Video Advice for the Hopefuls

Season Four Auditions begin this weekend! Although we have not posted any messages from our BPR "hopefuls" we have an in-box full of questions:

"How long is the wait?"

"What time should I arrive?"

"What is next if I make the first cut?"

"Will my model be able to change?"

"Is there a bathroom?"

One designer didn't realize that he would be asked to send a video if he made it through to the "next round." So I thought it would be fun for BPRs to present our suggestions for an engaging video. I'll start...

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Advice From Nick Verreos

Hi Laura:

As someone who had the privilege of judging last season's hopefuls in the Chicago Castings, I think I can give you some first hand experience from a "judge's" point of view (as well as from an Instructor of fashion design!).

1) First impressions are VERY IMPORTANT, you need to LOOK THE PART. Dress stylish, "cool/hip" , coordinated yet still professional. Certainly not a suit, but let's just say: Don't look like a fool. Pretend you are meeting with the head buyer of Barney's NY or Saks Fifth Avenue and you want to sell your line to them.

2) Don't lie on the application! You REALLY do need to know how to sew, do patterns, drape, and sketch. If you lie and get in because of your "personality", you will crash and burn when it comes to those challenges. You really do have to make a gown in 8 hours. There are no "petite mains" sitting in some workroom waiting to sew your garments! (If you lack in the any of these departments, you may want to begin taking some lessons ASAP! Or at least get to know what glues work best on fabric!)

3) Bring a PROFESSIONAL model with you, if you are able to. Not your 15 year old cousin from Tarzana who took modeling lessons at Barbizon. Not a Drag Queen (one designer hopeful did this in Chicago!) It helps the judges to see one of the garments on someone. It was my "secret weapon"!

4) Keep the cheerleader and dance-number costumes you "designed" for your daughter or sister at home! As well as those patchety-patchwork vest and bedazzled sweatshirts . Please. Have a well edited, well made three garments/outfits.

5) Make sure the pieces you bring have a common theme and are not "all over the place": Example: A "Christmas Sweater" here and then a gown there...

6) Also, remember that , even though the show is about TALENT, it is still a REALITY TV SHOW!! Very important to have some sort of "personality". If you are bland, boring, etc. It will not make for "good TV". If you want to go the Santino or Jeffrey route and go there wanting to "be a mean theatening 'character' ", go ahead. I don't like it, but I realize it is, in the end, A TV SHOW, and they need TV CHARACTERS.

7) Try to be humble and take the advice well from the judges. They are experts. Don't bitch back. It doesn't gain you any points. You will just look silly, like those kids on "American Idol".

8) Lastly: DO NOT bring a "Skirt made out of ties" or a "Dress made out of ties", or ANYTHING made out of ties. Tim Gunn (and myself) wanted to reach for the nearset barf bag any time someone walked in with any of those. It's not creative.


As always, Love to you and BPR!!!!!
Uncle Nick

Advice From Malan Breton

We continue our series of "advice to the season four hopefuls" posts. Today we hear from Malan Breton.

Dear Laura,
My advice to the hopefuls is this: Come with a model in your clothes, I did this season one, two, and three and it is the most effective way of showing your clothes.

Be organised and ready, fashion does not wait for anyone. Presentation in the industry is 60 percent of what editors etc are looking for. Also make sure your pieces are made beautifully, construction is key. Also, choose clothing items that best suit your style, be confident when the judges ask you questions regarding your design choices. Be very specific on your thoughts and do not be wishy washy about them. Listen and do not be afraid, the panel wants you to be good.

Present items that the mainstream can relate too, a goose feather dress with hood detail unless done beautifully will only leave the judges to wonder if you are ready for the mainstream market that American fashion requires.I do love couture but there are ways of refining it.

Make sure your portfolio is a real portfolio. Leave your Chinese fans, sunglasses, and other accoutrements at home. Fashion already has a Lagerfeld , A Sonya Rykiel and a Tom Ford, just be who you are. Individuality is key. Believe in your work and who you are, and look like a million dollars when you walk in that room. Save your training clothes for the gym.

Break a leg and a heel and Good luck! I look forward to meeting you next season. I wish you all a very long and prosperous career in this world I love.

Malan Breton

Advice From Robert Best

Robert Best offers his advice to Season Four hopefuls - thanks Robert!
...I don't imagine there is any one formula that is a guarantee, but a few helpful hints can't hurt. Be yourself-this is the most obvious. Be brief. Good editing is the hallmark of the best designers. To that end- know what you want to say, how you want to represent yourself, and do it in a strong and confident way that is easily understandable. No one wants a long story and or song and dance. Let the work speak for itself, the more you have to explain... the more you probably should have prepared. A good portfolio, and well made clothes that define your style are all the ammunition you need. A winning personality is always a plus, but looking at some of the yahoos who have been on the past seasons (myself included) would lead me to believe anything is possible. Keep things in perspective, have fun and remember that win lose or draw, do your best and that is as much as a person can do. Oh yeah, whatever you do....don't bore us, and I should know.
XOXO
Robert Best

Season 4 Advice From Chloe

I have to start out by saying that being a judge on the panel was actually harder emotionally on me then trying out myself. I was extremely excited to see all these great creative forces but there were few and far between. It is very hard to squish someone�s dream in five seconds which we did sometimes but it was necessary. So here is my little humble advice on how to not be "out" before you can even be "in".

Make sure your designs are "current". I am not talking about designs you just whipped up for the tryout. It is more about, can the store sell it this season or next season b/c the design has a sense of style, class, and innovation. Remember, all the panelists are fashion industry experts and they have seen everything, especially what is happening for the next year already. If your aesthetic is the 60's mixed with some rock and roll, then make it the 60's mix with rock and roll for 2007. It has to be "current�.

Make sure it is well made. We eliminated so many designers in less then 5 seconds just based on construction alone. This before you even put the clothes on the rack, we can see that well. PR is about making clothes that look well made in an extremely short period of time. So if you can't construct, stay home and enjoy the season 4 when it comes out.

Do not compare yourself to some well known designer! Once you mention the name, we are going to do the comparison in our head and believe me; you will most likely not be in the lead. Just speak about your point of view, inspiration, and why you should be on PR. Common questions but many came unprepared to answer it. Worst answer for me last audition was �I want to learn". I told her PR was not a class and she will be eaten alive.

Enjoy the tryout experience. When I tried out, I took the opportunity to meet other designers, see different portfolios, good and bad. Where else can you get a few hundreds designers in one location, just sitting and waiting instead of busy trying to sew and create. Enjoy that quiet moment before the storm if you are finally "IN".

Good Luck,
Chloe Dao

Advice From Katy Gerdes

KG: Hmm....let's see. I guess the most important thing I can think of is to be yourself. They will spot a "fake" a mile away. Also, be prepared to back up your work. Have a reason to everything you do and stick with it. Last year Chloe didn't think I was focused or ready enough, but I was able to back up my work with a customer profile and a reason why everything was there in my portfolio and she ended up changing her mind.

More Advice for Season Four Hopefuls!

First from Daniel Vosovic: (Realize that he was not only a finalist on the show but sat on the audition panel as well...)

Laura, I love you. I just finished reading your "Tips for Season 4" write-up and it just became increasingly more hilarious... because it was so darn appropriate. My favorite parts being "Don't bring children's wear, menswear, Civil War reenactment costumes or Renaissance Faire gowns..." Haha! Some horrible memories are rushing back into my head - make them stop! Oh, and that part about not having your friend wear your garment, but having an actual model come with you is a definite boost in the judges eyes. It's no surprise that presentation is crucial, so to have an energetic, beautiful model complementing your unique designs will only help your odds.

As far as offering any additional advice, I really think the only thing not touched on was the strong desire to find those creative talents that not only understand design, but also the bigger picture: branding, styling and the understanding of what would happen if you actually won Project Runway. A lot of people tell me that they would "make great TV", or "I would've kicked a** in that flower challenge"... which is all well and good but the judges cast people who they think could actually win, not just make for good show.

Best of luck to all of you looking to join the ranks of Project Runway alum, it's a beautiful, creative, dysfunctional family... and I love it!

See you in New York,
Daniel xx
Next from Emmett McCarthy: (New Yorkers don't miss his anniversary party on Wednesday!)

BPR has done a great service to the SEASON 4 PROJECT RUNWAY hopefuls.
My suggestions for wannabe contestants are:
Remember this is a competition for the next great American Designer, so have a point of view that is unique and reflects your taste level.

The forms are long and tedious, and the line is long so you might have a chance to fill out the forms but a producer can pull you out of the line at any time. If you can fill it out in advance do so. Also, if you put a reference down, they will call.

Your portfolio and your garments and the way you present yourself are all equally important. If you have talent in fashion, they will see it in your work, let the work be compelling and interesting. This is about fashion and not about theater or costume design.

Good luck ! It was an experience not like any other I had in my fashion career.

Emmett
And just in case you missed the comment from Laura Bennett:

I think I'm qualified to comment here, having been there .
(remember the tall redhead from season 3?)
Make sure your three garments show a point of view, tell a story, or express a clear direction. Be sure to edit your book. The drawings and photos in your book should be an extension of the idea you are presenting. A book with few pages that are to the point will be much easier for the judges' panel to comprehend.
It is important to be yourself. If you pretend to be some wild character that you are not, they will see right through it (remember, those elves are magical.)
Good luck, see you in New York!

LauraB

Note: Yes, our commenting feature seems to have a glitch today! Sorry. Hopefully it will sort itself out. LK

Audition Advice for Season Four Hopefuls

Auditions are right around the corner and we have been there. Well... not actually IN the auditions but there to see the length of the lines and to interview many of the hopefuls. (For those who weren't with us during season two, you can check out more about our coverage of the season three auditions in NYC starting here.)

With absolutely no expertise or qualifications even I could tell that some of the folks just didn't have a chance. So I thought it would be fun this season to put together a series of "advice" articles for designers hoping to make it onto the show. We'll start with the auditions.

First of all, please complete the application form before you arrive. This form is twenty-one pages long, and requires a lot of information that you probably won't have available to you (such as a photocopy of your id) if you wait until you are actually IN LINE to complete it. Yes, we saw people filling out their applications as they waited in line. Also, please follow the instructions carefully, writing legibly and not leaving anything blank. If you get past this first phase of the qualification process, there will be additional forms to complete and more serious contracts for you to sign. This is a big commitment. Are you sure you want to do this?

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