We receive hundreds of submissions weekly from parents seeking representation for their children.  Some parents are pestered daily by their kids who have a desire to be on camera … some are continually told their kids are adorable and should pursue modeling/acting … and some simply see working in entertainment as a possibility for putting aside some college funds for the future.  Whatever the driver is for pursuing this, getting a start in the entertainment industry can be confusing and there are often misconceptions about what it all entails.

My child is just getting started, does he/she need representation?

No, your child does not need representation to get started!  You can create profiles for your child on the various casting sites that service the Los Angeles region (La Casting, Casting Frontier, Actors Access, The People Network, to name a few).  Once you have successfully created their profile, you can begin submitting your child for projects that appear on the public submissions board.  Be cognizant of the roles and requirements – an age range is provided as well as ethnicity requirements and any special skills needed.  If a role calls for a fluent Spanish speaker or a child who can confidently ride a two wheeler bike, ensure your child fits the bill prior to submitting.  You don’t want to waste your time or the casting director’s time.  As you make these submissions, casting will review and determine who they’d like to call in for auditions.  The public submissions board is a great place for newcomers to start.  Parents can start to get a sense for what the marketability might be for their child.  And prior to engaging an agency, it can serve as gauge for your child’s interest level.  Just because your child loves having their picture taken doesn’t necessarily mean they will love to audition or the process leading up to actually working.  You might take them to a couple of auditions and quickly realize your child has no interest!

So if you can do all of this without representation, what’s the point of engaging an agency?  Having representation by an agency will provide your child with access to all of the projects that are opened up for agency submissions only.  Often times the bigger, higher paying projects.  An agency will do all of the correspondence between your child and casting/production – from audition rescheduling to contract/rate negotiation, etc.  But until your child finds representation, you can submit for projects on the public submissions board.  Having audition experience and hopefully some commercial/print/film/television credits on their resume will only make them more palatable for agency representation.  So if you’re not able to secure representation at this time and you/your child are serious about working in entertainment, get started on your own!

What does my child need to work in entertainment?

First and foremost, your child needs an entertainment work permit.  Any child working in entertainment in the state of California is required to carry a current work permit.  These are free and renewable through the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE).  At some point your child may work a project that requires a Coogan account – a blocked trust account that sets aside 15 percent of your child’s earnings – and can only be accessed by your child once he/she turns 18.  Your existing bank may/may not offer Coogan accounts and sometimes they cannot be opened until your child has actually booked a job that requires a Coogan account.  Your child needs a headshot!  You know how cute and wonderful they are but unfortunately, for casting directors sorting through thousands of headshots submitted for any given project, everything wonderful about your child is going to need to be captured in that headshot.  Strive for headshots that provide a clear shot of your child’s face – no hats, bows, distracting backgrounds, busy outfits – just simple, straight to camera headshots shot in excellent indoor or outdoor lighting.  Until they can drive themselves, your child is going to need transportation to the audition locations throughout Los Angeles.  It is very rare to get advance notice on auditions.  You might submit for a project this morning and by 5 pm today, get an audition notification for 10 am tomorrow.  It isn’t a lot of notice to allow you to juggle your crazy schedule, get a babysitter for your other kids, reschedule swimming lessons, etc.  So it is imperative mom/dad/guardian has enough flexibility in their schedule to attend these auditions.  Another consideration is training.  Say your child is 12 years old and is just getting started.  As they audition, it’s certainly possible they could be auditioning alongside another 12 year old with 12 years of experience in entertainment.  Not to say your child is necessarily at a disadvantage – sometimes the less experienced child will actually offer the kind of performance the client is seeking.  But your child needs to know how to perform the basics to get through an audition.  If they are asked to slate, profile, improv or read copy, you want to ensure they have enough comfort and know-how to confidently perform these tasks to camera.  There are lots of auditioning technique classes, one day workshops, etc., offered throughout the Los Angeles area.

How can I get representation for my child?

Research agencies who provide representation for children and look for submission instructions on that agency’s web site.  Don’t start dialing every agency name you encounter and inquire about representation.  We get the same phone calls throughout the day – do you represent kids?  How do I submit my kids for representation?  That information is on our web site and I guarantee it’s there for every other agency in Los Angeles.  Do your due diligence in advance and submit a thoughtful submission however that agency seeks to receive submissions – by mail, online, etc.  Talent agencies seek to fill gaps within their existing roster.  So timing can be everything!  If an agency is in dire need of an ethnically ambiguous girl who can play 7 – 9 years old, that’s what they’ll be looking for in the many submissions they receive.  If you’re called in for a meeting, have your questions about the agency prepared (after you have thoroughly researched them online).  An agent wants to get to know your child but they also want to ensure they will be able to have a productive working relationship with mom/dad/guardian!  Don’t engage any agency that requires an upfront fee – every bona fide talent agency in the state of California works on a commission-based model and will make money when your child makes money.