Since my daughter was born everywhere I go I cannot count on how many people see my daughter and tell me she needs to be in commercials, the new gerber baby, and so on and so on. I didn't pay much attention because hey we all think our kids our adorable but it is really crazy on the amount of attention she gets. I have over 20 Tru Talent business cards from agents telling me to sigh on with them. After she was a year old I decided I better go with this agency, I felt if I didn't I was doing her an injustice I guess. Signing with Tru has been nothing but a very expensive mess. I will have to deal with that but in the mean time I would like to get my little one into some legit modeling, acting whatever. She has the "personality" for it! Any body have any suggestions?
My friend is a talent scout/agent for a chilren's agency and she told me once that you should NEVER have to pay one penny if they are 'true' and respectful agency.
Sounds like you aren't with the right agency. She works for "Jet Set"...
Good luck!
Hi, S..
I know many parents of kids who are "in the business." It's tricky. You need to be sure that you are up for it. Children can take quite a hit emotionally when they go for an interview and are told, "YOu are not what we are looking for."
For girls, particularly, you can start some issues with eating and body image that are difficult to address.
I'm sure it's all workable, but it does take a skilled set of parents to raise self-assured, self-confident and healthy kids in that environment.
Hi S.,
I have been in the business for 15 years and my daughter is also doing a little bit... Just as a rule of thumb...NEVER pay for anything!!! The only thing that is your responsibility are pictures... headshots, LA Casting, etc.
Remember that they work for YOU!
I have my daughter with Osbrink. They are a big kid agency. Just send in snapshots... they will call you in from that and meet with you and your child.
Two other agencies I recommend are Colleen Cler in Burbank and CESD in LA.
Hope this helps!!
B. : )
I recently heard of this site -
I bet they could help you. Good luck!
R.
The most important thing to remember (for now) is that you should NEVER, NEVER, EVER pay money to ANYONE upfront. When you go to a professional photographer (no need at this point) then of course you pay. A baby doesn't need professional photos. An agent never takes money before a job has been done and paid for. Then they take like 10%. Google, ask around, do your homework before you "sign" with an agent. Ever large city has top legit agencies. Good Luck!
Getting you child into modeling is very like a part to full time job. I am not sure that a working mom can accomplish this without having someone to ferry your daughter around to auditions. However.....if you want to give it a try. You need to google talent agents and see which ones are on the Samuel French agents list. That means they are legit and endorsed by the unions. Then decide which one(s) you want to send a letter to. Make up a letter stating that you are seeking representation for your child and send a photo with it. Hopefully you will hear from one or more agencies and then you can make your decision about who you want to represent you. Hoe this helps. Good luck.
I'm interested too, for my daughter, and I feel the same way you do. Just don't know where to get started.
whatever agency you look into check them first on the better business bureau i almost got major scammed by one of these "modeling agency's" one i found but didnt end up using because my boys got to busy was http://www.babytalent.com/
they didn't ask me for any money!!
As you learned if you make money they make money kind of agencies are the ones you need to stick with. The I make money you loose money are the ones you have to run from because they take anyone with a checkbook no matter what, that is how they make money off the people not off getting them work. So never part with a penny and you will know you are in the right direction. Not even pictures, or anything they have a stake in. Look for auditions on your own for shows or print work and take her yourself. Best of luck to you and your daughter.
Here is a list of real agencies, call before you submit to find out their submission procedures and whether they take kids under 3.
Hi S.,
I can't believe more parents didn't respond along the lines Maija did. The real issues are not just avoiding scammer talent agencies and pagents (of which there are many), but also HOW you could manage your daughter's career while truly taking care of five kids? And even though this MIGHT bring the family some extra money, who would put their sweet young daughter through the child model/actress grindmill anyway?
Please tread carefully, for your daughter's' sake.
since you live in vegas (i checked before i responded) what i would suggest is to get her in a pageant system. the one i reccomend most is california tropics. they are a natural beauty system so that means no make up on babies. they do pageants in nevada arizona and california. my daughter is getting ready to compete in their international finals in september. she also got her first title at tri state in april. this is a fun system to be in the moms and directors are great :). i would check out their web site californiatropic.com also if you look in winners and click on tri state you can see my daughter in the swim suit pictures her name is jaiden and she won the tiny miss division. the site is informative and i think their pageants start up in november after internationals. good luck!
also you are to never pay when you goto a talent agency they are to cover every thing!
I used to model back when god was a boy. The two best ways for finding an agency are a) word of mouth...aka people who are under contract and are happy & b) finding ads (print or otherwise) that you like and back tracking. In magazines at least, there's always a credits section where you can get agency and photographer listings.
So too, nearly every major agency has a children's division. If you go to their websites, you can poke around and get info from them; like their application procedures.
Good luck & have fun!
