Audition Locations: Where Auditions Happen and How to Find Them
Where do auditions actually happen? For many new actors and models, that is the first big question. The
Acting · Modeling · Voice-Over
Free, beginner-friendly guides for actors, models and parents. Learn how auditions really work, where to find legitimate casting calls, and how to show up ready.
Find AuditionsRead the GuidesCommercials, background work and open calls cast first-timers every day.
From kids and teens to adults starting in their 40s, 60s and beyond.
Real casting never costs you money. We show you how to spot the fakes.
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Pick the lane that excites you most. You can always add more later.
Film, TV, commercials and theater.
Start here →Print, commercial, fashion and fit work.
Start here →Animation, ads and audiobooks from home.
Start here →The easiest way onto a real set.
Start here →How casting for unscripted shows works.
Start here →A parent's guide to getting started safely.
Start here →Fresh From the Blog
Practical, step-by-step advice for every stage of your journey.
Where do auditions actually happen? For many new actors and models, that is the first big question. The
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Step by Step
Four simple steps take you from curious to auditioning.
Acting, modeling, voice-over or background. Start with one.
A clear, natural phone photo is enough to begin.
Use reputable casting platforms, local theaters and student films.
Good light, steady framing and clear sound. That is it.
Myths vs Facts
"You have to start as a little kid."
People book their first role at 15, 30 and 60.
"You need a certain look."
Stories need every kind of person in them.
"You need expensive headshots first."
Plenty of first auditions need zero materials.
"You have to live in LA or New York."
Productions film in nearly every state now.
Gear Guide
Ring lights, tripods, mics and audition-day essentials we recommend for beginners on a budget.
Shop the Gear GuideLingo Decoder
Walk in already knowing what everyone is talking about.
Fees to register, required photo packages and "guaranteed" roles are red flags. If someone asks you to pay to be considered, walk away.
FAQ
Really. A huge number of roles, especially background work, commercials, and open calls, are cast from people who have never done this before. What gets noticed is showing up on time, being easy to work with, and taking direction without getting defensive. Those are things you already know how to do.
Kids as young as four appear in commercials and family productions, though infants and toddlers are usually cast for very specific needs. The bigger question isn't age, it's whether the child actually wants it. Casting directors can spot a kid who's there for a parent's dream in about ten seconds.
No. Character roles, commercials, and background work need people in their 40s, 60s, and 80s constantly, and there's dramatically less competition in those age brackets than there is for 22-year-olds. Plenty of working actors booked their first job well into adulthood.
Solid colors, nothing with busy patterns or logos, and something that suggests the character without being a costume. Avoid pure white and bright green (green screens), and skip anything noisy, jangly jewelry is a nightmare for sound.
The single clearest red flag is being asked for a significant payment in exchange for a guaranteed role. Real casting never sells parts. Other warning signs: pressure to decide immediately, vague company details, requests for inappropriate photos, or refusal to let a parent stay with a minor. Trust that instinct.
Not to start. Open calls, background casting, student films, and local commercials are frequently non-represented. An agent becomes valuable once you're consistently getting seen and want access to bigger auditions, and a legitimate agent takes a percentage after you book, never a fee upfront.
Ask to start over. Seriously, that's allowed, it happens constantly, and nobody in the room will think twice about it. Casting directors have watched thousands of people blank. What they remember is how you recovered, not that it happened.
There's no honest average, some people book within weeks, others audition for a year first. What's consistent is that the people who book are almost always the ones who kept going after the first several rejections. Volume matters far more than talent early on.
You Can Do This
Start with one guide today. Learn the basics, film your first self-tape and apply to your first real casting call.
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