Having watched the reality show The Biggest Loser since season one, I have often thought about submitting an application to be a contestant, however family obligations are such that getting away for the time it takes to actually BE a contestant would put an undue stress on the home front for various reasons but I have been following the diet, exercise principles of the show and having been an online member of the official Biggest Loser Club, I have had the opportunity to share with those who have gone through the application process and even had the advantage of hearing tips and advise from contestants from several of the previous seasons. Here are some tips and ideas for submitting your application or even attending a casting call.
As in most cases, the first impression counts! With the thousands of videos the casting staff for the Biggest Loser has to review, the impression you make in the first 30-60 seconds of your 10 minute audition video will determine what kind of impression you makes as well as giving them a reason to look more closely at what you have to say! Make it count, do you have an exciting or funny ‘hook’ related to your reasons for applying? Above all don’t start with …”Staring into the camera and saying something like ‘Hi, I’m Jane Doe and I want to be the next Biggest Loser.”
On the other hand – forget the ‘special effects’,The Biggest Loser staff want to see you not your super-duper video editing skills! At the most- a simply text frame addition at the beginning that has your name and contact info, then get on with simply being yourself!
Show it don’t just tell it – is a good rule to follow in writing and carries through in video applications as well. Don’t just stand there talking about why you need to lose weight, show how your weight affects you now and what improvements you want to see. For instance, if you want to lose weight to be able to be there for your children, show a segment of you and them playing in a park or a game of tag in the back yard.
Be Active! – Sure you need to lose weight and a lot of if to even make the first cut of choices for the Biggest Loser, but you also need to be able to show that you have enough energy and determination to take part in the challenges as well as the physical exercise portion of the program. Also remember to ‘larger than life’ personalities are what makes reality TV!
Look your best – Remember the initial application and the accompanying video is an application. Should you get chosen, your’ job’ will be to be in front of an audience for 4-5 months! No need to dress ‘formally’ but maybe a new outfit that fits and is neat wouldn’t be a bad idea. Don’t just hang out in those oh so comfy cut offs and t-shirts. Simply having a lot of weight to lose is no reason not to take pride in your appearance!
The Biggest Loser season 7 is another call for couples, specifically ‘family’ couples! Think about your ‘team’ dynamics as well as the fact that hopefully the two of you will be there through the finals. Show the interaction and relationship between you and your teammate in your video. If you don’t have a teammate, you can still submit an application as an individual, there may be some twist that will get you in if you make an impression. Remember Bernie and Brittany from Season 4! They were individuals from the online Biggest Loser Club that got placed together as a team and did very well!
Have a LOT of weight to lose, remember it is the total percent of body weight loss that wins the competition, men with ‘only’ 100 lbs to loss are borderline as there isn’t a huge overall percentage to be lost. Women, for you the ‘borderline’ is 70 pounds. But on the other end of the scales, those with huge as in several hundreds of pounds to lose most likely won’t get chosen as there is a concern for your ability to do the exercise needed to drop the weight.
Attend a local ‘open casting call’ if at all possible – they usually guarantee the first 500 in line will be seen, and even if you don’t you get in, you are encouraged to pick up an application packet and send in a video directly. Attending a casting call gives you a ‘look at the competition’ in a sense as well as the opportunity to meet and talk with others who have been through the process.
Follow Up! -Especially if you attend a casting call and get seen, follow up with a video and a note of thanks at the very least it is a courtesy few will take time to do and it just may remind them of why they need to give you further consideration.
Last but not least – RELAX, Have fun and be yourself and find a way to make it happen. With all the online resources out there including the official Biggest Loser Club online, there is no reason you can’t be the Biggest Loser and win the real prize of an improved and longer life with your family and friends!
To fill out the application and receive further information check out the official website at NBC.com/Biggest Loser.
