How to get cast on a reality show
To get cast on a reality show, apply through the show's official casting page, send a short video that shows how you talk and what you want, and keep your social media public and current. Casting producers pick people with a clear story and a strong point of view who can be the same person on camera as off it.
How reality TV casting works
Most reality shows find people in three ways. They take applications online, they run casting calls, and casting producers search social media for people who already have an audience or an interesting life.
Big shows such as Love Island USA, Survivor and The Bachelor post their applications on official casting sites. Those pages say who can apply, how old you need to be and what to send. Use the official page. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply is not a real casting team.
After you apply, a casting producer may ask for a video call. Then come more interviews, background checks and, for some shows, a medical or psychological check. The whole process can take weeks or months, and most applicants never hear back.
What casting producers look for
Casting producers are building a group of people who will make each other interesting. They usually look for:
- A clear story. Something is happening in your life right now: you are opening a business, leaving a job, looking for love, fighting with your family.
- A point of view. You have opinions and you say them out loud.
- The same person on and off camera. They want to see how you talk at home, not a version of you that performs.
- Energy that fits the show. A dating show and a cooking competition need different people.
What to put in your application video
Keep it to two or three minutes unless the show asks for something else. Film it on your phone, in good light, somewhere quiet.
- Say your name, age and where you live in the first ten seconds.
- Tell one real story from your life that shows who you are.
- Say what you want and why you want it now.
- Show your world: your home, your work, the people around you.
- End with why you would be good on this show in particular.
Do not read from a script. Casting producers watch hundreds of videos a week and can tell when someone is reciting.
Mistakes that get applications skipped
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| A long video with no story | Lead with the most interesting thing about you |
| Private or empty social media | Keep your accounts public and post about your real life |
| Applying to every show with the same video | Make a short video for each show you apply to |
| Acting like a character | Talk the way you talk with your friends |
| Paying a stranger to get you cast | Apply only through the show's official page |
Or make your own show
Waiting to be picked is one way onto TV. The other is to film your own life and post it where people already watch. Business owners, coaches and artists do this because a show about their real work brings attention to what they sell.
RealityShow.com makes reality shows about real people who have a business, a skill or a message. A 90-day season includes five or more episodes of 3 to 10 minutes each. Shows in production now include Always Amazing, Scam Rescue TV, Spiders Ink and The Gusti Show.
If a network casts you, the network owns the show. If you make your own, you own the episodes and the audience you build with them.
Questions
Do you need experience to get cast on a reality show?
No. Most reality shows cast people with no TV experience. Casting producers care more about your story and how you come across on camera.
Does it cost money to apply to a reality show?
No. Real casting teams do not charge you to apply. If someone asks for money to get you on a show, do not pay.
How long does reality show casting take?
It depends on the show. From the first application to a final yes can take weeks or several months, and most shows only contact the people they want to move forward with.
Can I make my own reality show?
Yes. You can film your own life or business and post the episodes on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. RealityShow.com produces these shows for business owners, coaches and artists.
Tell us about your business and your story. We will tell you what show we would build around it.
Get your own show