Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Do You Want to Be a Millionaire?’

If you find yourself answering ‘Yes’ to these questions, then getting onto a TV game show could be your ticket to winning big prizes and having a little bit of fun at the same time.  I’m sure we all dream of being the next Rob “Coach” Fulton, Australia’s first Millionaire winner of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”.

As is always the case, there are some eligibility requirements you’ll need to adhere to in order to qualify to be on a game show and these requirements vary from show to show. The first step of any game show application is to gain admittance into the contestant pool and doing so is easier than you think.

Try these five tips to increase your odds of making it onto the show and into the final round:

1. Know Your Strengths

Picking the best game show for your skills goes a long way toward getting you onstage. If you can’t solve word puzzles, for example, your chances of landing on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ are slim. If you gulp when prices go up, then maybe ‘The Price is Right’ is right for you. Producers try to keep contestants from embarrassing themselves, and make the show entertaining.

Be sure to consider every angle. Even trivia buffs won’t find game shows one-size-fits-all. It would be absolutely disastrous for someone without immediate recall of facts to go on ‘Sale of the Century’, where speed is the premium. ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ would probably be a better choice because there you have unlimited time.

If your skills don’t match up with a specific show, look for one that’s more about risk-taking and luck, such as ‘Deal or No Deal’. You don’t have to know a thing — except when to quit.

2. Be Your (Super-Excited) Self

Producers look for contestants who the audience will either support or vilify. They want the audience to back you to win or despise you to lose. Standing out is also key. Consider the details that single you out as an interesting contestant, whether it’s special talents, quirky family members, an interesting occupation or life circumstances that would be aided by that prize money. It’s likely you’ll have only a minute or two with a producer during your initial audition so turn on the charm as if you were already sitting onstage.

3. Playing the Numbers

Even assuming you’re the ideal candidate for any given show, your odds of getting on vary depending on how often the show airs, its popularity and the number of contestants that appear on each show. Some shows just have a lot more slots to fill than others for example “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” needs just one contestant per show for its weekly broadcast, while “Deal or No Deal” and “Wheel of Fortune” both call in more than 10 at a time to handle a weeks’ worth of shows in a single taping session.

You’ll greatly increase your chances for success by applying for several shows that fit your talents. Getting on one show precludes you from appearing on another for a period of time, but most shows will still keep you in the pool.

4. Review, Don’t Cram

Whether you’re preparing for a contestant test, or getting ready to go on the show, brushing up on current events rather than memorizing niche trivia is a much more efficient strategy. If you feel compelled to soak up more knowledge, go for the almanac rather than the encyclopedia. The format is easier to digest, and the statistic snippets (like the number of feet in a mile) are common in quiz-format game shows.

5. Practice Makes Perfect

Knowing how the game is played, and the lingo that’s used, helps you develop a strategy that can pique producers’ interest. The last thing the producers is someone who doesn’t know the game as it’s not evenly matched. They know that audiences love to watch it come down to the very last minute, where anyone can win.

Religiously watching the show is a good start, but you’ll also need practice time away from the tube. Most shows offer an online version of the game, and often a board game as well. Use both, and encourage family and friends to critique your performance.