If you haven’t already, take some time to study the basic structure and rules of the show you want to try out for. Having a working knowledge of how the game is played will make you more likely to emerge victorious. It will also allow you to focus on the task at hand without having to stop and think about what you’re doing.  For example, “Mental Samurai” is a hybrid trivia-physical challenge show that gives contestants 5 minutes to answer a dozen increasingly-difficult questions while being rotated 360-degrees at high speeds in a specially-designed capsule.  Newer game shows sometimes put out open calls for contestants for their first broadcasts. In this case, it may be impossible to acquaint yourself with the rules or put together a sound strategy before your appearance. Game shows often use auditions or interviews to identify potential contestants who have what they’re looking for. For competitive shows, your audition may take the form of a short test or mock round of gameplay. In other cases, you may simply be asked a few questions designed to make you think on your feet. Do your best to be ready for whatever the show’s producers throw at you.  Many game shows that choose their contestants from the audience “at random” actually conduct brief interviews with each member of the audience prior to taping.  Auditions usually take place well before taping begins, and may be held somewhere other than where the show is taped. You’ll learn more about the audition process if and when you receive a callback for your contestant application. Ratings are a game show's bread and butter, and producers are always looking for the most interesting, entertaining, or outlandish contestants. Whether you sport a funny costume, sing and dance in the line to get into the venue, or tell jokes that crack up the show's crew and audience members, being as entertaining as possible will help you make more of an impression on the people in charge of selecting participants. Think on your feet and do your best to offer witty, humorous, or amusing responses during your audition. If you can catch your interviewer off guard, you're as good as in. If your application is approved and you pass your audition, you’ll have the chance to be featured as a contestant on your show of choice. The time between the final phase of your audition and your televised appearance could be anywhere from a few weeks to over a year, depending on the show's popularity and the number of other people who qualify.  You’re not guaranteed a callback, even if you successfully make it through your audition. It’s not uncommon for game shows to recruit more contestants than they actually use in case of casting disputes, scheduling conflicts, or cancellations. Be sure to bring a book with you on the day of your taping. You could end up waiting 8-10 hours to be called onto set.

Summary:
Familiarize yourself with the format of the show. Make it through one or more rounds of auditions. Do something to make yourself stand out from other contestants. Be prepared to wait up to 18 months for a callback.