Notes: For the New Face
Castings, Go-Sees & Auditions
What happens at a go-see, and how to handle it professionally.
In short: What really happens at a casting or go-see, how auditions work for new models, and how to handle each one professionally.
What to wear and bring
A go-see is brief, and knowing what to expect beforehand makes it far less nerve-wracking. The unofficial "model uniform" works well here, a fitted plain top, dark slim jeans, clean skin, and minimal hair styling, with heels or boots in your bag rather than worn on the way there. Bring a portfolio if requested, physical or on a tablet, along with a physical comp card listing your current measurements.
What actually happens
Expect a brief interaction, often 30 to 60 seconds, consisting of a short walk, a few basic photos taken there and then, and a handful of simple questions. This isn't a full conversation or an interview, it's a quick, practical assessment, and that brevity is completely normal, not a sign it went badly.
Hand over your comp card, thank the casting director, and leave promptly. Lingering or asking for immediate feedback isn't standard practice and can come across as uncertain rather than professional.
Self-tapes and video castings
Follow the slate instructions exactly, stating your name, height, agency if you have one, and location clearly at the start. Use natural light, a plain, neutral backdrop, and make sure you're properly framed in the shot before recording. A rushed or poorly lit self-tape undermines even a strong look.
Doing several in one day
It's common to have multiple go-sees booked back to back, sometimes across different parts of London. Build in real travel time between them, arriving flustered or late undoes the polish of the "model uniform" instantly. Keep touch-up basics on you, and a change of comfortable shoes for getting between locations, saving the heels for the door of each casting itself.
The questions asked tend to be simple and practical, availability for the job dates, whether you have any visible tattoos or piercings not shown in your digitals, and sometimes a basic read of a line if it's for a video or commercial casting. None of it is designed to catch you out.
Hand over your comp card, thank the casting director, and leave promptly. Lingering or asking for feedback isn't standard practice.
A Few Questions