Is It Time For New Headshots?

Ever wonder what kind of an impression your headshots are making on casting directors? Your headshot is your passport to the role of your dreams. So if your headshots are not a good reflection of you and your personality, or the quality of your headshots is poor, it may take you longer to get to attain the level of success you’d hoped for. Whether your photos are outdated, or simply not the best reflection of your personality, new headshots are often just what an aspiring entertainer needs in order to land the auditions and the roles they have their hearts set on.

But how do you know if it’s time to take new headshots? Consider these questions:

• Does your photo look natural?
• Does your photo reflect the way you look now (and not five years ago)?
• Is your photo a clear shot of you, without distracting objects in the background?
• Are you looking directly at the camera?
• Does your photo convey the right image for you?
• Are the clothes you’re wearing in the photo contemporary?
• Did you use a professional photographer?
• Does your photo conform to industry standards?

If you’ve answered no to any of these questions, then you may want to consider taking new photos. Ask friends in the industry (or other Elite Casting Network members) to help you select a professional photographer. It’s also critical that your hair, makeup and attire help you portray an image that will grab the attention of casting directors the moment they set their eyes on your photo.

Once you’ve taken your photos, don’t rush to the printer. Make sure you have several people look at your proof sheet and offer their opinion on which photos are the strongest. Once there’s a consensus, you’ll be in a much better position to decide which photos would help you get the best results.

A headshot that accurately portrays your personality and lets your charisma shine through is the first step towards success in the entertainment industry. Check out some of the head shots posted on our members pages by visiting http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com. You can also get referrals for photographers in your area by posting to our community forum.

How To Avoid Choosing The Wrong Audition Song

If you’ve checked out our auditions lately then you may have noticed that there are several musicals seeking talented men and women to join their casts! Theatrical classics like Show Boat and Hair and two original musical films are just a few of the posts perfect for Elite Casting Network members who are great at both acting and singing!

Have you ever auditioned for a musical and afterwards you think to yourself, “Why on earth did I pick that song!” Selecting a song for an audition can be a challenge - especially if you’re new to auditioning. Here’s a checklist that you can use to eliminate song choices so that you don’t make the costly mistake of picking the wrong song for your musical theatre audition.

Don’t choose a song…

…If it doesn’t resonate with you. You should really like the song, and enjoy singing it in order to perform it well.

…If portions of the song are out of your range. If during practice you can’t consistently hit all of the notes, pick a new song.

…If it’s not in a key you can sing in and you aren’t able to have it transposed. Don’t assume that the pianist at your audition can transpose music on sight.

…If it doesn’t show off your vocal talents.

…If you have trouble remembering the lyrics.

Once you’ve eliminated songs that aren’t a good fit, begin keeping the songs that are well suited for your voice and for musical theatre auditions in a well-organized notebook. You can also keep your headshots and resumes in the notebook so that you’re always prepared when you arrive at your audition.

Ready to sing your heart out? Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today and check out some of the auditions that we have posted on our website. You can also connect with other members in our community forum to discuss other helpful audition tips. Good luck!

So You Think You Can Dance

As the popularity of television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars grows, more and more people are inspired to pursue careers as dancers. We’ve got tons of opportunities on http://www.StarSearchCasting.com for aspiring dancers, so don’t forget to take a look.

As with any career in entertainment, pursuing a career as a dancer can be grueling and competitive. Additionally, the rigorous work involved can take a toll on your body. But if it’s something that you really want, then give it your all and don’t give up.

It’s important that as you pursue your career as dancer that you:

-Continue to take classes and improve upon your technique. Whether you’re auditioning for a dance company, a role in a production, or even a music video, there will be lots of other dancers with as much experience or more. You want to make sure that you have what it takes to compete against the other dancers that you’ll face along the way.

-While your passion may be ballet, or modern, you should still become familiar with a variety of styles. You never know what opportunities may arise and you want to be prepared for any opportunity that presents itself. Even if a job isn’t your dream job, it may open the door to something bigger and better.

- Commit to a healthy lifestyle. Many dancers feel pressured by the weight requirements that accompany many opportunities in the dance community. While booking your dream job is important, your health is your number one priority and you shouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.

- Consider teaching or choreographing as well to supplement your income in between jobs and auditions.

- Consider living in a major city where there are large dance companies and production companies with lots of opportunities.

There are lots of dance auditions on our website. Check them out today. You could be pirouetting on a stage near you much sooner than you think!