cattle calls! are they really worth it?

open casting calls got there name b/c they look like just that…a bunch of cattle waiting around, moving slowly…being herded one by one into a room…

basically, they are auditions open to anyone – and normally that’s exactly who goes…anyone! this open call could be for a 10 year old blonde girl, yet you’ll see everything from a 60 year old grey-haired woman to a 350 lb. sumo wrestler standing in line next to that little girl…actually, it can be quite interesting…before my daughter had reps. and we went this route, i had many laughs standing in those lines…

there are advantages and disadvantages to ‘cattle calls’ – first of all, they are open to anyone…so it can be a great idea for our child actor to go and get some experience in auditioning…and yes, lightening does strike, and perhaps they will be noticed by a casting person and weeded out of the crowd, as well as meeting some casting director that maybe your child wouldn’t have met otherwise…

now for the bad news  many of these open calls are done for publicity only…it’s an inexpensive way to stir up excitement for a film and get the film’s name out there…it’s just human nature that when you audition for something and don’t book it, you’re interested in who did and will go to that film to see who is the one that skinned you out of that role that was absolutely yours!

many open calls are legit…usually casting only very minor roles…or agents and casting director’s use them to meet new talent…so then they are very useful and can be a real opportunity for your young actor…

either way, if you have the time and your child actor wants to go, enjoy! sometimes just meeting new people and feeling the “possibility” of booking a role is a real ‘dream-maker’ and can inspire both you and your child…

to find open calls, check out the many online services that exist and also entertainment papers on the newsstand as well as your local town or city newspaper…

have fun and remember, it’s all part of the dream…
have a wonderful day…
hugs and out~