your callback:

• Arrive early and ask if there      have been any changes to the script. Unfortunately actors
  can spend hours practicing material they’ve received in advance, only
  to get to an audition and learn that the material has been revised. If
  you arrive early, you give yourself an opportunity to prepare for
  issues like this.

• Don’t
  alter your look. You don’t have to wear the same thing you wore to the
  initial audition (though many people do), but you want to ensure the
  casting director remembers you, and that you reflect the same image
  that you did initially because based on the fact that you’ve been
  called back, that’s what the casting staff is looking for.

• Try to get a copy of the entire      script so that you have a better understanding of who the character is.

• Be
  friendly, upbeat, positive and professional. If you’re auditioning in
  front of the director, he or she will not only be evaluating your
  talent, but also if you’re the type of performer they will want to work
  with for the duration of the project.

If
you don’t land the job, take it all in stride. By securing a callback
you’ve proved that you have something really special and others are
sure to see it as you continue auditioning for other roles.
Additionally, the influential industry executives who you auditioned for during your callback may be interested in calling you in for upcoming projects.

Curious how other performers have handled the pressure of callbacks? Log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and connect with other members in our community forum.

If you’ve checked out our auditions
lately then you may have noticed that there are several musicals
seeking talented men and women to join their casts! Theatrical classics
like Show Boat and Hair and two original musical films are just a few of the posts perfect for Elite Casting Network members who are great at both acting and singing!

Have you ever auditioned
for a musical and afterwards you think to yourself, “Why on earth did I
pick that song!” Selecting a song for an audition can be a challenge -
especially if you’re new to auditioning. Here’s a checklist that you
can use to eliminate song choices so that you don’t make the costly
mistake of picking the wrong song for your musical theatre audition.

Don’t choose a song…

…If it doesn’t resonate with you. You should really like the song, and enjoy singing it in order to perform it well.

…If portions of the song are out of your range. If during practice you can’t consistently hit all of the notes, pick a new song.

…If
it’s not in a key you can sing in and you aren’t able to have it
transposed. Don’t assume that the pianist at your audition can
transpose music on sight.

…If it doesn’t show off your vocal talents.

…If you have trouble remembering the lyrics.

Once you’ve eliminated songs that aren’t a good fit, begin keeping the songs that are well suited for your voice and for musical theatre auditions
in a well-organized notebook. You can also keep your headshots and
resumes in the notebook so that you’re always prepared when you arrive
at your audition.

Ready to sing your heart out? Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today and check out some of the auditions that we have posted on our website. You can also connect with other members in our community forum to discuss other helpful audition tips. Good luck!

Television and film producers have capitalized on the dance fever that has struck the nation. From shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance to movies like Step Up and How She Move,
audiences everywhere are being swept up in the latest dance craze. Many
of these shows and films are also encouraging more and more people to
pursue dance as a career.

If
you’ve watched any of the televised dance shows, then you know that
training doesn’t automatically determine talent. Experienced dancers
who’ve been training for more than a dozen years often share the stage
with novice dancers who’ve learned their moves from watching music
videos, or dancing in nightclubs. And sometimes when it’s time to make
a decision, it’s the untrained dancer that moves on to the next round.
Having passion, dedication and style can sometimes impress a judge even
more than 12 years of advanced classes.

While
the media is proving that lack of training doesn’t have to hold
aspiring dancers back from pursuing their dreams, it is still important
that all dancers begin taking classes. While proper technique isn’t a
requirement for winning over judges, it is a requirement if you want to
ward off injury.

Dance auditions
require dancers to pick up choreography - which can sometimes be very
complex - very quickly. If dancers haven’t grasped proper technique,
strenuous auditions – and performances – can easily lead to injury.
Choreography that may require jump landings or deep squats can lead to
tendonitis and knee injuries. An improper turnout can lead to wear and
tear on the hips. Poor posture can lead to successive back problems.

If you have a natural talent and you’ve decided to pursue dance as a career, begin taking classes
as soon as possible. This is an exciting time for you and you don’t
want to miss your big break due to an injury that could have been
prevented by refining your technique.

For a list of dance studios in your area, visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and visit our ‘Entertainment Resources‘ section.

Each year thousands of model searches
and open calls are held online and all over the country. Model searches
and open calls are some of the best ways to increase an aspiring model’s chances of being discovered by a major agency.
In addition to the possibility of landing a contract or deal, model
searches are a great opportunity to make contacts, learn more about how
the industry works, and win great prizes including cosmetics, clothing,
and other really great perks.

If you’ve heard you have to go to New York in order to get signed to a prominent modeling agency
- that’s simply not true. Agencies are just as determined to find new
faces as you are to get signed. In addition to model searches and open calls
in even some of the smallest towns, many larger agencies work with
scouts from Jacksonville, Florida to Tacoma, Washington to find their
next big client.

As
an aspiring model, it can be difficult to know which opportunities to
take advantage of when trying to land an agent and launch your career.
Model searches and open calls are extremely helpful to aspiring models
because:

• Most model searches typically      cost less than $50 to participate and most open are free - there are some      exceptions.
• You
  can find model searches in your own hometown, or online which means you
  don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on travel and accommodations.
• Model searches are a great      opportunity to get feedback from industry      professionals who can advise you on your strength and your weaknesses.      
• You can get a better idea of what      kind of work you’re best suited for, ex. Runway, catalog, etc.

If you’ve been doing your homework then you know that Elite Model Management
is the largest modeling agency in the world, representing more than 800
models from five continents. Models previously represented by Elite
include Tyra Banks, Claudia Schiffer, Heidi Klum, and Gisele Bundchen.
If Elite can help those models rise to fame, then imagine what they
could do for you!

Well
signing with Elite may just be easier than you think. Aspiring models
often think that meeting with a large agency without dazzling photos is
almost impossible, but that’s not true at all. Did you know that at the
Elite Model Management office in Chicago, they have an open call EVERY
DAY at 3:30PM? Did you also know that professional
photos are not required, no appointment is necessary and dress is
casual? The only requirement is that girls are at least 5′7 and guys
are at least 5′11 and it’s suggested that you wear little or no makeup.

Isn’t
exciting to know that the opportunities are out there? For more
information about opportunities available to aspiring models, visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and check out our ‘Auditions‘ page.

Recently a Star Search Casting member posted an email they received to the community forum because they had concerns that the email was a part of a scam. The email was from the Byron Sanders Advertising Agency,
a company that sells advertising, marketing and public relations
services and claims to help rising stars get media exposure through
major television networks, the Internet and print advertising.

The company is listed as the Byron Sanders Marketing Media Management Agency with the Better Business Bureau. The company is based in Dallas, Texas and is not a BBB accredited company. The company has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB
due to failure to respond to a complaint. In the last 36 months, two
complaints have been filed against the company - one of which has been
closed.

This information doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is involved in a scam.
Most companies that have been involved in scams have a far greater
number of complaints within that span of time. However, there are
several red flags. The first is that due to the nature of the industry
that the company is in – advertising, marketing and public relations –
it’s somewhat suspicious that there is limited information about the
company on the web. If a company claims to be able to promote you, then
you’d definitely want to go with a company that is able to promote
themselves. For example, Ken Sunshine has worked to promote actors such
as Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake and Leonardo DiCaprio. A Google
search for Ken Sunshine’s name returns over 20,000 records, while a
search for the Byron Sanders Advertising Agency returns only six
results.

Secondly,
the company claims to be the “greatest advertising agency in the
world…” however the company is not a member of the American Association
of Advertising Agencies. Lastly, in the email that was sent to one of
our members, the representative asked them to email them back and state
how much money they were willing to invest in promoting themselves.
Reputable advertising and public relations agencies are not “name your
price” businesses. These companies work for specific fees, on a
project-by-project basis, or on a monthly retainer.

For aspiring actors, singers, dancers and models, there will be a time where you will need the assistance of public relations
and marketing professionals to help you boost your career. However this
point generally comes once you’ve found an agent and have booked one or
more significant jobs. Additionally, your agent or manager at that time
can pair you with a marketing and public relations agency with a great
reputation and a strong track record.

For more information on entertainment-related Internet scams, log in to http://www.StarSearchCasting.com each day and check out our Scam Alert.