Nov. 05--"MasterChef Junior" is holding an open casting call in Chicago on Dec. 5, so I asked a Chicagoan who went through it last year -- and earned a spot on the Fox television series -- what advice he'd give hopeful contestants.
"The No. 1 thing is to be confident going into the audition,'' says Jack Lembeck, 13, who made it roughly halfway through the third season before being eliminated. "Don't be negative. Be positive. Be charismatic and positive, and try to be nice and outgoing."
Don't forget eye contact. Look at the person, he notes, and try to be comfortable in front of the camera.
"I tried to pretend the camera wasn't there," says Jack, who remembers being asked to chop celery and make an egg any way he wanted to.
"I poached it," says Jack, who began cooking at age 6 and was mentored by Michael Taus, the Chicago chef and restaurateur.
The Chicago open casting session is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Doubletree Suites Magnificent Mile, 300 E. Ohio St.
"This casting call is for kids who like to cook, have an interest in cooking, or just love being in the kitchen," wrote Desphina Vorgeas, the show's casting associate producer, in an email. "It is always a super fun day for the kids and is for all skill ranges. The most important thing is they have fun, and it's a great chance to meet other kids who love to be in the kitchen."
Just how many kids will show up? Depends; the numbers are different each year, Vorgeas said in a telephone interview. "We're aiming for 200 guests."
To have a crack at being on the show, kids need to be 8 to 13 years old as of April 1, 2016, must be a United States citizen or legal permanent resident. Potential junior chefs need to have a parent or legal guardian preregister, have that parent or legal guardian fill out and sign the application form (submit online by Dec. 11, and bring a copy to the audition), and bring a parent or legal guardian to the casting call.
Remember to bring an apron too. Vorgeas encouraged those auditioning to choose an apron "that reflects their personality." Food and equipment will be provided at the audition. And don't be intimidated.
Vorgeas said the cooking tasks required of those auditioning are "not difficult at all."
wdaley@tribpub.com
Twitter @billdaley
