Finally took DS to a modeling agency today

[gshoemate]

After reading a post on here regarding modeling agencies, I decided to look for some in the Orlando area. We had one that has open auditions on Tuesday's so I took DS in today. All they did was get his personal info and his size then took a picture. We should hear back from them within 5 business days to find out if they are interested in him. Please cross your fingers for him.

 

[DocRafiki]

Please tell me it's not one that Lou Perlman is associated with.

 

[mommytotwo]

Good luck to your son.

 

[Cindy B]

Be careful . Soem are just money seeking and will not truly represent your son. Watch out if they want certain fees.

We did this also with my son. He got one paying gig, but he also went on one audition. (Good average I suppose!)

 

[Robinrs]

I repeat the cautions. If they ask for one red cent run in the other direction.

 

[zurgswife]

I agree with Robin...if they ask for any money....move on quickly..

 

[MosMom]

Good luck! I've always considered doing the same but I was always afraid they would be a scam. Indianapolis, Indiana isn't the hotbed of finding talent I would imagine. Although the little boy (who feels rejected in the movie) from Cheaper by the Dozen was from Indy!

 

[Desnik]

Good Luck!
When I was 8mo I started modeling. I did it till I was about 8yo. I did commercials, and print work like catologues. I stopped because I became very shy and just didn't want to do it anymore. I was lucky to have the kind of mom who took me out of it immediately after I told her I wasn't having fun anymore. So that would be my advice to you. Listen to your child. This could be a very injoyable experience for both of you. Good luck!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good luck. Our friends son was a child model, he is almost a teen now. He was "discovered by accident." Another friend from daycare was taking her child and just asked for a picture of her son, well guess what. Our friends son ended up in the jc penney catalog, he now lives in the chicago area and has done tv work there for bc I think the mom said, We dont keep in touch too much these days but he was also in the movie hoods and met laurence fishburne and I think he shot a commercial with michael jordan, but michael wasnt there for all of it. There are very strict rules and the money cant be touched. THey have it in his college fund. I think they have also let the kid go back to being a kid and the mom has her own job. I also saw former child actor Ralph Macchio, the karate kid. He brought his son to a bowling league where my son works last year. Its a tough life. Really think about it.

 

[Dodie]

Make sure they don't try to charge you for ANYTHING, including "professional photos for a portfolio." I have heard that is one of the biggest rip-offs. They may ask you to provide a portfolio, but if they're in the "photos for your portfolio game" then it's probably a money-making scam!!!

 

[BabyTigger99]

With the local agency my son is with, they recommend AGAINST having pricey professional pictures done of children under 5, because they change so much. You can bring your child every few months to the agency, and they will do pictures for $5 a piece, or we go to Sears Portrait Studio (since I work there part time) and get a few (maybe 2 - 3) sheets of 3x5's printed 3 or so times a year, and drop those off. So far my DS4 has had 3 paying jobs, and a few more auditions than that. We are in Green Bay, WI (REALLY not a hotbed for action!), but there are enough local things for him to do (ShopKo, Oshkosh B'Gosh, and Protor and Gamble products, to name a few). I just want a little extra money for him when college time comes.

 

[Feralpeg]

Here is a link to a website where people have rated Florida talent/modeling agencies. They put comments there as well. It might give you some insight.

http://www.theatercraft.com/AgencyList.php

 

[Melora]

My older 3 kids were with an agent when they were little. A very respected one here in Beverly Hills. They also said all they wanted was regular non professional pictures and for me to take them myself. My oldest did an Isuzu commercial and the girls did a bunch of print work.

NEVER NEVER pay for anything! AT ALL!! (I know its been said but I really believe it can't be said enough)

I was going to put my girls back into a while ago and ended up going to an "agency" that wanted $800 for classes and pictures.. We ran quickly!!

 

[gshoemate]

Thanks guys. After a little research online last night (I was bored) I came across a website where people could leave comments about agencies. One comment was left for the agency that I went to and the person said in 1997 they charged her an outragous amount for portfollio pictures....they wouldn't use any other pictures except those taken by them. Hopefully they have changed the way they do things.

BabyTigger99 - you are so right about not taking professional pictures because little ones change so much. I read this on the FTC website, they had a section just for modeling - acting scams.

Luckily I have found some leads on some other agencies in the area where people were allowed to use their own photos for the portfolio, they weren't required to have it done by the agency for thousands of dollars.

Thanks again for all the advice!!!