How to Get on Reality TV

One word: exposure. Make that: free exposure. Generally speaking, to get on television, you have to join SAG-AFTRA. But joining the union isn’t only an arduous process requiring legwork—it’s also expensive. First-time membership fees, in addition to annual dues, add up exponentially, and being a member of the union doesn’t ensure you’ll actually get on television and make enough money to pay off the dues. That’s not to say you shouldn’t join the union, of course, just that it’s a long-term process and commitment. 

On the other hand, reality TV isn't affiliated with SAG-AFTRA, so any talent receives whatever exposure they get entirely free of financial cost. While you may not make a lot of money from being on a reality TV show, the exposure and experience can be invaluable and can open doors to other opportunities in the entertainment industry. Many reality TV contestants have gone on to have successful careers in their respective fields, such as music, fashion, and entertainment. Think Kristin Cavallari from MTV’s “Laguna Beach” or the first-ever “American Idol” winner, Kelly Clarkson.

“The Voice” Credit: Trae Patton/NBC

If you’ve watched television at any time between 2000 and today, you can probably name a dozen reality shows off the top of your head without pause. But there’s a distinct difference between the two primary types of reality TV shows: talent-based and personality-driven. Shows such as “The Voice” and “So You Think You Can Dance?” revolve around a specific talent or skill and are generally competition-based. Personality-driven shows, such as “The Bachelor” and “Love Is Blind,” revolve around human experiences and interactions. Understanding these differences can help you choose the type of show that aligns with your interests and strengths.

Talent-based reality TV shows

• “So You Think You Can Dance?”
• “The Voice”
• “Top Chef”
• “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
• “America’s Got Talent”
• “American Idol”
• “Project Runway”
• “The X Factor”
• “MasterChef”
• “America’s Next Top Model”

Personality-driven reality TV shows

• “The Bachelor”/“The Bachelorette”
• "Love Is Blind”
• “Love Island”
• “The Real World”
• “Big Brother”
• “Survivor”
• “The Amazing Race”
• “The Challenge”
• “Catfish”
• “Squid Game: The Challenge”

Many reality shows are cast through Backstage. On our main casting call page, you can use the “production type” filter to search for reality productions looking for talent like you—and here’s a list of who’s casting right here and now.

There are numerous other ways to get cast on reality television, too. First, most individual shows have a system in place for you to self-submit. “Generally, you should look at the individual shows’ or networks’ websites,” says Gillian Heller, a former reality TV casting producer who found talent for programs “Made” and “Chopped.” “They usually have a casting page where they’ll let you know about upcoming stuff they’re doing. You submit on there.” 

This accessibility makes the dream of being on reality TV more attainable than you might think. For instance, popular series such as “The Bachelor” and “Survivor” have sites that allow possible contestants to apply for the show directly. Netflix’s reality division encourages potential stars to submit a one-minute video showcasing their unique personality in order to be considered for one of the streamer’s numerous series. Heller also notes, “If it’s a project in development, you may get a cold call or even a message on Instagram that will say, ‘Hey, I’m a casting producer on TLC,’ for example.”

Social media has become an increasingly popular—and legitimate—way for casting producers to find the ideal talent. “If reality television is something you’re interested in, and you do get hit up on Instagram or Twitter, always follow up, because more often than not, it’s going to be a legitimate person looking for talent rather than a scam,” Heller says.

Joey Graziadei, ABC’s latest “Bachelor” lead, was scouted via Instagram by “The Bachelorette” producers, for instance, which ultimately spawned his own journey to find love. Heller adds, “Obviously, don’t give anyone your personal information, but that is a very real way that casting producers will find people for shows nowadays: Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, social media in general.” (Apparently, LinkedIn is fair game, too—one person was scouted by the Bachelor Nation CDs on the professional networking site.)

“Survivor” Courtesy CBS

Let’s say you’ve self-submitted and have been contacted by a show, or a casting producer has reached out to you about a potential reality show gig, and you’re taking them up on the offer. You definitely were not hired on the spot, so what can you expect from the actual casting/audition process?

First things first: Those who cast reality television are not the same individuals or agencies who cast scripted productions. This facet of the industry remains pretty separate. The audition process typically involves multiple rounds, including a preliminary audition, a callback, and possibly a final audition. Each round is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills and personality and to convince the casting team you'd be a great fit for the show. It's important to be prepared, be yourself, and stay positive throughout the process.

If CDs are interested, they’ll begin the process by scheduling a preliminary phone interview. This will give them a vague sense of whether or not you could be a good fit for the show. If so, an interview will follow (usually via Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet) with either the casting producer or the casting director. The interview will be the talent’s first chance to demonstrate how they “pop” on camera. “It depends on the show, but it’ll usually be one casting director [or] a casting producer,” Heller shares. “The casting producer’s job is to produce the interviews—there are specific things they know the network is looking for, and it’s their job to get the candidates to give them soundbites. It’s almost a pre-screening of how produce-able these people are going to be.”

This interview will also be the talent’s first chance to learn exactly what they’d be signing up for if they do move forward. “You as the casting producer are not telling them you’re putting words in their mouth, but you’re going to tell them, ‘I’m going to listen to what you’re saying and find a produce-able version,’ ” Heller says. “The casting team will conduct a ton of Skype interviews and they edit them down, then they’re pitched to the network. They may have you do an additional Skype interview.”

You may also be subjected to what are called “greenlights,” meaning either one or two people (a camera operator and a casting producer, or just a field producer alone) will go out to the candidate’s environment and shoot with them for a day. “It’s not extensive,” Heller says, “but that’s when they’ll want to meet your ‘B and C characters,’ meaning those who might be part of your story.”

As the casting process progresses, you should keep in mind that the production company will conduct a very extensive background check on all prospective candidates “to make sure you’re not actually crazy—especially if you’re going to be living in a house with others,” Heller clarifies. “From there, the network will usually decide if they like you enough to move forward and actually cast you on the show, and that’s when you start talking about contracts and compensation.”

You’ll want to impress the people on the other side of the so-called “table.” The table doesn’t really exist in the literal sense when it comes to reality TV—but make no mistake, you’re auditioning throughout this process.

From a technical and logistical standpoint, make sure no external variables interfere with your candidacy. “There isn’t typically an audition room,” Heller explains. “Nine times out of 10, auditions will be those interviews. To stand out, consider your setup: neutral background, very quiet space so you can actually be heard.”

Just as you would for an in-person audition, consider what you’ll wear, how you’ll do your hair and makeup, and how you’ll generally present yourself. Despite the casual semantics, candidates should be highly aware that this is, in fact, an audition. “Don’t wear any labels or product placement [in your interview],” Keller advises. “Avoid stripes and wear something that will make you feel confident. Something that you would want to wear to stand out anywhere. Do your hair and makeup because network people will be seeing this. The best interviews are always the ones where people realize what it actually is: ‘Oh, this is an audition and not just a chat.’ Even though we say ‘this is just a chat,’ this is a job interview, this is an audition.”

Still, Erin Tomasello, a reality TV CD who’s worked on “The Circle,” “America’s Got Talent,” “The Bachelor,” and “MasterChef,” told Slate that potential contestants must be themselves. Early in her career, the CD auditioned for a weight-loss competition series, but found herself saying only what she believed casting would want to hear to no avail. “Don’t pretend to be anybody but yourself. Don’t put on a show,” she said. “Don’t say things you think we want to hear because you think it’s going to help your chances. The magic happens when you’re speaking from the heart and you’re just truly being yourself. I walked out of that interview, and I knew I blew it. I know that if I just would’ve spoken from the heart and been real Erin that they would’ve seen that in me. I can tell when I’m interviewing people when it’s real and they’re really speaking from the heart, or when they’re telling me what they think I want to hear.”

“The Bachelor” Credit: Disney/John Fleenor

Now that you know how to nail your audition from a logistical standpoint, next comes the admittedly less tangible task of figuring out what casting directors want from you. “Honestly, we’re looking for someone who doesn’t have to be prompted to speak very much, who can be guided with questions but they don’t need to be coached to give more than two-word answers,” Heller says. “The more you’re willing to open up, the better.”

Ultimately, reality television and its casting producers seek out people they can produce—people with a story they can use to endear them to the audience. Heller emphasizes that, if you are willing to tread tumultuous waters, it may work to your advantage. “Editing-wise, they can make anybody out to be the good or bad guy on the show,” she says. “If you’re willing to play ball, it’s much easier to get screen time. If you have no reservations about being ‘the bad guy,’ you definitely have a great shot at getting on TV.”

If the producers and networks have deemed you a worthy candidate, congratulations! You’re going to be on a reality show! Now comes the nitty-gritty details behind contracts, NDAs, and other less glamorous aspects not immediately associated with the gig. In the age of social media, there are some rather strict guidelines when it comes to sharing the big news, as your casting usually is not made public right away.

“Most shows will ask you to refrain from posting anything on social media until they clear you to do so,” Heller explains. “That also means you need to be careful about who you tell in that regard, because you don’t know who might post about it without telling you.” Unsurprisingly, discretion is a major tentpole of any contract. “The main thing in the contract, especially if it’s competition-based, is that you don’t share results, you don’t talk about who went home.”

Pitt Entertainment Law also notes that reality personalities essentially relinquish say in how their image is portrayed once the show airs: “The bottom line is that unscripted television contestants will agree to be portrayed in any way that the producer desires and to release liability regarding extreme amounts of risk (physical, mental, and public ridicule).” So if you become the so-called “villain” of the season, you’ll likely have to endure the fallout on social media without recourse for your damaged reputation.

As far as the contracts themselves, they vary project to project, but there are some commonalities. “For projects in development, you’ll usually sign with the production company and not the actual network,” Heller says. “It will probably tie you in for a year, so this way, if that specific project doesn’t move forward, they can get you involved with one of their other projects.”

Accordingly, your contract will likely include a non-compete clause prohibiting work with a competitor. “If it's a contract with a production company, they may ask you to sign something that says you won’t reach out to other production companies to do something similar,” Heller adds. “Even if they don’t sell that show, you’re still bound to that project for a year; you can’t try to do the same show that didn’t sell on a different network.”

RuPaul's Drag Race Credit: World of Wonder/Paramount+

Want to take advantage of your newfound fame by snagging some acting gigs while under contract with a reality production? Well, it’s complicated.

“It depends, because it all comes down to competition between networks,” Heller says. “If it’s a non-competing network, you may be allowed, but it really just varies case to case.”

Additionally, talent should be aware that one facet of the contract also pertains to their likeness. “Part of the contract is always that we can use your face, voice, and likeness to promote the show or the network in general,” Heller adds. “So when they do a generic ABC commercial, they can use something you shot for ‘The Bachelor,’ even if the commercial itself is not promoting ‘The Bachelor.’ That’s written into your contract.”