Runway Castings - Drea Vujovic

August 2006

So Toronto Fashion week is coming!!!! yay! *balloons*

You know what that means?
RUNWAY castings for all our favourite Canadian Designers!

So what is everyone looking for? How should you walk? What should you wear? How far do you walk? What kind of turns do you do? OH NO what if you fall?

I remember one of my first runway shows. I had NO idea what I was doing...
It was at Fashion Cares- so you can imagine the kind of shock I experienced walking in to this huge place filled with people from all walks in life.
Performers, drop dead gorgeous models, costumes, clowns (eek!), musicians, TV talk show hosts, a map of how to find my way to the nearest bathroom.
I felt really sick.

How was I going to walk down a 500 foot runway in 4 inch heels and a big dress that weighed twice as much as me?
I finally found the bathrooms... I needed to take my shoes off. I didn’t even look up to see who was in the sink area- I just grasped onto that bright red zipper and attempted to unzip when all I heard was "Honey... once you put the shoes on... you don't take them off... ever!"

I looked up and saw a group full of drag-queens in higher heels than me. My mouth dropped. I was lost. haha.

And then my life... or should I say feet were saved.

I had a few hours until show-time and took advantage of it.
I had the ladies teach me how to walk! Right down the toilet aisles.. back and forth, back and forth.
If you could have only seen their walks. UNBELIEVABLE!
I nailed it... and from this day on I'll never forget those ladies in the sink area:)
My walk transformed.. I took it home.. I practiced everyday... I taught other models.. it was awesome.

Unfortunately... most of us haven't been through this hehe:)

So what can you do to get ready?
A lot.

There is always someone at your agency who knows how to walk like Heather Marks (we love her walk)- because she was like you- tall and awkward and loved only wearing running shoes.

The first thing to do is go out and get a great pair of heels if you don't own a pair.
Get high one's. The higher the better. And make sure they fit you well.
These are going to be your runway practice shoes which means you don't wear them out.

Now before we put these on and break our ankles.. let's educate ourselves.
This has to be my favourite website for runway tips:
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/

I love this place because you can see everything that gets put into a big show.
You'll see backstage, make-up, interviews with models and designers AND most importantly the best models in the world walking down the runway. (this is for women and men- so boys take a look too).

The VIDEO archives are here:
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/videoarchives

select your designer, select your video and watch.

and the FALL 2006 videos are here:
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2006RTW/runwayshows/video so what are you looking at exactly?
EVERYTHING!

- look at how the models are comfortable and professional backstage (in non-mark non-tight clothing)
- look at all the different shows- "flowly" dresses, high boots, big hats, more casual - no this is not one outfit but different styles of clothing have different walks.
- if you're wearing a beautiful dress- you probably won't be walking down the runway fierce and fast- you want the audience to see and feel the way the dress moves, the material etc...
- listen to the music- see how the models walk to slow/fast music (a lot of models hear fast music and run down the runway. Forget about the beat- it's about taking your time down the runway- making sure you showing what you're wearing, you want to get good shots of you at the end of the runway)
- when you're at the end of the runway PLEASE don't run away. I know it's nerve-wrecking if it's your first show.. but this is the only time the show is kind of about you. You want to make sure all those photographers get a good shot of you in that great outfit.
- Stop. Hold for 5 seconds, move your head from the right to the left... and the make your way back backstage (watch what the models do in the videos)
- your designer and team will tell you what they want- what kind of walk, what kind of attitude, where to stop and hold a pose etc.
- you will also have practice- before the show and in your home hallway- because you did just buy those new high shoes!


Now it's time to put those shoes on and use the hallway in your home and walk back and forth over and over again.

Some things I like to remember:

- Come out and pose- you are about to reveal a designers new collection- so stop right when you come out and show them what you got!
- start your walk... you will usually walk down the right hand side for a bit while the other model is coming back up to go backstage and change on the left hand side.
- WHILE WALKING--- hold your head up, your back is STRAIGHT and tall, don't be stiff- flow with your body, take longer rather than shorter steps- if your walking seems a little strange to you- the number one problem (I find) is that your steps aren't long enough- stride!
- once she passes slowly weave to the middle- if you think you can't do this it's okay.
- now you're the the front of the runway- don't sweat! POSE- PAUSE- ABSORB THE FLASHES- FEEL IT!
- hold this for 3-5 seconds and start walking back
- the walk back can get tangled at times- so ask your agent to show you turning techniques- you can see them on the videos too.
- Make sure you pay attention to how you're told to walk- you don't want to be the only model who isn't following the theme
- Once you've come back to where you came out from exit on the correct side and get in your next outfit!
- you will have dressers backstage who will help you change!
- be very nice to these people- most of them are volunteers who are working veryyyy long hours all week, and they are most likely going to be a big part of the fashion industry here in a few years, some even the next big designer or stylist or even photographer. Be nice to them because they love their work- this is why they're volunteering and helping YOU! If it wasn't for them you would have to get dressed yourself (which is almost impossible).
- people backstage will be calling your name to get in line for the next walk.
- so listen up! COMMUNICATE! say "I'm here! I'm almost done! I need more help!"
- get in line and do it again!!!!
- by this point you won't want the night to end- you have officially fallen in love with the runway!

At your casting- do as you are asked:) and if you don't understand ask them.

You may get asked to walk again and again- so give it your all! Walking again and again isn't a bad thing- the designer and team want to see it and remember it. They may ask you to walk slower, or faster or give them more attitude. (don't forget about the longer steps- trust me!)
Your agency will also let you know what to wear to the casting.

This is all I'm going to write on this for now...
If anyone has questions- just ask:)
There are so many wonderful people in the industry who have joined the boards and want to answer your questions- so let's give them something:)

GOOD LUCK and practice as much as you can!