SO YOU THINK YOU CAN BE A REALITY STAR

How many times have you watched a show like Survivor, The Real World, or Fear Factor and thought "dude, I could do that." How many times have you sat shaking your fist at a contestant on Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune and screamed "you idiot, how could you not know that???" Have you ever thought that you could make it in the world of reality TV?

If the answer is yes, then I'm going to get you pointed in the right direction today.

I met with some representatives from Reality Wanted recently. They handle casting for reality shows, game shows, documentaries, and talk shows. There are, even now, casting calls open for reality shows like Miami Ink, One Week to Save Your Marriage, Nanny 911, and many others. There are even slots open for wannabe game show contestants, and they're even searching for a host for a weekend celebrity gossip show. Reality Wanted deals with casting agents from Mark Burnett Productions, Bunim-Murray, RDF Media, Fremantle Media, MTV, Discovery, TLC, and many more.

While you're there, you can register a free personal profile, upload your pictures, add media files, search casting calls, and set up your account to email you automatically with casting alerts.

But before you go there, here's a list of Do's and Don'ts if you're looking to get cast:

(1.) Answer all questions truthfully. Don't try to answer it the way you think they want to hear. Casting agents are looking for all different sorts of personalities, including yours. So be honest. If you're caught in a lie, it'll probably be all over for you.

(2.) Be available. If you have to reschedule an interview or an audition, chances are you're not going to be cast.

(3.) Per Richard Leist, the casting agent for Fear Factor, "the number one thing I look for is personality. Do not act like someone else. Don't be fake. Be yourself."

(4.) Don't over-think things when filling out your application. If it takes you five hours to fill out the application, you've over-done it. It doesn't have to be the most creative thing you've ever done. This is important, because agents don't have time to read huge applications. Give them the main bullet points, and you can elaborate on them when you get called in for an interview.

(5.) If a video you submit isn't catchy within the first 10 seconds, forget it. If an agent isn't interested after 10 seconds, they will skip your tape and go on to the next.

(6.) Don't do harm to yourself to impress anybody at Fear Factor.

(7.) Agents do not look for and are not impressed by nudity.

(8.) You need photos. One good head shot and one full body shot should do the trick. If you submit an application without both of these, expect it to be overlooked.

(9.) Be comfortable in front of a camera. It will follow you 24 hours a day when you're on the show.

(10.) Always answer interview or application questions in complete sentences. Deborah Tarica of Nanny 911 says: "Sometimes people just answer with yes or no's." She strongly advises against that. After all, they are looking for personalities.

(11.) Be receptive during the interview process. Have lots of energy. Most importantly, be yourself.

(12.) Have your passport ready. Many of these shows require international travel.

(13.) Be punctual. Get to your interview 10 minutes early. Don't be too early, but NEVER be late.

Come to think of it, these aren't bad suggestions for any job interview...

So go register, and when you're the next reality star, I expect a full exclusive interview!