Model casting: how to prepare, what to wear and what to bring

In short

An open call is an agency looking for new faces for itself. A casting is a client or a foreign agency choosing among models who are already signed.
Come without make-up, with clean hair, in plain fitted clothes. Type, proportions, movement and manner are what is judged.
Bring digitals on your phone, accurate measurements, heels if you wear them, a swimsuit if asked and a composite card if you have one.
You never pay to attend. Under-18s take part only with a parent's knowledge.

Castings are the job market of the modeling business: the place where clients, foreign agencies, advertisers and brands meet models looking for work. A casting can be the foundation of a career as a model, actor or dancer.

You will hear the word "scout". In modeling a scout represents a foreign agency at castings. They collect material on the models who interest them, take it back to their agency and answer only after some thought. Never be discouraged if you were not picked: many agencies "grow" their models, watching how they change from one casting to the next.

Casting and open call: the difference

The word casting is used mostly when clients choose from an agency's models. When an agency looks for models for itself, it is called an open call or model search. Agencies run them from time to time, often touring several cities, and anyone who wants to become a model may come.

Type	Who chooses	Who can attend
Open call	An agency looking for new faces	Anyone within the age stated in the notice
Online submission	An agency reviewing pictures and video you send	Anyone; the usual first step today
Scouting casting	A foreign agency's scout choosing for their market	Models invited by their agency
Client casting	A brand, photographer or production choosing for a job	Models proposed by agencies
Go-see	A short introduction to a client with no specific job	Models working in that market
Open commercial casting	Advertisers looking for all kinds of faces	Anyone, non-models included

Agencies post open calls on their sites and social media, and most first rounds now happen online. Upcoming dates are in our fashion calendar, and agencies with their application links are in the modeling agency catalogue.

What different markets look for

When a client comes with specific requirements, or scouts arrive from abroad, the agency invites the models who fit best. For Paris and Milan the classic standard has been a height from about 174 cm (5 ft 8.5 in) and a slim build; Spain and Greece take less slim models; Asian markets such as Japan, Korea and Thailand also work with shorter models.

These figures are a guide, not a rule. Next to high fashion there is commercial, advertising, e-commerce, beauty, curve and mature modeling, where other things count: an expressive face, skin, hair, the ability to act. "I do not fit the standard" does not mean "I cannot work".

What to wear to a model casting

The aim is for them to see you, not your clothes.

Women: fitted black or dark jeans or leggings, a plain fitted top, heels in your bag.
Men: fitted jeans or trousers, a plain T-shirt, neat shoes.
Hair: clean, no spray; bring a hair tie, because you will be asked to show your face with hair pulled back.
Face: no make-up, or lip balm only. False lashes, heavy brows and fake tan get in the way.
Nails: short, clean, no bright colour. See how to paint your nails.
Leave at home: big jewellery, prints, loose knits that hide your shape.

What to bring

Digitals on your phone: face from the front and in profile, full length from the front, side and back. Daylight, a plain wall, no filters.
Accurate measurements: height, bust or chest, waist, hips, shoe size. The size guide shows how to measure and converts between systems.
A composite card, if you have one: you leave it with the client. See the composite card for models.
Your book, if you are already working.
A swimsuit, if the notice asks for one.
ID, water and patience: you may queue for more than an hour.

How a casting goes

A form. Name, age, height, contacts; for under-18s, a parent's contacts.
Measurements. Agency staff measure you.
Pictures. A few simple shots without make-up.
The walk. A few metres there and back.
A chat. A short introduction, sometimes on camera.
The answer. Rarely on the spot. Scouts reply after days or weeks.

Be on time, friendly and willing to talk. At a casting you are turned around, looked over and measured, and you may feel like an item on a shelf. Learn to step back from that thought.

How to behave

Be confident, not stiff. You may be asked to improvise or talk about yourself, so do not freeze. A casting is where you have to shine: nobody notices a slouching, sullen face, however beautiful. A model is a personality first, not a picture.

Do not arrive with a group of friends. One companion, or a parent for a minor, is enough.
Keep your phone in your bag.
Do not open with money; ask what the next step is.
Do not lie about your height or age: you will be measured.
Say thank you as you leave. Agents remember pleasant people.

If you were not chosen

"No" usually means "not for this client" or "not yet", not "never". Too short for one market is exactly right for another. Some people find their own small rituals help before a public moment: breathing, music, a favourite scent. Our sister shop Mind University has essences that the radionics tradition links with confidence and the stage (Charisma) and with tension and calm (NoStress). They are not medicines and no substitute for preparation.

How to spot a fake casting

You are asked to pay to attend, to register or for a "compulsory" photo shoot.
The invitation comes only by direct message, with no agency name, address or website.
The meeting is in a flat, a hotel room or late at night.
You are asked for pictures in underwear or without clothes.
A minor is invited to come alone, or offered work abroad without the parents knowing.
Fast, big money is promised with no contract.

If you see even one of these, do not go. How to check an agency before signing anything is in how to choose a modeling agency.

Preparing in advance

The walk, posture and ease in front of a camera are learned, not inborn. Our model training with the Supermodels team covers the walk, posing, digitals and the intro video, and a casting from the door to the thank-you. If you want to know your strengths and how to show them, start with an image consultation. Travelling for castings? See fashion capitals for models.

Frequently asked questions

What is a model casting?

A selection where a client or a foreign agency's scout chooses models for a job or for their market. When an agency looks for new faces for itself, it is usually called an open call.

Do you pay to attend a casting?

No. Professional agencies do not charge for castings or open calls.

Can you wear make-up to a casting?

Better not. Agencies and clients want to see real skin, features and natural hair colour.

How old do you have to be to attend an open call?

The notice states the age. Under-18s take part only with a parent's knowledge, and a parent signs any contract.

Do you need professional photos?

No. Simple digitals without make-up or filters are enough for a first casting. A professional book is built later, with the agency.

How long does it take to hear back after a casting?

From a few days to a few weeks. No answer usually means a different type was chosen this time.

Sources

Supermodels model agency (supermodels.lt).
Federal Trade Commission, Modeling Scams.
Jurgita modeling agency catalogue.