What to Expect at Your First Open Casting Call

Your first open casting call is equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. Here's exactly what happens, what to bring, and how to handle it.

Open casting calls are nothing like what most people imagine before they attend one. The reality is more mundane — and more useful — than the drama you might have pictured. Here's a practical breakdown of what actually happens, from the moment you arrive to the follow-up afterward.

What "open" actually means

An open casting call means the client or agency hasn't pre-selected who they want to see. Anyone who meets the basic posted criteria can walk in. This is different from a closed casting, where a booker has already submitted a specific pool of models for consideration.

Open calls are common for new talent searches, campaign-specific looks, and when agencies or brands want to cast outside their usual roster. Major agencies like IMG and Ford run periodic open calls, as do smaller regional agencies looking to sign fresh faces. Some brands hold them directly when they want to avoid paying agency markups for campaign talent.

The competition can be stiff. Depending on the market and who's holding the call, you might be seen alongside 20 people or 300. Plan accordingly.

Before you go: what to bring

Preparation is the difference between a forgettable appearance and one that sticks. Casting directors see a lot of people in a single day, and small details matter more than most newcomers expect.

• A comp card or digitals. If you're signed to an agency, bring your comp card. If you're not yet signed, bring printed digitals — simple, clean shots showing your face clearly, your full body, and a profile. Avoid heavy editing or stylized filters.
• Measurements written down. Height, bust/chest, waist, hips, inseam, shoe size. Clients ask for these constantly, and fumbling to estimate on the spot looks unprepared.
• ID. Required for any job paperwork and often checked at the door for under-18 calls.
• A pen. You'll likely fill out an intake form. Asking to borrow one is a small but real annoyance at a busy casting.
• Something to occupy yourself. Queues can run long. Bring headphones or a book — not a conversation with other models that's going to make everyone around you anxious.

What not to bring: a friend who just wants to watch, a rolling suitcase, or an attitude about the wait time. Casting environments are small and the crew notices everything.

What to wear

This trips up a lot of first-timers who either overdress or show up in something so casual that the casting team can't actually see the model.

The standard advice from most agencies: fitted, simple clothes in neutral colors. Dark jeans, a fitted top, a clean dress. The goal is to show your figure without distraction. Avoid loud prints, logos, heavy layering, or anything that requires constant adjustment.

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