I spent hours in line with 650 people auditioning for 'Shark Tank,' and now I know exactly what it takes to make it on the hit show
- The "Shark Tank" open casting call in New York City drew more than 650 people in one day.
- Hopeful entrepreneurs only had one minute to present, and that short amount of time could make or break their businesses.
- Business Insider spent the day with the pitchers to see what it really takes to land a spot on the hit show.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Every year, the "Shark Tank" casting team holds open calls for the hit ABC show, and hundreds of people line up for the chance to get their big business idea on TV.
Although the initial count during the open call was 400 people, by the time the casting team went home at 9 pm, 650 people had passed through their doors, and they had seen 350 pitches.
The pitchers spend a lot of time honing their prototypes and business models, but they're only allowed one minute to present to the casting team (the Sharks themselves aren't there). The casting team, meanwhile, has the tough task of deciding which pitches are good for the show. What makes a good pitch? According to those in attendance, it's energy, personality, an interesting backstory, and of course, a good product.
Here's what it's like to pitch your business to "Shark Tank."
SEE ALSO: 11 'Shark Tank' cleaning products that are actually useful
The "Shark Tank" open casting call is held at the Javits Center in New York every year. The casting team criss-crosses the country for five months, traveling to nearly a dozen cities to cast each season.
On the big day, over 350 people wait in line to pitch, with many of them bringing along friends and family for support, bringing the total to around 650. Some arrive as early as 6:30 am. Some drive or fly to New York just for the opportunity. The casting team hands out numbered wristbands to everyone while they wait, one for each pitch.
The first group of 100 pitchers waits for their turn. Some rehearse their spiels, some set up their props and prototypes, and some calmly wait (naps are not unheard of).
See the rest of the story at Business Insider