Calling all Ohio singles!
If you're looking for love and a chance to be on Netflix's hit reality dating series "Love is Blind," you're in luck. The show is currently casting singles in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus.
Donna Driscoll, head of casting for Kinetic Content (the company behind the show's production), shares details about Ohio's casting process. The Buckeye State stood out because until now, they haven't searched for cast members in the Midwest. Plus, "Love is Blind" host and boy band star from 98 Degrees Nick Lachey is a proud Cincinnati native.
The online application comprises over 60 questions on marriage and commitment readiness, and applicants are encouraged to upload a 15-second video sharing why they're ready to find love in the pods. The full casting process can take three to six months.
Want to be on the show? Here's what Netflix's "Love is Blind" is looking for in casting Ohio singles.
What is the Netflix show 'Love is Blind' about?
The Emmy-nominated reality series first graced our TV screens in 2020. Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, it follows single men and women in an experiment as they look for love and marriage by dating inside "pods" where they can talk to one another but not see each other.
Over several weeks, successful couples will leave the pods engaged, move in together, plan their wedding, and determine if their physical connection matches their emotional one developed in the pods and see whether love is actually blind.
The upcoming season 7 for "Love is Blind" take places in Washington, D.C. and set to release October 2nd, 2024 exclusively on Netflix.
What will 'Love is Blind' look for when casting Ohio contestants?
Marriage-minded: Someone wanting to find love more than they want to be on television is important.
"I think there's a big misconception that a lot of reality shows cast actors, or there's a script, or we want models and influencers...and that couldn't be further from the truth. We're looking for everyday people who are looking for love," Driscoll said.
Authenticity: The ideal cast member, she adds, should be willing to tell their story and be vulnerable when it comes to making connections with someone on the other side of the wall.
Comfortability: One of the standout qualities include someone who is comfortable in their skin, and can be authentic in the pods.
How to apply for 'Love is Blind' Ohio casting in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland
It starts with the online application, where you answer nearly 70 questions about yourself and why you're ready for love in the pods.
"Kinetic expects all applicants to be honest, and evaluate and prioritize their comfort, mental health, and well-being, above the opportunity to participate in a program or appear on TV," reads a statement to potential participants on the production company's website, which details the process and expectations.
What is the 'Love is Blind' casting process like in Ohio?
Following a successful application, candidates will have a phone interview that takes between 30 minutes and two hours. The next stage in the process involves a virtual Zoom interview with casting producer(s) that can take up to two hours.
"After that, we'll go ahead and present it to our partners at Netflix and Kinetic Content. Everybody involved in the creative side of 'Love is Blind' weigh in," Driscoll said.
Depending on the candidate, the entire casting process start-to-finish could take three to six months.
Why are there so many application questions for 'Love is Blind?'
While the application is lengthy (nearly 70 questions), the casting director notes that "there is a person of the opposite sex putting that much time into their application too," and that the casting team reads every single application.
Driscoll also encourages applicants to complete a 15-second video within the online application. While optional, it allows casting to see why you want to find love in such an unorthodox way, and why you think love is blind.
Further into the casting process, there is a compatibility questionnaire that covers everything that a candidate is looking for in a partner. "We take the compatibility into account when we are selecting the final 30 that would go into the experiment," Driscoll said.
Why apply to 'Love is Blind'?
When asked why it's worth applying, casting director Donna Driscoll's message is simple: You never know unless you try.
When recalling her most memorable moments working on the show, Driscoll said that it is "when there is 'yes' at the altar, and I see a couple that found one another through the experiment…that is, that's the ultimate." So if you're looking for your sign to apply, this might just be it.
