Hi there, and welcome to my blog.

I'm so excited to have this opportunity to share my expertise and experience with you. Since 1998, I've been committed to using the internet to give aspiring actors, dancers, models and singers access to the resources they need to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

As the Founder and CEO of Elite Casting Network, I have developed the most sophisticated and comprehensive casting site on the web. Members of Elite Casting Network have been signed to major agencies and landed roles in major network television shows and blockbuster hits. Additionally, members have found incredible opportunities in modeling, recording arts and more!

I've been in this business for many years and I'm often asked for advice on a variety of topics and issues that aspiring actors, dancers, models and singers face. And I'm always delighted to deliver an informed answer. So I decided to create a blog to help address many of the questions budding stars often have.

I hope you find this blog informative and useful. You can also check out my website, www.elitecastingnetwork.com for additional information and resources like auditions, agent contact information, message boards and more.

I look forward to answering your questions and helping you reach your goals in the entertainment industry.

Committed to Your Success,

Jonathan Parker
Elite Casting Network, Inc.

Casting directors of leading reality television shows on major television networks use www.StarSearchCasting.com to discover new talent!

HOLLYWOOD – Star Search Casting, the industry’s leading casting website is helping its members capitalize on opportunities in reality television to get their shot at the spotlight. A popular resource for aspiring actors, dancers, singers and models for the last decade, Star Search Casting is now one of the premier casting portals where casting directors of today’s hottest reality shows post their casting notices and scout for new talent. Casting executives from MTV, CBS, A&E, TLC and NBC have all used the website to find cast members for today’s most popular reality television series.

Lauren Conrad, star of MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real O.C. and The Hills, is one of the industry’s most prominent examples of how reality television can turn today’s girl next door into tomorrow’s cover girl. Star Search Casting is giving singers, dancers, actors and models the chance to see if the reality television formula can produce the same results for them. The website offers aspiring singers, dancers, models and actors a variety of reality programming options to audition for including appearing as the co-host of a new show starring Armando Montelongo of the popular home makeover show, Flip This House. Other current opportunities on the website include a new CBS reality television show similar to The Apprentice, as well as upcoming seasons of the Amazing Race, Survivor and Big Brother.

“In the entertainment industry, there are many paths to success,” says Jonathan Parker, entertainment executive and founder of Star Search Casting. “We make an effort to provide all of the tools, resources and opportunities that will help aspiring singers, dancers, actors and models showcase their talents and make their mark on the industry.

In addition to reality television programming, the website offers casting notices for major television shows, feature and independent film, modeling, theatre, and dance casting calls. The website also features casting notices for bands and solo artists hoping to land a career in the music business. Each day the website has thousands of roles available for aspiring actors, dancers, singers and models to browse and audition for.

When Elisabeth Hasselbeck appeared on Survivor, she probably never dreamed she’d go on to host The View and become a household name. As the popularity of reality television shows continue to grow, more and more entertainers pursuing careers in dancing, acting, modeling and singing will use reality television as a launching pad for bigger and better opportunities.

To learn more about the reality television casting opportunities currently available at Star Search Casting, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com.

Kate Moss is probably one of the most successful and recognizable models in the industry. She’s modeled some of the world’s most notable brands including Calvin Klein, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Louis Vuitton. In 2007, Forbes magazine named her as one of the industry’s top earners, based on the $9 million dollars she’d earned in the past year.

But there’s something else that Kate Moss is known for – something a lot less glamorous unfortunately. In 2005, a British publication released photos of the model using drugs, which nearly destroyed her. Not only did the model risk her health, and her reputation, but also top clients such as H&M, Chanel and Burberry all dropped her from their ad campaigns as a result.

Modeling is an exciting career that can open many doors to once and a lifetime opportunities that many of us only dream of. But because it’s such a glamorous profession, it can also attract a lot of negative influences that can threaten to tarnish, or even ruin, a model’s career.

In addition to hectic schedules and extensive traveling, models must be prepared to face a number of other issues including drug and alcohol abuse, excessive shopping and partying and eating disorders. Many of these vices are often brought on by constant rejection and lack of steady work, additional factors that models may also have to face.

It’s important that you’re aware of the vices that are out there and that you have a strong support system in order to help you avoid these pitfalls. Talking to your parents, agent and/or manager when the pressures of the industry begin to weigh on you can help you withstand the stresses of the job. Additionally, by making your health and your career a priority, hopefully you won’t have to encounter any of the negative aspects of the industry that many models fall victim to.

Are you ready to explore some of the positive aspects of the industry, including tons of exciting opportunities for exposure? Visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com and check out our casting notices today!

Recently we discovered a scammer who claimed to be from an agency called the 29^th Ave W Group. He said that he was recruiting models for an upcoming modeling competition. When we used Google to research the modeling competition and the agency, there were no websites to confirm the legitimacy of the agency or the competition. When we called the phone number he provided, it was an answering service that doubled as a fax, and made no mention of the agency or the competition. Lastly, while the scammer claimed to be from Washington D.C., we later learned that he was actually in Nigeria based on his IP address.

While we often use the Internet or other sources to investigate possible scams, sometimes we’re simply able to detect a scam based on our instincts. Perhaps the wording in the email seems suspicious. Or maybe the tone causes us to question the validity of the offer. But for many of us, our instincts can be our best defense in protecting us from both online and offline scams. That being said, it’s very important that we trust them.

Last year, the Better Business Bureau received 46 complaints from aspiring models and their parents who had been targeted by A New Concept Modeling and Acting Centre. While many of the victims later said that their instincts told them not to sign with the agency, they still allowed themselves to be pressured into the scam. Some of the allegations against the agency included:

• Charging models more than $2000 for headshots they never received
• High-pressure sales tactics
• Asking models to sign contracts and not providing them with copies of what they had signed
• Though the agency promised them work, the models didn’t receive any calls, auditions or jobs after investing thousands of dollars in the scam.

If you come across an email, newspaper ad, or even a talent scout in the mall and you get a “funny feeling” that something’s not right – don’t be so quick to dismiss it. Had many of the aspiring models targeted by A New Concept Modeling and Acting Centre relied on their instincts, they would have saved themselves a lot of money and a lot of heartache.

For more information about the latest scams and how to avoid them, log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com today and check out our Scam Watch.

If you’re an aspiring model, you probably spend a great deal of time pouring over the pages of glossy magazines, admiring the models that grace the pages. You probably study their poses and their expressions and imagine that one day you too will be featured in some of the industry’s most popular fashion magazines modeling high fashion trends and the world’s most glamorous brands.

Editorial work for a model is one of the most surefire ways to get exposure in the modeling industry. Models who successively book editorial jobs, and appear in numerous magazines month after month are seen by industry executives and decision makers as rising stars. This signifies that not only do they have the look of the moment, but that art directors, photographers and fashion editors love to work with them. This can boost your career tremendously and open many doors. Magazines often set the standard for the rest of the industry which means that editorial work in fashion magazines often leads to runway shows, calls from major advertisers, catalog work and other major opportunities.

While editorial work can do wonders for your career, what you may not know is that it doesn’t pay particularly well. In fact, editorial work is one of the lowest paying jobs in the fashion industry. But this is a small price to pay, because as your popularity in magazines goes up, so does your rate and your demand for other types of jobs. Editorial work also helps you to build a phenomenal portfolio.

There’s one other thing you should be aware of. Remember when I said that lots of work in magazines lets others in the industry know that you have the “look of the moment?” Well while this is an exciting time, it won’t last long. Therefore it’s important to capitalize on it. If you aren’t noticing a lot of other opportunities arriving on your doorstep during this time, you may need to give your agent a nudge and urge him or her to get your work in front of industry players. If your agent plays it right, your next stop could be anything from a series of runway shows in Milan to an endorsement deal with a major cosmetics company.

Have you visited Star Search Casting this week to explore our modeling and print casting calls? Visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com for opportunities for fitness, swimsuit, promotional, lingerie, hair and runway models and so much more!

While we pride ourselves on being a resource for aspiring entertainers, there are also lots of Star Search Casting members who have already achieved enormous success. I like to spotlight these members occasionally as a reminder to others of the opportunities that are available in the entertainment industry and how attainable success in this business can be.

Melanie Tillbrook is a Star Search Casting Silver member currently residing in Miami, Florida. Her page has been viewed nearly 60,000 times by casting directors, agents and other visitors. Melanie, like many other Star Search Casting members, has a number of interests and has pursued opportunities in music, dance, acting and modeling. She’s even currently working on developing her own independent music label, Fire House Entertainment.

Melanie has gained a tremendous amount of exposure through the numerous jobs that she has booked. She has appeared in a number of national publications including Maxim, Super Street Bike Magazine, and Sister 2 Sister in both editorials and advertisements. You also may have seen her in the music video for “I Won’t Tell” by Fat Joe and J. Holiday, on the cover of the calendar published by Muscle Mustang magazine, or on The Best Damn Sports Show or the Home Shopping Network. She’s developed an extensive resume, which includes experience in television, music videos, runway shows, calendars, commercials and more. Not only has Melanie pursued opportunities in music, acting, modeling and dance, she’s excelled at all of them! In fact, in addition to singing in the choir at Florida State University, she also studied both ballet and modern dance there and was a backup dancer for Snoop Dogg on the Projekt Revolution Tour. Pretty impressive, right?

In addition to her past accomplishments, Melanie has lots in store for her in 2008, including hosting a local Miami television show called Spread the Word TV. To her credit, Melanie has managed to juggle all of her success while simultaneously attending college to earn her degree in business. We want to congratulate Melanie on all of her achievements and wish her the best as she continues to excel in the entertainment industry!

If you’re inspired by Melanie Tillbrook’s success and are eager to pursue a career as an actor, dancer, singer or model, visit www.starsearchcasting.com today to gain access to tons of opportunities that can help to propel your career. You can also browse profiles of other Star Search Casting members who are proving they have what it takes to make their mark on the entertainment industry!

While a career as a professional dancer is rewarding, it can also be extremely demanding. The toll that it can take on a dancer’s body can often lead to a short-lived professional career. Based on that fact, many dancers often struggle with the decision of whether they should go to college or immerse themselves in their career immediately after they graduate from high school in order to maximize the years their bodies are able to endure the physical stresses of the industry.

While most ballet dancers who have the potential to become professional dancers either join a company or a conservatory immediately after high school, dancers who pursue other types of dance including modern, hip hop, and lyrical have more flexibility in their decision. This decision is usually made after weighing the pros and cons and making a decision that’s best for the individual.

Some critics argue that the majority of college dance programs are not designed to train professional dancers, and that dancers benefit most from professional experience accompanied by studio classes. Others argue that a college degree helps dancers to prepare for post-dance careers, develop their level of maturity and learn many of the skills they will need to live in cities like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago where there are lots of opportunities for work.

If you’re a dancer and you’re struggling with whether or not college is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have other interests outside of dance that are equally important to you that can be nurtured by attending college?
• Do you have a desire to teach at the collegiate level as a post-dance career?
• Do you think college would be beneficial in helping you learn important life skills and lessons such as meeting deadlines and following through on projects before you head out into the real world?
• Is having a “backup plan” important to you?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then college may be an important step in your journey. However, if you’re still not sure, you might also look into colleges that offer delayed enrollment, which would allow you to take the professional route for a year with the option of entering college the following year. Some dancers also try community college while pursuing their dance career in order to earn credits in a less demanding setting.

If you’d like to explore professional dance opportunities in your area, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com and check out some of our casting notices.

HOLLYWOOD - Star Search Casting has been a leading casting website for 10 years, serving both casting and entertainment executives as well as singers, actors, dancers and models seeking opportunities in the industry. While Star Search Casting has developed a solid reputation for providing casting information for some of the industry’s most popular television shows and feature films, the website is also a leader in providing the most comprehensive database of industry resources on the web. From agents and photographers, to production companies and dance schools, Star Search Casting provides all of the information an aspiring performer needs to get a head start in the industry.

Founded by Jonathan Parker, an experienced entertainment industry executive, Star Search Casting provides all of the essentials for getting started in the industry. “For many, pursuing a career in entertainment can be overwhelming because there’s so much to learn,” says Parker. “In addition to providing singers, dancers, actors and models with casting information, we also felt that it was important to give them access to everything from hair stylists to professional association

s so that they have everything they need in one place to ensure a smooth transition into the industry.”

For most, developing a career in the entertainment industry takes time. And aspiring performers interested in acting, modeling, singing and dancing will have to learn the ropes, and sometimes even get additional training, before they are ready for stardom. To help aspiring performers along the way, Star Search Casting guides them with critical information in their community forums, supplemented with comprehensive lists of contacts and resources organized for easy access.

“I wasn’t introduced to modeling until I was in my early 20s, so when I decided that I wanted to pursue it as a profession, I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do,” says Amy Reynolds, a Star Search Casting member. “However, at Star Search Casting I was not only able to find lots of modeling casting calls, but I was also able to get a list of photographers, agents, fashion stylists, makeup artists and even books which were all extremely helpful.”

Star Search Casting is committed to ensuring that aspiring actors, dancers, models and singers have all of the tools they need to become successful in the entertainment industry. To learn more about how Star Search Casting helps its members make their mark on the competitive entertainment industry, visit http://www.StarSearchCasting.com today!

• Meet and keep in touch with as many people in the industry as possible
• Find as many organizations and events as you can that are related to your chosen career. Be sure to attend them regularly.
• When you meet others in the industry, ask lots of questions. You never know what you'll learn.
• Be able to communicate what types of opportunities you're looking for so that others will know how to help you.
• Learn the art of following up. If someone gives you a business card, contact them the next day. Never wait days or weeks, giving them the opportunity to forget who you are.
• Share information you've learned with others. When you help others, they are likely to help you when they know of opportunities that would benefit you.

• Approach your job on set with the same dedication and drive as you would any other job you've had or an important school assignment. Listen carefully to everyone on set, follow directions and be patient if you're required to wait for long periods of time.

• If there are celebrities on set that you're not working with directly, it's often best that you don't approach them unless you're directed to or have permission.

• Although people often perceive the entertainment industry as being fun and laid back (which it can be), there are still rules that must be followed. Always arrive on time, or better yet early, even if you've heard that most productions don't begin in a timely manner.

• Don't take it personally if members of the production crew are short with you. Working on set can mean long days at a hectic pace. Under these circumstances tension and stress levels often run high.

• Make the most of it. This is a great opportunity to learn. Watch the pros and see how they do it. There's nothing like firsthand, on-the-job experience. Soak it all in and you could be well on your way to mastering your craft.

I was checking out some of the latest posts on the site and there are so many great opportunities for singers. I've met a lot of aspiring solo artists who have experienced difficulty landing a contract and have become discouraged. If you fall into this category, don't give up. There are lots of ways to climb the ladder of success in the recording arts industry.

The bottom line is that landing opportunities in any area of the entertainment industry can be a challenge. It's rare that anyone goes from singing into their hair brush in the bathroom mirror to winning a Grammy overnight. Most stars will tell you that it can be a long road to success. But if it's really your dream to become a chart topping singer, then you'll be willing to commit the time and effort required to get there.

Often we want to be thrust into the spotlight immediately. But more than likely you'll have to work your way up. One of the most important tools to landing a recording contract is getting in front of the right people - which can be difficult. Sometimes you have to piggyback on others in the industry in order to get to where you need to be. Let me share a few examples.

Find a Songwriter:

Songwriters often look for singers when they are creating demos in order to showcase their work to labels. By singing on a songwriter's demo, when the demo is being shopped, your voice is heard by entertainment executives, artists and producers that could help to propel your career. While you may not be paid for your time and talent, it's a great opportunity for exposure.

Join a Group:

Even if you want to be a solo artist, don't turn down opportunities to be in a group. Some of the most successful solo artists were once members of groups. Justin Timberlake (N'Sync) and Beyonce (Destiny's Child) have sold millions of albums as solo artists, but both began their careers as members of a group. Remember, you want exposure. Take advantage of every opportunity that arises to help you get in front of lots of people and showcase your talents.

Sing Backup:

Singing backup is a great way to get started in the business. You'll get great experience, make great contacts and get amazing exposure. Those three factors could payoff big for you and you could be well on your way to stardom in no time. Many great singers started off as background singers.

When you're working towards big dreams, it's important to have an open mind. Get to know everyone in the business, from the studio engineers to the promoter of your local open mic. Sometimes a strategy that you hadn't considered might be just the thing that gets you in the door.

There are a lot of opportunities on my site for aspiring singers. Check them out and give every opportunity a try. You've got nothing to lose but your day job.

Check in tomorrow to learn how to build your resume and your reel.

When we’re investigating recent scam activity, we often find that new scams are really just revised emails that are being circulated by the same scammers over and over, simply using a different name. Many parents are discovering that this same tactic is used by agencies offline as well. More and more parents are learning that companies who have been investigated for fraudulent activity are now changing the names of their companies to avoid detection. This tactic now requires parents who are researching reputable opportunities for their child actors, models, dancers and singers to dig even deeper to make sure that the agencies and industry professionals that they work with truly have their children’s best interest at heart.

StudioKidz was an agency in California that recruited children for acting jobs, often in stores such as Wal-Mart and Target.  The agency was accused of charging exorbitant fees for classes and training. Later it was discovered that the agency didn’t have a license and therefore was never able to legally book acting jobs for any of their clients. When parents began to report the agency to consumer action agencies, the owners decided to change their name to TVKidz so that parents who looked them up online wouldn’t come across the large number of complaints that had been filed against them.

However, it wasn’t long before parents begin to discover that TVKidz was the same agency as StudioKidz, which prompted the owner to change the name of the company again to CommercialKidz. Additionally, she even changed her own name. A watchdog group who has been following the agency’s activities has now found information that suggests the owner may even have a previous criminal record.

So you see, you can never be too careful when it comes to researching agencies or industry professionals who have expressed an interest in you or your children. It’s unfortunate that there are so many individuals out there that lay in wait to take advantage of those new to the industry. However it’s important that instead of being discouraged, that we simply do our homework each and every time and stay focused on our goals.

Be sure to log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com each day to review our Scam Alert. We will continue to keep you posted on the latest scam information affecting the entertainment industry, as well as strategies you can use to make sure you don’t become a victim.