Even though Garrett Lawson says he’s only seen five episodes of the television series “Mad Men,” he’s on track to have a real shot at appearing in an episode of the show.

It started with a text message from the Kansas University senior’s mother after a visit to a Banana Republic store. There, she spotted an advertisement for a contest, and her son took it from there.

The online contest has nearly 3,000 entrants competing for the chance to appear on the show, and fans vote on the winners. The top 10 men and the top 10 women vote-getters will be judged by the AMC show’s producers, with its executive producer making the final call on who gets in.

He submitted a photo of himself dressed as one of the show’s 1960’s-era advertising executives — the theater voice major said he used a costume from a show he appeared in at KU, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

Admitting he enjoys the show, but is probably not the its biggest fan, Lawson said much more interested in the opportunity it could give him in the acting world to make contacts, and at the very least, get a line on his resume.

“You have to do a lot of hard work,” he said. “You’ve got to be open to knocking on doors to get your foot in the door.”

These days, Lawson, works hard to gain more and more votes. As of Tuesday afternoon, he was in fourth place overall — and third among all the men — with more than 71,000 votes. He uses a Facebook group, friends and extended family to help keep the momentum going.

“My mother will walk up to complete strangers in parking lots and ask them to vote,” said Lawson, who is from Bixby, Okla. “She’ll even ask waitresses to go vote.”

Voting will continue through 5 p.m. Sept. 17. You can view Garrett’s photo and browse the other popular entries.