Getting an Agent for Kids?

[Hank]

*Re-posted by Moderator

Hi, My name is Nikki. I am a 32 year old black american mom who lives in Washington, DC. I am trying to get my 6 year old daughter into acting-tv commericals, film, mini series or music videos. Many people have told me since she was 2 yrs old to get her an agent. My daughter is very talented and smart. She can hold a conversation as if she was an adult. She is in the first grade; however, she is reading and doing math on a 3 grade level. When it's time for Math, Spelling, Reading and Language arts, She is place in the class with 3 gradeers. She attends a private school. She likes to read, be dramatic, and dance. How can I get her started? What procedures do I take to get her notice to agents or cast directors?

[Sage]

I am 13 and have been modeling for a couple of years now. Always remember to be polite and smile but if you ever feel uncomfortable look into the reasons WHY you are uncomfortable as sometimes it just feels that way because you are new. Get a feel for the agency. I usually like to start a conversation with the agent so I can get a feel for how he/she works but dont overly converse. Even then I still get butterflies when I work with a new agent or photographer. Always check out the agency to make sure they are on the up and up not that most arent but better safe then sorry. Look into their past work and usually you can get a small idea of what they are looking for. If you are unsure dont be afraid to ask. Most importantly make sure you are on time and are prepared with outfits, makeup, whatever you need..again if not sure ask. Good luck and keep us updated.

This is just from my personal experiences as others have their own experiences. Hope it helps.

[Hank]

Should My Child Act? If So, How Should I Act?

Every parent should realize when wondering if their child should become an actor is that no matter what age your child is, it is ultimately their choice. Yes, you are the parent and will be very active in the audition process, but it is your child's happiness that constitutes how serious jumping into acting should be.

If your child is outgoing, social and outspoken, those are good traits to have. A child who desires to become an actor is usually a ham" around the house; perhaps reciting lines from movies or commercials and saying, "I can do that! It looks fun!" If this sounds like your child, they may have an interest in acting, but let them come to you. You should only begin the process of auditioning your child if they say, "I want to try acting."
If your child is certain acting is something they are interested in, a good way to make them comfortable performing initially is to watch TV and look for commercials with children their age. Sit next to them and say something like, "That boy was cute! I bet you could do that!" Have your child recite a line from the commercial. It doesn't have to be the exact line, but this will give you a good idea of how comfortable your child will be as a performer, even though performing for a casting director is much different than performing in your living room.

So your child has shown a true interest in acting, without any pressure from you. The next step is to sit down and be one hundred percent honest with your child about the process. Before discussing this, make sure you as a parent are informed of the casting cycle. Your child should know that just because they didn't get a part, doesn't mean they didn't do well. They should also be prepared to see fifty other kids, who look just like them, but to not be discouraged, and just be themselves. Casting agents look for kids that act like kids. The more genuine your child seems in an audition, the better.

The biggest job as a parent of an actor is to be supportive. Your unconditional love as a parent should not diminish because your child had a bad audition. Parents must also understand that their child will not be "on" every day. Children are still children, and as much as you may try to control your child's attitude, there will be days where your child won't perform for anyone. That's okay. This is on their terms.

A parent should never dispute the casting process. So many times parents start to take their children getting jobs too seriously, and it begins to affect the child as well as leave bad impressions with casting directors. A parental controversy will only hurt your child's chances of getting a part; there will always be another cute kid, and you will always end up embarrassing your own.!