Quick Summary
Getting cast as a model or actor today takes more than just talent. In a competitive entertainment industry, casting directors are increasingly seeking performers who bring key soft skills—like adaptability, emotional intelligence, and professionalism—to every audition. In this guide, discover the top traits that give aspiring models and actors a real edge.
Adaptability
As much as performers can aspire to reach the very top every single time, not every model can always be the star of every show or campaign, and not every actor can have a guaranteed leading star role in every single project they appear in.
By choosing to use their talents to tackle versatile and diverse opportunities, performers can increase their value and the amount of acting or modeling job chances realistically available to them, as well as their overall marketability. Casting directors search for actors and models who can not only meet the specific requirements of the overall project with ease but also are able to be flexible when it comes to potential changes during the various stages of production.
It is likely that this skill will be tested during auditions by the casting directors through various tasks. Adaptability implies that the respective performer is confident and ready to face unexpected challenges, as well as adjust their performances based on the received feedback and instructions.
Emotional Intelligence
While actors and models get their scripts and instructions for every project, there are some less obvious things that they just have to figure out on their own by using their emotional intelligence.
Amongst those things is grasping the deeper subtexts of the story they are meant to tell in a campaign, play, film, series, or other type of project. Another one is creating an emotional connection with their character by learning to understand the emotional impact the story is meant to have on it.
It is a skill that the casting staff values highly, as it enables artists to deliver a more nuanced performance that can resonate with audiences more.
Open Mindedness
Both aforementioned soft skills are hard to imagine without an actor or model also being open-minded. Without being stone set on a certain interpretation of acting or modeling, the performers are able to be flexible with their craft, and willingly adjust their performance if receiving constructive feedback or even criticism, to the point of even taking reasonable risks to enhance it.
As acting or modeling projects tend to differ dramatically from one gig to another, it is essential for creatives to be open-minded due to multiple inputs being involved each time, especially with the performer not having the final say.
This valuable quality ensures that a model or actor's performance ultimately may fulfill the vision of directors, designers, writers, and other various professionals involved within the creative team for a project.
Collaborativeness
This leads up to the next soft skill on the list. As mentioned above, the majority of projects involving actors or models will include plenty of other industry professionals. That may include virtually every member of the staff, from directors and producers to photographers and stylists, as well as performing in direct collaboration with fellow peers cast in the project.
Due to the collaborative nature of the job, one of the primary casting directors is always trying to find out if the candidate is able to effectively work together with others. The ability to communicate, respect fellow colleagues, and contribute to an overall positive working environment can really make or break your chances of getting cast.
Trustworthiness
It would be hard to imagine a healthy collaborative environment if a key member of the cast does not take their job seriously. Casting directors are seeking performers who are willing to follow production rules, including showing up on time, thoroughly learning and preparing their parts, and trying their best overall.
You probably have heard of actors or models who have been known as difficult to work with over the years. While that sometimes may end up being sort of stuff of legends for stars in the media, it is the exact opposite of what the casting staff is looking for and can jeopardize the morale of the whole team.
Professionalism
While trust takes time to build, it is very much worth it. It ends up building performers' reputations as a true professional, and word about it does spread around fast within the show business industry.
The first steps towards it start already when applying to the casting call and accurately fulfilling the requirements for the application. It continues at the auditions by arriving on time and being prepared for the part. The show business industry is known for its tight schedules, so a candidate potentially causing any sort of delay is a major red flag to the casting directors.
The first impressions do wonders but it is up to actors and models to continue to live up to them once they get the respective gig.
Resilience
There can be numerous setbacks for actors and models as they are looking to get cast for a project. The most common one probably is receiving criticism from the casting directors. While it normally should be constructive, it still is likely something that performers may feel uncomfortable with - everyone prefers to rather be praised instead, of course.
By receiving criticism gracefully and maintaining a positive attitude towards the casting process, as well as when possible also making adjustments based on it, the candidates can prove to the casting directors they are resilient, thus being appealing to continue to work with further.
Creativeness
A lot has been said about following rules and instructions but casting directors are not looking for a robot either. In such creative environments, industry professionals are constantly looking for new ideas, unique points of view, and perspectives.
When appropriate, actors and models should not be shy to express their thoughts about their roles and potential improvements to them to the casting and production staff. It can allow performers to not only stand out amongst the competition but also show they are already prepared to be fully invested with their tasks at hand.
Communicativeness
Yet, it may get hard to express those creative ideas, as well as other thoughts and opinions, if the casting call candidate is struggling to communicate with the casting directors. Effective communication promotes better collaboration between everyone involved in a project, so it is no wonder why this skill, both verbal and non-verbal, is thought of highly when looking to cast actors or models.
A candidate who is strong at communicating with staff and their peers during the auditioning process on and off the stage is likely to be also good at other things necessary to succeed, including aforementioned adaptability and collaboration.
Positivity
Being enthusiastic about the whole ordeal is a big deal. As mentioned previously, casting directors value those actors and models who are able to contribute to the overall positive atmosphere, yet it all begins within themselves.
By being already excited about the opportunity to go out and try to get the gig, performers are in an excellent position to get the other nine skills right in front of the casting directors. Seemingly another day at the office may end up being just the opportunity you were looking for!
