Ivan De Luce/Business Insider
Marius Morariu is the cofounder of Tracie Martyn.
- At the "Shark Tank" casting call, I felt like I was rubbing elbows with 600 near-celebrities.
- I saw pitches for everything from keto-friendly donuts to frozen meatballs and snap-on buttons.
- Most impressively, none of the entrepreneurs seemed that nervous.
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The very first "Shark Tank" episode I watched featured an entrepreneur pitching the Mensch on a Bench.
The Mensch (a Yiddish word that roughly translates to "a person of integrity and honor") was designed as a Jewish alternative to the classic Christmas tradition Elf on a Shelf. And the seeming gimmick had enough potential that the entrepreneur behind it walked away with a $150,000 investment.
From that December night nearly five years ago, I was hooked. Each week, I'd tune in to find out: Who would wind up dead to Mr. Wonderful? Whose prototype would break during their pitch? Who would wind up embracing Barbara Corcoran in a bear hug when she promised to propel them to success?
As a reporter for Business Insider, I've had the chance to interview several "Shark Tank" alums - from the founders of Bombas socks to the high-school sweethearts behind Lollacup - and it always feels like meeting an international celebrity. I mean, these people have been in the tank. What have I done with my life?
Then, last week, dreams came true. I attended an open casting call for "Shark Tank" in New York City, where 600 entrepreneurs (representing about 350 companies) had the chance to pitch their business, in hopes of making it onto the show. That's 600 near-celebrities!
After a few hours there, I felt emotionally exhausted - and I hadn't pitched a thing. Here are the parts of the experience that surprised me most: