If you're like me, then you've sat on your couch for the last 48 seasons of Survivor, yelling at the players for making the wrong move and complaining to anyone who will listen that you could definitely outwit, outplay, and outlast.
But maybe unlike me, you've yet to actually audition for the show you love so much for one reason or another—nerves, fear, time. I did and while I haven't made the show (yet! Jeff Probst, I'm still planning to see you in Fiji, eventually!) watching the show became more and more fun knowing that me playing could actually be a reality one day.
How to audition for Survivor
There are certain requirements to apply, the most standard is that you must be at least 16 years old and be a U.S. or Canadian citizen with a valid passport.
On a deeper level, they are looking for diverse people with interesting stories who are in excellent physical and mental health, able to cope with the extreme change in environment and stress surrounding the nature of the competition.
According to a waiver that I signed at an open call last year, they are searching for the following:
- Strong-willed
- Outgoing
- Adventurous
- Physically and mentally adept
- Adaptable to new environments
- Interesting lifestyles, backgrounds, and personalities
Once you decide, you check those boxes and feel like you know how to pitch yourself, there are two ways to audition.
Submit a video online
This is the most common way people toss their hat into the Survivor casting ring. As Jeff says every week, just visit cbssurvivorcasting.com and send in a video. There's basic information there, like what season they're currently casting for, and an FAQ page you can reference.
But most importantly, there's a link to the video of Survivor's Casting Director, Jesse Tannenbaum, telling you exactly what they want to see in your audition video. Seriously, this is the best Survivor audition advice you will ever receive because it's coming from the person who helped create the credentials for casting.
Too long, didn't watch? The most important thing to remember when auditioning is authenticity! They aren't looking for a comedian auditioning all their different characters; they are looking for people who can clearly explain why they would be good Survivor players.
And on the technical side of things:
- Video should be around 3 minutes
- Film it horizontally, not vertically
- Application needs to be prepared in one sitting
- Have a clear photo of you and your video ready to go before starting
But if you're not the biggest fan of technology or feel like you can't shine filming your own audition tape, there's one more option.
Open Casting Call
Throughout the year, local CBS affiliates host open casting calls across the country. A chance for fans to pitch themselves in 60 seconds. While you're still being recorded, there's at least a person behind the camera that you can feel like you're talking to, so it's a little more of a human-to-human interaction than submitting a self-tape.
When I went last year, Ciera Eastin (Survivor: Blood vs. Water; Survivor: Cambodia; Survivor: Game Changers) was there to offer advice and answer questions. Right before I stepped in front of the camera, she told me to open with a statement that would make the casting team want to watch the rest of the video: "They have your name, age, and city on your application—what sets you apart from everyone else here?"
And even though I did not get a callback, I have to say that attending the open call was one of the highlights of my year. Not only did I get to meet a Survivor legend, but I met so many people who love the game just as much as I do. The hours we spent sitting around waiting for our name to be called were used to discuss our favorite seasons, players, moves, and play out how we would win. It was a blast! Every Survivor fan should attend at least one open casting call in their life!
Don't just sit there! Go audition!
That's it! That's everything you need to know to get started on your Survivor audition journey. If you're still feeling ill-prepared, feel free to check out your favorite players on social media. A lot of them have posted their own audition videos of their advice on auditioning that others have used to get on the show.
Best of luck! And maybe I'll see you on the island!