Should I our should I not??? Help please.. everyones Advice*PLEASE*

[disney50fam]

Well my DD age 5 keeps getting people asking me to put her in modeling or Commercials. Even a few agents have given me cards.
The thing is should I do it??? I was making her a mini portfolio. But never finshed! Heres a few pics of her.
What would you do????

I have posted these before but its what I had saved at photo bucket!!!

Advice??? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[VSL]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of dolling little girls up and having them model, so I, personally, wouldn't. I find it very uncomfortable - I don't even wear make-up and I'm 21, so it feels very odd to see such young children wearing it.

BUT... it's your daughter. You should do what you feel is best for her.

I'm sure someone will be along with far more helpful advice than this!

 

[chyam]

Well she is adorable and I don't feel there is anything wrong with commercials or modeling it's the contest thing I don't care about! I would put your feelers out and try it it could be a great way to start a college fund for her etc. If it is something she would like to try, but in no way should she be forced into it, you may find that she does it once and may never want to do it again.

 

[Lorix2]

Only you know what's right for her and at her age, it certainly isn't her that's going to want a modeling job, it would be for you.

I personally, wouldn't do it...let her get a job when she's of age. Too much pressure and alot of rejection to handle at this tender age.

I don't like too see very young girls made up and looking older, it doesn't sit well with me either, but that's just my feeling.

The whole Jon Benet Ramsey thing and pageants turn me right off.

 

[N.Bailey]

IMO, you should go for it. She's absolutely adorable and I think she could sell me just about anything!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Only you know your child best. If you do go forward, just make sure it's what she wants, not what you want. At that age, it's as much about the child's personality (ability to "turn it on" for the camera) as looks.

 

[robinb]

Well, she is pretty darn cute! If you have an inside track into getting into modeling and commercials for advertising (at NO COST to you!) then I would say go ahead as long as you think your DD has the temperament. I thought about it myself for my DD (people were saying the same thing to us when she was 2 and 3) but I knew that she did not have the patience for that kind of thing.

 

[Hannathy]

IMO I don't like 5 year olds with make up on at all,period. I think you need to think it through are you close to where she could do commercials, DOES she want to do it, does she like getting dressed up in things other people tell her whether they are comfortable or not then staying still so they don't get messed up, is she shy, does she follow directions well, is she willing to give up other things. Are these agents really agents or do they want you to pay them to make you a portfolio etc. It is a lot to think about but mainly does she want to and what will she get out of it to benefit her in the long run.

 

[chell]

She is adorable. Do you know any other parents who have children doing this? If not, surely you can find some of those parents here on the DIS who can give you the ins and outs. If you could talk to some other parents I'm sure you would feel much better about the decision either way. At least the other parents could tell you all the little things to expect that everyone else (like agents and reps) forgets to tell you.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

I would get (and still do) get business cards for my boys to get into commercials and acting. I just don't know if I'm ready to drive to NYC and go through the auditoning process.

My one friend did it with her twins for a catalog, she waited seven hours in a room. Only one twin got the job. They look at behavior more than the look.

It's something I'm struggling with, too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess the question is does she want to do it?
Do you have the patience and time to do it?

I do know you do not have to spend 1 dime, they pay you. So make sure the "agents" are legit if you go for it.

I did know a couple of moms back in Missouri and their dd's did print work to pay for her horse riding hobby. She did it very part time and said it was easy work for her dd.

 

[Saphire]

What would you do????

I would not expose my very young daughter to the very adult world of modeling, especially if it involved make-up and glitzy clothing. I would let her be a little girl, then a girl, and then if SHE wanted to pursue this field as she came of age, I would support her in that.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Hi!

First, obviously, she's beautiful!! But that isn't the point. With or without success, the media biz is a lot of work!! If it feels like something you think you would both enjoy doing....go for it! It can't hurt to try. If you find success, you both enjoy it, and your family dynamic is still great....Yay!! If you find that you and/or your daughter are not passionate about the process, or that your family feels compromised etc...you can quit.

You'll know! Trust your gut and follow your heart!!!

Take Care!
Lisa

 

[CEDmom]

You really need to think about what kind of child your DD is and how she'll feel going on jobs, having to do as people ask, smiling when she doesn't want to, putting on clothes she may not like etc. Honestly we got asked by several people to have DD to this and also got cards. Most of the places were a little shady so be very careful of that. You shouldn't have to layout any $ when dealing with a reputable agency. In the end we decided it really wasn't the right thing for our DD.

 

[melanie18]

No. I find it disturbing to see kids made up like that.

 

[Sparx]

What do YOU want to do? What does SHE want to do. Its all that matters. Shes beautiful and she could probably get a good bit of work doing modeling. But PLEASE don't do it unless SHE wants to.

 

[tekmom]

I personally wouldn't do it and I have an 8 year old DD. She doesn't wear makeup and I don't feel she needs it. I do think your DD is adorable and I think you might have already decided to do it, as she is made up in two of the pictures already. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[jim and meesie]

She is a very cute girl but let her be a 5 year old. Unfortunately modeling is WORK. I know it seems appealing but I think your life and hers will be alot happier if she puts her time into a fun kiddie ballet or tumbling class. Plenty of time for WORK when she's older. I do have a friend with a daughter who is the same age who does pagents. Again, not for us! Too much time and money to invest in what is essentially work for the kid.

My daughter was approached to model when she was about the same age (she is also blonde and blue eyed and now almost 14) and we said I don't think so. Instead she got involved in sports, dance and drama. My sister is a tv producer in LA and she has said, "say the word and she can get a job out here" but she goes on to point out that my daughter would be working, no more school (tutors instead), dance class or school plays. She currently has the lead in her Middle School musical and for now that's a plenty big stage for her. My daughter's friends (at age 14) tell her to "go for it" but she thinks that she is having lots of fun doing the middle school stuff. When she's ready maybe the opportunity will be there, maybe not, but she's having fun being a kid now.

PS Even though many of my daughter's friends wear makeup (which isn't unusual for teenagers) she really has no interest and she looks pretty darn cute without any!

 

[lulugirl]

I personally wouldn't do it. It's a cut throat industry and I wouldn't expose my child or myself to it. As other posters have pointed out, it's WORK and the child has to be more than cute, it requires a certain personality type.

 

[debloco]

First, to clarify, there is a difference between modeling and commercials. And neither of those are "beauty pagents" or "contests".

Second, my DD modeled and did commercials and movie auditons when she was that age and there was no job she did where she had on the amount of makeup shown in the OP's first 2 photos.

Even when she did a fashion show, I think the most they put on was a little bit of blush, if they put on anything.

For those opposed to the makeup, do you not care for kids in commercials?
Is modeling for kids okay without makeup?
What about child actors in movies and on TV?
Or is it just the "beauty pagent" or "contests" that you are against?

To the OP~

If your DD is interested and wants to try it, I'd say go ahead.

I was not thrilled with doing it, but my DD enjoyed it and wanted to keep doing it. And she did until she started losing her baby teeth

It drove me crazy and here's why. Agents will call you the day before to tell you your DD has an audition. If you are not exclusive with one agent, you will field multiple calls for the same audition. I handled this in the beginning by making it clear to all of them that whoever called first got it.

I'd drive downtown (Chicago), about 1 hour each way, we'd sign in and then wait. And wait. And wait. Some places were better than others, but I'd say each was at least 1/2 to an hour. Often it was more. Your child does their lines, or the director looks at the kids...whatever. You go home.

If you're lucky, you'll hear from your agent again telling you your child got a "call back". You repeat everything above. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a week.

They will cast however many kids they need, but oftentimes it's just one. Sometimes it's as many as three or four. Sometimes a director thinks s/he wants one thing and you go to the first audition, and then they change their minds before the callbacks. But the reality is that of the couple hundred kids they audition, a few get cast.

Repeat this over and over and hope your kid is one of the lucky ones who gets cast. This whole process didn't faze my DD one bit. She'd let it roll off her back and ask when she could go again.

The other important aspect to be aware of is that once you're in this game...every other kid trying to make it is just as cute/beautiful as yours. I'm not saying your DD isn't beautiful, she most certainly is! But once you're in the door...it's a pretty level playing field. All the kids are gorgeous.

We went through the "people chasing us down in the stores" phase and the "oh my gosh, she has 20 agents interested in her" phase. But not one of those agents can make a casting director cast your child.

I also agree with the PP...it is work and your child needs to have the personality for it.

If you do decide to pursue this, I'd advise you to go exclusive with the most highly regarded, top notch agent that is willing to take her. Makes things easier. So does having only one child.

HTH and Good luck!