Specific Topics Wanted: How To Be on TV

How To Be On TV

There is no shortage of ways to find yourself on the screen, but first you need to ask yourself "Why"? Do you want 15 minutes or 15 seconds of fame, or are you looking for something more lasting and memorable? Are you willing to expose your life and the life of your friends and family in the process? Do you want to be on a reality tv show, or show your acting skills and star quality?

Assuming you really want to be on TV, open your mind to the possibilities of what you can do, or what you want to be known or remembered for. And in the meantime, have a few professional quality headshots taken, which may be called for in the process. Many online casting calls for reality tv shows require a head shot, and the same is requested for in person auditions for tv and game shows.

Here are 12 ways to get out of your living room and into the living rooms of millions:

1. Search for casting call websites via search engines such as Yahoo and Google. There is no shortage of websites announcing new reality tv shows and audition opportunities. One such site, if you don't mind the pop-ups, is http://www.sirlinksalot.net/castingcalls.html. Whether you want to be the biggest loser (a weight loss related reality show), or be known as the messiest person in America, or want to show off your skateboarding skills, there is something for everyone.

2. Join an email list for weekly casting calls and auditions for realty tv shows, tv commercials and other television programs. Again, you can search these out via online search engines using words such as "reality tv auditions", "tv actors casting calls", "reality tv competition", etc. You can go to Yahoo groups and search for reality tv forums and audition groups.

3. Read the classified section of your local and national newspapers to see what audition opportunities there are. Reality tv shows often advertise under Help Wanted Ads and Talent wanted.

4. Go to www.craigslist.org and click on your city on the right side of the screen and then go to tv/film/radio jobs. Independent film makers, and national and local television studios regularly list opportunities for getting on the big screen and not-so big screen.

5. Consider starting your own tv show via your local cable company, which often promotes local hosts and personalities. You can be a local talk show host or start your own reality tv show.

6. If you have a local human interest story, you can contact your local news station to run a personal piece about something unique you are involved in that may fascinate others.

7. Create a list of all the national TV stations (such as ABC, CBS, NBC, VH1, MTV, Nashville Star) and visit their sites weekly to look for reality TV news and audition and guest opportunities.

8. Visit the database section of TV shows on Yahoo and create a list of all the reality TV shows you are interested in and then join their associated fan sites where you can read the latest news on casting opportunities.

9. Go to your state fair this summer and participate in one of the dozens of contests which you know will be receiving local news coverage. Many contest winners find this type of networking gives them opportunities for appearing on other television shows.

10. If you want to tell your life story on a TV talk show, talk shows abound. Just look for your favorite talk show online and email the company or the producer about your topic idea and why you feel you would be the perfect guest to participate.

11. Maybe you want to set a record in a food eating contest and win some loot to boot? Visit http://www.ifoce.com/contests.php for an ongoing list of the bizarre and wacky of what food you can stuff down faster or more than anyone. Many of these contests travel through several cities looking for a champion!

12. If your are crafty and love decorating, or maybe you need your house remodeled and lack the talent and the funds, there are a number of reality tv decorating shows on http://www.hgtv.com that look for someone who is willing to have a TV crew come to their house and film and sponsor a renovation or spruce-up project.

Now what are you waiting for? Get busy and make your dream a reality. I can't wait to see people lining up for your autograph, or at the very least, the highlight of your life may be just around the corner.