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Casting and go-see prep

Tell us what kind of casting you have and get a checklist made for it: what to bring, what to wear, what usually happens, the questions worth asking and a timeline for the day.

Private to this browser. Ticks and times are saved on this device only. Nothing is uploaded. Use "Clear my ticks" whenever you like.

1. What have you got coming up?

Pick one. You can switch at any time and each list keeps its own ticks.

2. Optional: when do you need to be there?

Add the time and your travel time and the day-of timeline fills in real clock times.

Self-tape helper

Framing and sound, done simply

Most of this comes from Spotlight's self-tape guide, written for actors but just as useful for a model's commercial or introduction tape. Any instructions in your brief come first.

Framing

  • Film in landscape, not portrait, if you're using a phone. Spotlight, 2026
  • Put the camera at your eye level and keep your eyeline close to the lens. Spotlight, 2026
  • Frame a mid-close shot, chest to the top of your head, unless the brief asks for something else, such as full length. Spotlight, 2026
  • Use a plain background; Spotlight suggests grey, and a bedsheet on the wall works. Spotlight, 2026
  • Light from a large, soft source in front of you, never a window behind you. Spotlight, 2026

Sound

  • Keep background noise to a minimum. Spotlight, 2026
  • Stay close to the phone for the best audio, unless you have an external microphone. Spotlight, 2026
  • If a friend reads lines or asks questions off camera, keep them quieter than you. Spotlight, 2026

Sending it

  • Don't send too many takes. If it isn't working after three, pause, then try again. Spotlight, 2026
  • Name the file with your name first, then the project. MP4 is the safest format. Spotlight, 2026
  • You shouldn't be asked to buy props or turn your home into a set, and you should never be asked to self-tape nude or partly nude. Equity, CDG, CPMA and PMA code
Safety first, every time

Before you go anywhere

Never pay to attend

"You should never pay to attend a casting," says Ford Models. In the UK, agencies cannot charge models upfront fees for finding work, and the US FTC calls any agency asking for money to represent you a scam.

Ford Models, 2026 · GOV.UK, 2015 · FTC, 2025

Take someone with you

BFMA's advice on open calls: never attend one unaccompanied or outside working hours, and call the named agency first to check it is real. A friend or chaperone is welcome at a genuine casting.

BFMA, 2025

Share where you'll be

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust suggests telling someone where you're going and who you're meeting, checking in before and after, and agreeing a code word so a quick call can get you out.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust, 2026 · 2026

Real agencies say they never ask for nude or lingerie photos (IMG Models, Next, checked 2026). If something feels wrong, you can leave.

Check an offer in Scam shield Safer shoots checklist

Honest limits

  • General guidance. Your brief, your booker and the agency's own instructions always come first.
  • Casting styles differ by city, client and agency. We list what our sources describe, not a universal rule.
  • Self-tape tips come from guidance written for actors (Spotlight, and the Equity code for scripted drama). They translate well, but they are not model-specific standards.
  • Fee rules quoted are UK law plus US consumer advice; other countries have their own rules. This is not legal advice.
  • No checklist can make a meeting safe. Trust your instincts and leave if you need to.
  • Ticks and times live in this browser only.

Sources

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