I will be auditioning for The Biggest Loser in Nashville, TN on Saturday, March 13. Honestly, I wasn’t going to audition, but then Holland Striplin with 3 Ball Productions sent me a V.I.P. pass for the audition. The only benefit of having the pass is not waiting in line. Usually at these casting calls there are a lot of people that form a really long line to get in for an interview. I will be able to bypass the line.
Past Experience with Auditions
Back in December I auditioned for a new unnamed ABC weight loss show. The page is still up for the show: http://www.3ballproductions.com/weightlossproject.html I had to create an audition video for the show. Here’s my edited version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC0j8fpbdYw I edited out some personal information, footage with my shirt off, and added the two interviews at the end. I posted this video on my blog back in January and forgot to mention that the little girl that I pick up and talk with is blind. That’s why she feels my face and comments on “no whiskers”. Her name is Emma, and she is the most precious child in the world. Back to the audition video, I didn’t make it past the first round of the auditions for the ABC show, but I learned so much from that experience.
I didn’t have any time to really prepare for that video. My buddy Hal told me that he saw mention of this ABC weight loss show on his friend’s Facebook page, and he wanted me to try out for it. So he helped me create the video for the audition and I forwarded the video over to Ms. Striplin. After sending the video I was both excited and impatient. I wanted to know if I was going to be on the show. After a couple of weeks, Holland called me and said that I wasn’t chosen to advance to the next round. Honestly, I was heartbroken for a little while. I remember being disappointed over the phone with Holland when she broke the news to me. I get silent when I’m upset, and I remember her telling me the news, and I just remained quiet. Of course I thanked her for calling, but besides that, I wanted to get off that phone. I cried for a brief moment (after the phone call), but after about 10 minutes I got over it. I was thankful for the opportunity, and I didn’t regret trying out
Winning the Lottery
The ABC show had approximately 2500 people audition (my best guess, I don’t know the actual numbers). However, The Biggest Loser has approximately 250,000 people audition. Because of the large numbers, I have to think of getting on the show as trying to win the lottery. There are basic common-sense things that can be done to have a good audition, but overall the choice ends up being what the producers are looking for. It’s kind of like HR going through a gigantic pile of applications and filtering out what they are looking for.
A Good Audition
I’m researching online how to have a great audition. So far I’ve watched the faq videos provided by the casting directors, and they suggest that applicants be themselves, dress for success, and don’t be nervous. They are really looking for personality.
The Process
From what I’ve seen online, it appears that the first audition interview is a brief, less than five minute Q and A. The goal of the first interview at the casting call is to be called back for a second interview known as a “call back”. (All this stuff is new to me.) In the callback, they sit you in front of a camera and conduct an interview. I believe this interview will be a little longer than the first. My guess is the footage is for the producers to look at. I don’t know what the process is after the second interview, but I hope to find out. 
Getting Ready for the Interview
I’m trying to find the questions that’ll be asked at the interview so I can prepare for them. I know one of the primary questions is, “Why do you want to be on The Biggest Loser?” I am going to search for blogs of past contestants and find out what the whole casting process was like, and also see if they blog about some of the questions that will be asked. There have been some folks from Alabama on the show, and I’m going to try to get in touch with them to find out what their whole casting experience was like. I may end up creating another video because we can go to a casting call and also submit a video.
Emotional Preparation
I learned that the casting process is a major emotional drain and is very stressful. The casting people mentioned that in one of the videos. So, this time around I have some time to emotionally prepare.
First, I have Danny training me, which is going very well, by the way. My plan is to follow Danny’s lead on my training, and no matter what happens, continue my training. If I don’t make it on Biggest Loser, I’ll keep plugging away with Danny. If I do make it, I’ll keep training with Danny up until the filming in May, go do the show, and when I get back, I’ll keep plugging away with Danny. No matter what happens, I’ll still be training with Danny and, of course, blogging.
Links
Here are links to all the information on casting for The Biggest Loser:
http://www.thebiggestlosercasting.com/
http://www.youtube.com/blcastingteam <<< If you watch the videos, they tell you about all of their (the casting people) facebook pages and twitter accounts.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Los-Angeles-CA/Holland-Master-Caster-Striplin/168398720984?ref=ts <<< If this link doesn’t work, search for “Holland Master Caster Striplin” on Facebook.
Meet Up
If you are going to the Nashville casting on March 13th, please let me know. I would like to meet you!!!!! Send me a message through the contact section of my blog.
More To Come
I will be blogging all about what info I find about auditions. Also, I’ll have pictures and videos from the audition. – Finally, I will be tweeting from the auditions, so be sure to follow me on twitter.
Good Luck
If you are auditioning, I wish you the best of luck. Be yourself and do your best!!!!
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
good luck stephen! I hope you get it.
Okay, this might be putting the cart before the horse, but try to get on Bob's team and try really hard not to fall below the yellow line.
Good luck! You have such a great personality, I hope you make it through. Might be a good idea to check out Pete Thomas' blog. He has a lot of good information in terms of the interview process and do's/don'ts!
Good luck!!! I watched your vid and wow, I just want to hug you! Just know that even with a slip up (we've all had them) you're working hard and you've worked your ass off, and even if you don't make it, you WILL succeed!
Good luck! I hope you make it.
Oooh, fabulous! Good luck!
Looking forward to reading about it all
Thank you, I will definitely check out his blog.
What's the yellow line? I know this is bad, but I've only watched aprx. three episodes of the show. I was going to buy the seasons on DVD, but they aren't available.
Good Luck! I auditioned a couple years back… but now wouldn't qualify, even though they're coming here to Albuquerque for the first time ever. Am thinking of going just to offer encouragement to those who don't make it. The audition alone changed my life.
I hope it goes well for you!!!!
I'm curious, how did it change your life? That's awesome that you might go to support others.
Two years ago I went to the Biggest Loser open casting call in LA with my daughter. At that point, I figured that TBL was going to be the only way I could lose weight, and if I didn't make it on the show, my life was pretty much over. I was over 300lbs at the time, my daughter above 250. We got to talk to a lot of the other teams there trying out… women who were actresses and size 16 who just wanted to revamp their media careers… and the women directly behind us, weighing in at about the same as we did, who were also pretty sure that they had no future if they couldn't get on the show.
During the interviews, I was sandwiched between the two. The look on the woman next to me's face was so hopeless and bewildered as the former actress on the other side of me started going on and on about the horrors and pain of being a size 16.
I left certain that I'd get on the show… the woman next to me left certain she didn't. But then neither of us did. I spent the next month at my gym certain that Bob was going to burst through the door any time and whisk me off to the ranch… and of course that never happened. But instead of giving up, it made me realize that if I had the gumption to be on the ranch, I darn well better use some of that gumption to get myself healthier.
I'd lost a little (about 60lbs) but knew I needed to lose more, and that my diet and exercise plan, while helping me with general health, wasn't taking the weight off. It was realizing that if I were desperate enough to believe I was going to the BL ranch, that I was desperate enough for gastric bypass that made me take the next step.
Now, 165 lbs lighter, I'm still not done with my journey, but I'm further down the road than I was. It was that experience that made me wake up to the spirit and conviction I already had inside me to make a change in my life.
You can watch them online
I love your story. Thank you for sharing.
I felt the same way when I auditioned for the ABC show. I felt that it was going to solve all of my problems.
I'm glad that you're doing well. I know you must feel a whole lot better now than you did when you auditioned.
Thank you.
Good luck..love the show… hope it goes great for you =)
Hi Stephen! I'm going to be in Nashville too on the 13th for the audition. I will definitely be on the look out for you. I'm planning to be in line at 7 am as I'm sure most everyone else is too. How did you get a VIP pass? I'd love to chat more via email to compare notes before Saturday.
Kristi
Stephen, I went to the Biggest Loser audition in Tampa on Saturday, March 6 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. I arrived at 6:50 am to find people in line. I hurried to get in line to get my place, so I wasn't able to see where the line began and how many people were in front of me. A bit before 10:00 am a member of the audition team came around handing out papers for us to fill out. It was a 1 page version of the Biggest Loser application. They wanted that paper only and pictures of you. I was shocked to see I was 207 in line. With high hopes I stood in line and made some friends. It was about 12:00 pm when we got to the tent where the auditions were being held. They had two people doing the interviews and they were taking 10 people at a time. By the time we got to the front of the line, our group 200 to 210.,they took a short break to gather their thoughts and regroup. We could see they had already has applications separated and were hopeful we would be among the ones to be chosen to come back on Sunday.
The woman started out telling us her name and how long she had been doing this. To trust her instincts on knowing what they were looking for. She then told us to send in a video tape because all video tapes were watched and some of the contestants were chosen from their tapes alone. Be natural, show your personality. If we didn't receive a call by 6:00 pm tonight, then we would not be needed on Sunday. But to send in a tape. Then she went around the table asked us our names and what we did for a living. By the time we did this the audition was over and time to leave. I was so upset. How could she see my personality, how competitive I was and how likely I would be to keep the weight off by just 30 seconds of talking to me.
I was interviewed by the channel 8 news along with 2 others. On the news they showed the groups before us being asked questions and more interaction going on. At that time I became sick. I want this so badly, I need this.
A friend I met in line and I have thought about going to the Nashville audition hoping that they would see how much we really want this. The problem is I can't afford the cost of the gas, hotel and food. Cynthia is able to do some, but she has no one to watch her kids. Plus there is the 12 hour drive, missing work on Friday so we can be there well rested to do our best. If we do get the call back on Sunday, then there's the 12 hour drive home and work on Monday. Cynthia could not do the audition in New Orleans that happens to be 2 hours closer. For me, the struggle is the money again.
What happens if we do go to another audition and it goes just like the Tampa one? Now we have spent all this money and are no closer than we were before.
At this time, I don't know if we will be there or not. I'm going to start blogging my story. I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you on Season 10.
Did you get called back on Sunday? I hope so.
If I were you, I would mail in a tape as they requested. Have fun making the tape.
I had a blast making the one for the ABC show.
Remember, even if we're not picked, they are filming this twice a year. So, in 6-8 mos. they will be having more auditions. Never give up!!!
Have you auditioned for the show before?
Thank you,
Stephen
Stephen, I didn't get the call back. I cried all the way home. Standing there waiting for my turn I felt like the cast from Chorus Line ” I really need this job. Please, God, I need this Job.”
As I looked at my picture, one taken for this audition since I have not let anyone take a picture of me since my wedding in 2000, all I could think about was what happened to me. I didn't recognize the person in that picture. Was this really me? I again thought of Paul, the character in Chorus line where he says “Who am I anyway? Am I my resume? That is a picture of a person I don't know. What does he want from me? What should I try to be? So many faces all around and here we go I need this job, Oh God I need this job.”
I made the 6 pm news with 2 others. Here is the link. http://www2.tbo.com/video/2010/mar/06/many-peop…
If you look at my Face book site you will see pictures of my family, friends but none of me. I want to be healthy and smaller so I can be in those pictures too. If I were to die today, my daughters would have nothing to remember me by. The only pictures I have of me is my wedding and a few of me holding them after they were born 6 and 4 years ago.
I'm going to blogg. I will put up pictures.
Thanks for your kind words. I hope you do make it.
If I were you, I would make a video and try to include that clip from the news!!!!! That was fantastic. Your a mom that cares enough to go do something about your problems!!!! Also, be proud of yourself. You did good, and remember your pledge!!! Never give up!
i just found your blog doing research for the casting calls, im planning to go to the call in Los Angeles on sunday, and im so excited an nervous. from what ive been reading im terrified i wont stand out in the 45 seconds they could give me. im looking forward to the adventure of it all. Good luck with your audition and maybe ill see ya on the next season!
Good luck to you too!!!!! Thank you.
I was supposed to have went to the casting call but everyone backed out on me at the last second, I'm still sending in the video tape but I really wanted to go to the open casting call.
I'm glad that you're still sending in the tape
Good luck!!
I was just wondering if anyone on here got a callback from the open casting call. My friend and I are making our video tonight, I am so excited and can't wait to get it sent in.
No one that I know got a callback in Nashville, however I did speak to a couple of people in Nashville that were have been called back before. Good luck on your video. Have fun!!!!
Good luck…. I do have a question…. They say no lining up until 3 hours before the specific time… Do people line up way before?