If you are approached by someone in the mall, on the street or at the beach claiming to be a representative of the business-BE LEARY!!

While there are people that do legitimately scout on the street (look for talent on the street) , YOU MUST check out their company before you ever get involved. If you do get approached by someone that seems legitimate but they ask you to sign a lengthy contract, ask you to pay for them to get your child involved-DON’T DO IT!! (Regardless of how pretty their office looks)

These companies may offer you photo shoots by professional photographers, guaranteed exposure and classes, exposure to casting directors…BUT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU CHILD WILL GET A JOB .The casting directors choose your child not the photographers unless it is a photo contest.

YOU SHOULD ALSO NEVER PAY A CASTING DIRECTOR…THEY ARE THERE TO FILL THE JOB FOR THE CLIENT. NEVER PAY TO GO ON AN AUDITION!!

There are cheaper ways you can get these things yourself!

If you want to get your child professional photos, look into photographers in your area. Also , look into child workshops and classes offered in your area.

There are accredited management companies you can find online. Though, not every manager or agent that is legitimate is listed. There may be a smaller agencies that are not listed and

Very legitimate but DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

YOU SPEND THE TIME CHECKING INTO A BABYSITTER OR CHILDCARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR CHILD…DO THE SAME THING WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS!!

There is NO SPECIFIC LOOK OR FORMULA!

Every client (advertising company or product representatives) will all decide what they are looking for based on their product and the consumers. It can be a Midwest look, urban look, quirky , etc

THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS, THEY LOOK FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE NATURAL. They do not look favorably on children that are too made up like you would see in child pageants. (unless it is requested by client)

Casting directors look for children that can follow directions and listen well. Being there is a limited time for all productions; those children that can follow directions well will usually be considered first for commercial/acting projects. They will be viewed as “easier to work with “

Many times it is the child with a certain personality that will override a specific look.

If you are going to get your children involved in the acting or modeling business, you must be willing to be patient and understanding of the uncertainty of your child’s behavior that day. NEVER get upset or frustrated with your child. Casting directors are aware that children/babies are not always comfortable in new surroundings and can have a bad day. That being said, ALWAYS, give them encouraging words even if you know the day did not go well for your child.

You may walk into an audition and your child is having a great day and suddenly they have a melt down at the audition. Don’t give up-the next audition could get them the job.

Also, if your child is painfully shy or you say to yourself “they need to warm up for a while”, you may need to reconsider the entertainment business. Though they may be the most beautiful child in the world, whether acting or modeling, the casting directors only give each child a few minutes and they must see or hear the personality withing a few minutes. On many occasions, they will take the child(if they are of speaking age) in the audition room without the parents.