Finding the right model is crucial when casting a commercial, print ad campaign, or runway show. But how do you find the model that will best represent your brand and make your project a success?
That’s where we come in. InnoVision Talent Agency (ITA) specializes in model casting. We’ll explain everything you need to know in order to hold a successful model casting call.
Find a Studio Space
The first step is to find a space to hold your casting. If you don’t already have a location in mind, look for a studio space in your area. Model castings should always be held in public spaces like studios or classrooms, not private homes. Try to choose a studio space that is centrally located. If the space is in a location that’s difficult to get to or inconvenient, it may be more difficult to get models to attend your casting.
Once you have a few places in mind, contact each of them and compare rates. Before booking, you should also visit in person to get a sense of the space and whether it will work for your casting needs.
Most studios charge an hourly rate. Try to determine how many models you want to see and how much time you’ll need with each of them so you’ll have a rough estimate of the amount of time you’ll need to book.
Promote Your Casting
You must promote your model casting call once you have a place to hold it. Placing a casting notice on an industry website is one of the more popular ways to promote, but you first have to consider whether you want to hold an open model casting call or an invite-only casting.
If you want an open call, include the casting date, time, and location in your post. Give as many details as possible about the project and the type of model you’re looking to hire. For instance, are you looking for a fitness or plus-size model? The casting notice should also be specific regarding age, ethnicity, and other model specifications. If you don’t get clear with precisely what you envision for your project, your open casting call may quickly turn into a cattle call full of people who don’t fit your brief.
Including the project timeline and pay rate is also a good idea. You wouldn’t want to find the perfect model for the job only to learn they are unavailable or out of your budget.
On the other hand, you could choose to hold an invite-only casting call. If you prefer an invite-only casting, leave out the casting call date, time, and location in your post. Instead, ask the models to submit their materials directly to you so that you can vet them beforehand. If you like what you see, you can follow up with an invitation to attend the casting at a specific time. This helps manage the flow of models at the casting and ensures those who attend are the right fit, allowing you to make the most of your time and energy.
Request Models
In addition to or in place of placing a casting notice, you may request models directly from talent agencies. If you want to work with a talent agency, you should cold call them and give them a model brief with details about your project. The brief should include information about the brand, project dates, budget, model specifications, poses, and any other relevant information. The agent will then contact the models they feel are suitable for the project.
If you want more control over your casting call, you can also reach out to models yourself. At InnoVision Talent Agency, you can browse our online roster for model portfolios. You can then contact us if you want to meet with one of our models or to learn more about them. You know what you’re looking for best, so we allow you to have complete creative control of the casting process.
Hold a Casting Call
Once you’ve placed your casting notice or requested models through a talent agency, it’s time to hold your casting call. Be sure to collect a comp card or contact information from each model who attends your casting. If they brought their book with them, look at it to see examples of their past work. This should give you a sense of their style and versatility.
Take a few test shots to see how they look and feel in front of the camera. It’s also a good idea to engage them in conversation during the casting to get a feel for personality. Learning as much as possible about each model will help you make a more informed casting decision.
Make Selections
Once you’ve held your casting, it’s time to make your selections. Try to do this as soon as possible since the models will still be fresh in your mind immediately after the casting.
In addition to the models you’re interested in hiring, you should select a few extras. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly, and a model may be unavailable for the job at the last minute. So place a few models on hold. These models will be on standby until other models commit to the job. Once you have the models you need, you’ll notify the on-hold models or their agents that they’ve been released from the project.
Interested in finding a model who’s the perfect fit to represent your brand? Our best advice is to work with the talent agency that represents them. Partnering with the right talent agency can make model castings fun and easy. Interested in working with InnoVision Talent Agency? Reach out! We simplify the model casting process so it runs smoothly and successfully.