How To Become a Contestant On The Biggest Loser – Pt 1
Over the next few days I will be posting a series about becoming a contestant on NBC’s hit reality show The Biggest Loser. But this is just a quick intro to give you a point of reference. Personally, I was cast on the show from my casting video. I would comment on how to make a great video but Matthew McNutt has done a great job on that already. Seeing that 95% of all contestants get cast from an open casting call I thought I would give my two cents about that particular process.
Now some of you may be thinking ‘But Pete, you were cast from a video so how can you help me with the Open Casting Call process?’ Good question. That’s why I am giving you this introduction.
Prior to 2008 Biggest Loser had never come to the big, sexy State of Michigan for casting. Then in March of 2008 they came to town. The expectation was that there would only be a couple hundred people with only a few call backs. Well even with a fresh snowstorm blasting the state, along with truly freezing temperatures, more than 800 people from Michigan and all over the country showed up in force. This was the second largest turnout in the country that cycle This was even though the Casting Call was announced with very short notice! Shellay and Amy Cremen were cast from that first Michigan open casting call.
So here is the deal. I have personally been in attendance, from start to finish, at the last two open casting calls in Michigan and I have tried to say hello to everyone in the line. If they have to stand in line all day I might as well stand with them right?
Also, I have tried to make it a point of actually making the call to those applicants that have been selected for a private call back. I truly love the excitement in people’s voice as I inform them that I am calling to schedule them for a call back interview in the next couple days. I also try to give them a couple of tips to get them ready for the private call back 
At the private call backs I have met with the vast majority of potential contestants. I made it my goal to give every potential contestant advice on what to expect at the private call backs. My goal, at least in my mind, is to ease the applicants nerves and allow the ‘real’ person to shine through. I am probably not really needed since the Casting Directors are professionals and put people at ease naturally, anyway. But hey I want to feel like I am contributing
I have actually been in the room with the casting directors during some of their private casting call interviews. That means I have been blessed enough to actually have been on both sides of the casting call camera.
I have met and hung out with, and asked questions of, 4 different casting directors.
The results of the Michigan casting calls have been astounding! Eight – count’em 8 – contestants have made it on to the ranch the last two seasons from the Michigan call alone! I have met them all at the open call or the call backs or both.
Eight! From Michigan!
Am I typing this to brag? Not at all. The things I have witnessed will help you but I have had nothing to do with any contestants actually making it on the show. I do not get paid by NBC or the production company 3-Ball. I don’t do it to be ‘recognized’. Most folk I meet don’t even remember me from way back on Season Two. I donate my time for only one reason; To try to give to others a little of what was given to me. Biggest Loser changed my life and hopefully I can give a couple of tips to others to help them make it onto the ranch and in-turn change their lives.
So over the next few days I will will endeavor to give you the following:
- A brief intro of the open casting call process. How the line works – how much time you have to talk etc.
- The most important things you should know about the open casting call process.
- How to guarantee your will not get cast.
- And a set of tips specifically for the private call back.
So check back over the next couple days and since I am a slow typist pray for me that I get these posts done quickly so folk outside of Michigan can benefit. Although, maybe I should keep them secret since we have such a great record?!
For the whole series of articles click here
Talk to you soon and remember,
There’s a Winner Within You!
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Thanks for the info Pete! Any new tidbits that you picked up working casting calls???
I love your site. Its a great resource, thanks again!
Thanks for the great info — I hope to meet you!
I am excited now knowing that possibly I may have a chance to meet you. =D
“How to guarantee your will not get cast.”
I know!! I know!! I know!!
Wait … perhaps I shouldn’t tell everyone the answer to this one. I’ll be patient and read what YOU say.
Thanks for all of the great info! I am going to the casting call in Chicago and it is in 4 DAYS! Aaaaah! I am soooo excited and nervous! I am definitely praying that a love of typing takes over you over the next day or so! He he he. I find myself so nervous and excited that I am getting a stomach ache! I had a few specific questions…what should we wear? Exciting/creative clothes (Like creative t-shirts), or clean and crisp professional clothes? How many photos should I bring? Head shots or body shots? What size should the photos be?
Thanks for all of your info/help! You ROCK!
Hey Pete, I just had a question. I have tried out five times since season 3 and I finally made it through a casting call and received a call back. The casting director called me on saturday february 21st 2009 about 9:00 PM to inform me that I need to come to a call back. I was so excited that I received a call back that when he was confirming my e-mail address I can’t remember if the one he read to me was correct. I know I put the correct one on my application and that it was legible. However he told me I would receive an email shortly after the call and I never did. I know I am to be somewhere at 1:15PM on Wednesday Feb. 25th 2009, But I am unsure where to go and what to bring. I live in Oklahoma and went to the casting call in Oklahoma City at Toby Kieths Bar and Grill they said the Interview would be somewhere close by the grill. Is their anything I can do or any way to get in touch with them? Please email me or call the casting director and let him know or let me know. I hope I am not being paranoid.
Gary Broyles
What was the casting directors name? Did you call back the number they called you from?
I went to the casting call in Chicago, IL on Feb. 21, 2009. If I was going to get a call back would I have already received one? I just want to know if I should just give up on it. I need this more than anything and havent been this excited about anything for a long time. Let me know. Thanks
Pete, I just had a question for you. I am trying out at the San Diego casting call on March 14th and am wondering if it is possible if I am not big enough? I know season 7 is the biggest season every and am a little worried that I may not be an option as I weigh 210 lbs. I do need to lose a good 60 lbs but am wondering if this is enough? If you could let me know that would be great. Thanks so much!
Pete, I sent you a question about calling the casting director back, I discovered that patients is a vertue. I decided to wait and the day before my interview they sent me an email telling me where to go and what to expect. I had a good time at the interview and hope to make it further. thank you for trying to help me. Wish me luck!
Gary
I meant patience is a vertue, sorry.
gary
Congrats on the call back. I wish you the best of luck.
Richele, your kidding right? 60 lbs?
I was wondering why Canadians are not qualify to apply for the biggest loser show. I myself is a big fan of the biggest loser and is overweight and I feel that this would be the solution for me. I have tried some many different diets and i would lose 10 to 20 pounds and would always seem to end back up my old usual ways. I would love to be a contestant on the biggest loser. to prove to mkself I can do this I’am so tired of living this way. I really do need help
hey they are looking for people atleast 100 pds or more and you will not be big enough
like i am about a 115 over so id be more likely to get on befor you but do i have the look is the question..good luck when you go to a call
Hey Pete,
Someone already posted a question like this, but here goes. I know last season was the biggest ever, so I’m a little worried. Right now I have between 100 and 110 lbs. to lose. This makes me big, but I know I won’t be the biggest person at the July 18 KC casting call. I have plenty of personality, and I am VERY competitive. I guess I’m just wondering…if the casting director had to chose would they pick a bigger fat person with less personality or a smaller fat person with more personality?
Pete,
Sorry…I had one more question. My partner and I are best friends. I know that they said they prefer family members, but Tara and Laura were friends as were Joelle and Carla. Will we be turned away at the casting call, because we aren’t family?