Got a message last week from a new model asking if she really needed to attend go-sees anymore, or if she could just send her digitals and be done with it. “Seems like a waste of time when everything’s online now,” she said.

I get it. When you can send a comp card and portfolio to fifty clients in five minutes, trekking across Sydney to stand in a room with twenty other girls for a thirty-second meeting feels archaic. But here’s the thing — the go-see isn’t dead. It’s just evolved.

What’s Changed

Ten years ago, go-sees were non-negotiable. You showed up with your book, you waited, you met the client or casting director for maybe two minutes, they thanked you, and you left. Sometimes you’d hit six or seven in a day if your booker was ambitious.

Now? Maybe half the castings happen digitally first. You submit your materials online, they narrow it down, and only the shortlist gets called in for a physical meeting. It’s more efficient, and honestly, it’s better for everyone’s time.

But the in-person meeting is still happening. It’s just happening later in the process.

Why Clients Still Want to See You

Here’s what you can’t get from digitals: presence. How you move, how you hold yourself, how you are in a room. Whether you’re nervous or confident or somewhere in between. Whether you take direction well. Whether you’re professional or a potential nightmare.

I’ve seen models who look incredible in photos but somehow don’t translate in person. And I’ve seen models who are pleasant-looking in stills but absolutely magnetic when you’re in the same room with them. Camera lies both ways.

For editorial work especially, clients want to know if you’ve got something beyond the physical. Can you take direction? Will you bring ideas? Are you going to be interesting to work with, or are you just going to stand there waiting to be told what to do?

That’s impossible to assess from a PDF.

The New Go-See Format

What’s interesting is how the format’s changed. The traditional “show up, shake hands, leave” go-see still exists, but there’s a lot more variety now.

Some clients want to see you move — walk, turn, pose naturally without direction. Some want to chat for ten minutes to get a sense of your personality. I’ve heard of castings where they ask you to bring an item that represents you, or to wear an outfit you’ve styled yourself.

It’s less transactional than it used to be. Less “here’s my face, hire me” and more “here’s who I am, let’s see if we’re a fit.”

Digital Go-Sees Are a Thing Now

Then there’s the hybrid approach — the video call go-see. It became common during lockdowns and some agencies and clients never went back.

You’re on a Zoom or Teams call, they can see you, you can have a conversation, and you can show different looks or outfits without anyone having to travel. It’s not the same as being in person, but it’s better than just sending photos.

I’ll be honest, I think video call go-sees work better for experienced models who know how to present themselves on camera. If you’re new, the in-person meeting is still more valuable because you can get immediate feedback and coaching.

When You Should Push for In-Person

If you’re going for a big campaign or a job with a decent fee attached, try to get a face-to-face meeting. Yeah, it’s more effort, but it’s also an opportunity to stand out. Everyone can send a PDF. Not everyone shows up prepared and professional.

For runway work, in-person is usually required anyway. Clients need to see how you walk, and no amount of video does that justice.

And if you’re new to the industry, take every go-see you can get, even if it seems like a long shot. It’s practice. You learn how to present yourself, how to read a room, how to handle rejection gracefully. Those skills matter.

The Real Reason Go-Sees Still Matter

Here’s the part nobody really talks about — go-sees are networking. You meet bookers, photographers, stylists, casting directors. You become a face they recognize. You build relationships.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard a casting director say “I don’t have anything right now, but I’ll keep her in mind for something later” after a go-see. That doesn’t happen with a digital submission. That happens because you made an impression in person.

The modelling industry runs on relationships. Always has, always will. And you don’t build relationships through email.

How to Make Go-Sees Worth Your Time

If you’re going to do go-sees — and you should — do them properly. Show up on time, bring your book if requested, have your comp card ready, dress appropriately. Know who you’re meeting with and what kind of work they do.

I’ve seen models rock up to high-fashion editorial castings in activewear and a full face of Instagram makeup. That’s not confidence, that’s just not paying attention.

And for what it’s worth, I reckon showing up with a bit of research goes a long way. “I saw the campaign you did with X last year, I thought it was brilliant” — that costs you nothing and it shows you care enough to know who you’re talking to.

There’s a consultancy I’ve worked with on a few AI-related projects in the industry called https://team400.ai, and they’ve done some interesting research on how casting directors make decisions. Turns out the in-person impression carries more weight than people think, even when digital materials are strong. The unconscious bias is real — we trust what we see in person more than what we see on screen.

Bottom Line

Are go-sees still relevant? Yeah, they are. But they’re not the same as they were, and that’s probably for the best. The process is more efficient now, more respectful of everyone’s time, and honestly more interesting.

If you’re a model who hates go-sees and wants to do everything digitally, you can probably get away with it. But you’ll be limiting yourself. The best opportunities still involve showing up and being memorable.

And if you’re going to show up, show up properly. That never goes out of style.