Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply do be on this NEW baking show?

We strongly recommend that you fill out the online application form and attend an open call to meet the casting team. This will give you your best chance of making it on the show. You MUST bring one prepared baked item to be served to the judges. You will be given a few minutes to plate your dish at the given casting location, but there will not be a kitchen in which to bake or warm the dish, so come prepared!

You will not be told at the open call whether or not you have been selected to participate in the show. If you are successful the casting team will contact you via phone at a later date.

If you are planning to attend an open call, here is what you need to do:

Pre-register here
Print off, complete and bring the application questionnaire with you. Download the application questionnaire HERE.
Bring a current photo of yourself and a photo of your completed baked item.
Bring your baked item to be plated once you enter the audition room. Make sure to bring a plate and any utensils needed to plate your baked item.

NOTE: There will not be a kitchen to bake or warm up your dish so come prepared! It is your responsibility to preserve your food to avoid spoilage. We advise transporting your dish in a portable cooler to keep it fresh.

Am I what you're looking for?

If you have the passion and talent for baking, and are an amateur baker -- you are encouraged to apply! We are on a nationwide search for non-professional bakers of all ages, types, and styles. Whether you bake cakes, tarts, or bread, savory or sweet -- we want to hear from you!

What are the eligibility requirements?

1) You must be at least 18 years of age or older by February 1, 2013.

2) You must be a legal United States resident.

3) You may never have been convicted of a felony or have had a restraining order entered against you.

4) You may not be a candidate for public office and you must agree, if selected to participate, not to become one until after one (1) year following the initial broadcast of the final episode of the baking show (the “Program”) in which you appear.

5) Neither you nor any of your immediate family members (spouse, ex-spouse, parents, siblings and children) or household members (whether related or not) may currently be or have been, within the past year, employees, officers, directors, representatives or agents of Love Productions (“Producer”), CBS, any of their respective parents, subsidiaries, related or affiliated entities, known major sponsors of the Program, or any person or entity supplying services or prizes to the Program. In addition, any applicant closely acquainted with any person (a “Connected Person”) connected with the production, administration or exhibition of the Program may be deemed ineligible if, in Producer’s sole discretion, the relationship between the applicant and the Connected Person could create the appearance of impropriety.

6) You will need to be available for the Program’s production dates (TBA), and be willing to travel to various locations as part of production.

7) You must be willing to submit to a medical examination, psychological examination and background check, if requested.

8) As an “amateur baker” your main source of income cannot come from commercial baking and/or cooking in a professional environment and you cannot have ever worked full time as a baker.

9) You cannot have any formal baking* or other professional catering qualifications acquired in the last 10 years. However, recreational cooking classes are ok.

*The term "baking" refers to the preparation and oven cooking of flour based goods such as bread, cakes, pastries, pies, tarts, and cookies. It does not refer to other food forms that can be oven cooked, or other methods of cooking.

How do I apply do be on this NEW baking show?

You will not be told at the open call whether or not you have been selected to participate in the show. If you are successful the casting team will contact you via phone at a later date.

If you want to attend an open call here is what you need to do:

Pre-register here
Print off, complete and bring the application questionnaire with you. Download the application questionnaire HERE.
Bring a current photo of yourself and a photo of your completed baked item.

Bring your baked item to be plated once you enter the audition room.

OPEN CALLS WILL BE HELD IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES:

OPEN CALLS ARE COMPLETED FOR THIS SEASON.

How do I apply to be on this new baking show if I cannot attend an open call?

We strongly encourage you to attend an open call but if you cannot we require you to submit a video entry. Please click HERE for detailed video submission instructions. We must receive your video entries before December 15th, 2012 at 11:59 pm (ET) or we cannot consider your application. ATTN: THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED. If you send in a video submission here is what you need to do:

Send us your unedited video via upload or mail (both options are below).
Include a completed application form, available here.
Include a photo of yourself.
Include a photo of your BEST SIGNATURE BAKED ITEM.

Note that if you send a video via mail we will be unable to return it.

UPLOAD (preferred)

STEP 1: Upload your movie up to 5 minute video (we prefer www.vimeo.com) to Vimeo or YouTube
STEP 2: Upload or link to your movie via the online application casting page at http://www.cbsbakingshow.com/web/apply

If you have any difficulty uploading your video submission, please email it to:

cbsbakingshow@gmail.com. In the subject line type: "your name HT LINKS" (Example: "Jane Doe HT LINKS").

MAIL

Casting - CBS BAKING SHOW
1741 Ivar Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

WHAT TO PUT ON THE VIDEO:

Introduce yourself by stating your name, age, occupation and the city you live in. Tell us about yourself so we can get to know you.

BAKE - we need to see you in action. Bake a dish that best represents your style. We also want to understand what baking means to you.

Click HERE for more detailed instructions on what to include in your video.

Should I send in a video submission if I plan to attend the open call?

No, it is not necessary if you attend an open call. We only ask that you send in or upload a video submission to our website if you cannot attend an open call and submit an application form. Please note that we receive hundreds of video submissions so make sure that yours stands out!

After the open call, when will I know if I’m moving on to the second round?

Those who are selected for callbacks will be told at the time of their audition or shortly thereafter. They will then receive additional information about the next step in the casting process.

If I am selected to participate on the show, what is my time commitment?

If you are selected to be on the show, you must be available to commit yourself to the competition and taping of this show for approximately *4-5 weeks, depending on how far you advance in the competition.

*Subject to change.

How many baked items will I be serving at the open call?

You must serve one baked item to the Producer’s food experts. You will not have access to any equipment to heat your food and the dish you choose to serve should be one that can go without refrigeration for several hours. When preparing your dish, please take every effort to preserve your food to avoid spoilage and to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. We suggest transporting your food in a portable cooler to prevent spoilage. You must bring your own utensils including the plate, knives, forks, spoons, etc. You will only be given a few minutes to plate your dish (once you get into the audition room) so bring whatever it is you need to do that!

Please think carefully about the food that you bring, and how you will transport it to the open call, especially if you are traveling from afar. Please also take into consideration that you must be able to carry everything you need into the audition room. No BAKED ITEM, no entry to the open call!

Will I be facing the food experts alone at the open call?

You will be going into the audition room in groups, so we highly suggest you start off with a bang and submit a great application and a stunning baked dish! Producers reserve the right to modify allotted times for auditions at their sole discretion.

Will the baking experts eat every item of food presented to them?

At least one food expert will try to taste every plate of food presented to him or her in the audition room. There may be reasons that a food expert is unable to taste every dish - e.g. allergies, if a food expert determines that the dish is not fit to taste due to spoilage, or if a food expert deems the dish to be inedible!

What kind of baked item shall I bring?

You can bring any baked dish--savory or sweet-- as long you present one item. But remember, you will be evaluated on this dish, so make sure you think carefully about it. Maybe it’s your signature dish or a recipe handed down through generations of your family or maybe it’s you on a plate – whatever you decide to bring, make sure it says something about you! NOTE: WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY BE TRAVELING FROM FAR DISTANCES AND YOUR DISH MAY NOT BE HOT WHEN YOU PRESENT IT. WE WILL NOT BE TAKING TEMPERATURE INTO CONSIDERATION.

Please remember you will have a short amount of time to plate the dish at a table and if you take longer, there is a chance you will be sent to the back of the line.

What should I wear to the open call?

You can wear anything you like, as long as it doesn’t have a logo, photo, artwork, name of a recognizable celebrity, band, or other group, or a product brand name. Wear something that best represents you!

When and where will the auditions be held?

The audition locations will be announced soon; please visit www.cbsbakingshow.com for the most current information on audition locations and times.

Will everyone in line have the opportunity to audition on the audition day?

We would love to audition everyone that shows up; however, this may not be possible due to the tight production schedule. We cannot guarantee that everyone will be given the opportunity to audition, but we will try our best to see everyone that shows up.

If we are unable to see everyone the day of the auditions, don’t worry! We are diligent about getting everyone’s contact information at the open call and will try to follow up with all who attend. We encourage you to apply online at www.cbsbakingshow.com.

Do you charge for the auditions?

No, auditions are free.

Is there a charge for parking at the venue(s)?

There may be a parking fee at the venue. The parking fees are set and collected by the venue manager. We have nothing to do with the parking fees or facilities. It is highly likely that you will have to pay for parking each time you come in and out of the parking structure. For example, if you leave the parking structure to go out and purchase food and then return, you will probably have to pay again.

Will there be anywhere to purchase food and drinks while in line at the audition venue?

Food and drinks will not be available for purchase at the venue, so please bring your own water and snacks. Please be sure to eat something prior to coming to the registration and the audition in order to keep your energy level up. Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and this could be the most important audition of your life!

What should I NOT bring with me to the auditions?

The list of prohibited items below is not exhaustive and even if an item is not listed below, the Producers and security reserve the right to ask you to remove any such item from the venue. People in possession of prohibited items will be denied admission to the line and to the venue, and may be subject to immediate disqualification. All bags are subject to search.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Air mattresses
Alcoholic beverages
Animals (unless health related)
Candles
Cans or bottles (except water bottles)
Chairs that do not fold (e.g., lawn chairs, chaise lounges, molded plastic chairs)
Digital or still cameras (including those on mobile phones and tablets)
Fireworks
Hair dryers
Illegal drugs
Tents
Video cameras, camcorders or recording devices of any kind (including those on mobile phones and tablets)
Weapons of any kind
You may not bring any equipment (heating or cooling) that needs an outlet. Subject to venue restrictions, you may bring battery-operated food prep equipment that can heat/cool food.
No children under the age of 13 years are allowed at the audition venues.

Please note that the audition day will be a very long day with a lot of standing/waiting and it is not a suitable place for young children. Please do yourselves a favor and arrange for childcare if you are coming to the audition. For child welfare reasons, people accompanied by young children may be asked to leave the audition venue.

Please note that audition times and dates, and application submission deadlines, are subject to change as determined by the Producers. All those considered for participation in the Program will be required to submit and sign additional documents (which may include, without limitation, a participant agreement, waiver, and series rules) in order to be considered to participate in the series. If there is any conflict between the information on this website and these additional documents, the documents shall control. The food experts shall be selected by the Producer of the Program in its sole and absolute discretion and the decisions of the Producer is final in all respects.

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!!!

Frequently Asked Questions

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