[Jules197300]

Hi all
Would love some information or opinions on this topic.
I finally gave in to my little girl soon to be 7 who has been nagging me for two years to do modelling and tv ads.
I have applied on line to both bettina and kid nation agencies. They have both gotten back to me to arrange an interview (with a fee of coarse).
I am a little reluctant and not quite sure if there should a fee at all.
UnsureJules

[BadCat]

My understanding of these things (based on my sister looking into it for her kids) is that they will charge you for everything they can think of, imply that you will get loads of bookings, and deliver very little. There are thousands of kids who want to be models and most of them get zero work.

Tread carefully and make sure your DD knows that whatever the agencies might appear to promise there is no guarantee that you will get any work at all and rejection can hurt.

[Ianthe]

(based on my sister looking into it for her kids)

OT but BC you have a sister who looked into modelling for her children? Are you sure you are related?

Earlier this week there was cinabubble's first EB post and now this! My world needs to right itself.

[BadCat]

OT but BC you have a sister who looked into modelling for her children? Are you sure you are related?

Earlier this week there was cinabubble's first EB post and now this! My world needs to right itself.

I know right? My sister is all makeup and fashion and girly stuff. She and mum get on like a house on fire and I sit in the corner like a hobo that just happened to wander in.

This post has been edited by BadCat: 12/01/2013, 12:34 PM

[twinboys]

If you are in Victoria - this agency has just opened but it is for talent/acting
I was talking to the owners husband and by his accounts they are very busy with supplying kids for casting calls for acting type of roles
MP talent

Like everything though - you have to pay for your set up stuff and nothing is guaranteed!

[boot]

I just did a detailed post in the Dads forum area looking at the Talent agencies from a guys perspective. Take a look at http://www.essentialkids.com.au/forums/ind...owtopic=1046567

In short, the financial costs of doing talent jobs outweigh the profits.

The hourly rate becomes small when looking at travel costs and travel time and there are 2 persons dividing the profits. The fees for the agencies are essential to their business and they need to push push push kids onto their databases. The agencies consider the jobs to be a mere hobby. The child will need about 1 job a month for a year to pay off the fees after costs which parents forget to factor in.

The question to ask is whether the hobby is the best one to build up your child and your relationship?

[Apageintime]

My understanding of these things (based on my sister looking into it for her kids) is that they will charge you for everything they can think of, imply that you will get loads of bookings, and deliver very little. There are thousands of kids who want to be models and most of them get zero work.

Tread carefully and make sure your DD knows that whatever the agencies might appear to promise there is no guarantee that you will get any work at all and rejection can hurt.

I've had a few friends get scammed with this sort of thing too.

Why don't you try drama classes instead?

[economist99]

Bettina is notorious for not delivering. They are basically, like many small time agenies, a photo studio posing as a modelling agency.

There's some new ones around with half the fees of others but even so I did not sign up as I still heard strong rumours of them giving jobs to friends/families etc - there are so manly gorgeous kids out there and a client only wants to look at about 10 profiles max that fit their request...

twins/triplets are an exception as due to laws around child work most young kids roles are filled by twins...I cant imagine going out with twin babies though - driving miles to some warehouse for casting etc etc...good luck

[BeYOUtiful]

You may be better off entering her pic/s in competitions like parenting mags, Pumpkin Patch, etc where you only have to buy a magazine or an outfit to enter.

Smaller outlay and you will get an indication if she has the look agents are looking for.

I had some photos done of our son just for us and won a modelling shoot. There were mums there with many changes of clothes and I just took 2 lol. Week or so after the shoot they showed us pics and were charging a small fortune! I took a free portrait and that was it.
A week or so later he advised me an agency were interested in my sons pics. He said I would hear from them in the new year. I am certainly not holding my breath.

I'm not interested in an ongoing modelling career for him but wouldn't object to 1 or 2 catalogue shoots if he was willing. He had some cracker faces and poses at the modelling shoot so I think that it was his personality that appealed to them?!

This agency put your child's pics on their site and agents choose from those as opposed to going in for shoots apparently. I can't recall their name, will see if I can find it.

[wildflowers]

My daughter is with an agency. We only paid to get some photos and for membership on ecaster which is what the agents use to send details to casting directors. She has been to a couple of auditions and had a small role in a movie and she has only been with them a few months. It is fun for her.

We were told at the start that there is no guarantee of how much work you will get. The agency also runs courses which help kids to learn how to audition.

My daughter learns acting at our local theatre which she loves.