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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

child modelling as a way of raising money for school fees

139 replies

kirikou · 27/06/2013 09:16

DC1 currently at selective independent although not a stellar one (so don't go thinking Eton etc.) and loving it. 40% of fees paid so we 'only' have to pay £7200 a year plus extras.

DC2 would love to go to this school. We are not 'rolling in it' (happy to post more details of finances if necessary) and I've read all the threads that say you shouldn't go fee paying unless you can comfortably afford it.

AIBU to think that modelling for DC2 might be a way of raising some much needed funds?

OP posts:
kilmuir · 27/06/2013 09:49

Madness

Original poster
kirikou · 27/06/2013 09:51

I have read enough on here and elsewhere to know that it is not on for agencies to ask for money up front.

OP posts:
Original poster
kirikou · 27/06/2013 09:52

orange, NCA

OP posts:
MarshaBrady · 27/06/2013 09:52

Can you imagine the pressure, school fees to be paid, castings may or may not be successful. The stress of it.

Original poster
kirikou · 27/06/2013 09:55

notafan, DC1 'earns' 40% of school fees through scholarships. If DC2 earned similar by modelling we might be able to stretch to the rest .

OP posts:
pigsinmud · 27/06/2013 09:55

So you are making your child work to pay for his school fees? Hmm
I would have thought the money goes to him not to you. How much do you need him to earn?

This is crazy!

DontmindifIdo · 27/06/2013 09:57

so hang on, you have paid for prep for DC1 but DC2 is in a state school? Not both in state for primary then private for secondary? How have you justified that already to yourself?

Anyway, if you planning this, why not start the modelling now either way and see how much money your DC2 makes over the next 2-3 months to see if its viable? (I'd also check if the private school would be prepared to allow DC2 time off to model - and what level of sibling discount they will offer).

Jimalfie · 27/06/2013 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
kirikou · 27/06/2013 09:57

MB, we have enough money in a 'pot' to fund the first few years so that would alleviate the immediate stress I think.

OP posts:
orangepudding · 27/06/2013 09:59

The top end of fees are for adults not children. They charge to join £135, for photos. My kids have never worked with any from that agent though I have heard they are good for babies and toddlers.

notafan0fy00 · 27/06/2013 09:59

kirikou So one child 'earns' their school place by being clever, and you want the other one to earn it by being pretty/attractive? It'll certainly give them lots to talk to their counsellors about in later life, that's for sure.

MarshaBrady · 27/06/2013 09:59

You could give it a go before you agree to prep if you have the time just so you know for sure.

DIYapprentice · 27/06/2013 10:01

One of the other criteria is that children are free from bruises etc. I had someone ask if DS1 was interested in modelling and out of curiosity I looked it up. He is NEVER free from bruises, and now that we have two DSs it's even worse. You could play dot to dot with the bruises on their legs, their faces always have at least one random small scratch from falling over, climbing trees or knocking each other with a 'sword', knees are perpetually scraped, we've had several A&E trips where gashes have needed glueing, etc, etc.

And if they have a modelling shoot booked you have to be extra vigilant that they don't get some sort of an injury in the lead up to it.

Too much like hard work, and I would feel horrible curtailing their activities to avoid injuries (although I would like to see them bruise free at least one day in their life!!!Grin])

meditrina · 27/06/2013 10:01

What the clients pay per hour isn't what the models get paid. A full day for TV work might cost the client £200 per child (plus chaperone fees) but that doesn't mean the model gets that much.

TSSDNCOP · 27/06/2013 10:01

I think all you need to know is in Jimalfie's post.

My DC is at a fee paying school. If I had 2 DC I wouldn't be able to have afforded that, so neither DC would have gone.

I also agreed with DH up front that DS would not know from us that we pay for his education.

It's unfair on DC when their parents make the choice of their school and then the DC feel to blame if the fees can't be covered, or they can't perform to their parents ideal of private education.

DontmindifIdo · 27/06/2013 10:02

oh and a school near us has sibling discount of around 30% (they do all vary though) so if you could afford with that you wouldn't have to worry about raising extra. Ask the school.

Mumsyblouse · 27/06/2013 10:02

You are going to fund something that needs to be stable (schooling) on something fundamentally unstable (child modelling). Can you not see the flaw in that plan?!

If you have enough money to fund the first few years, I would go ahead anyway, and look to increasing your own earning power by about £10 grand in the next five years- there's two of you and it might be doable. If it really isn't likely, then I wouldn't go the private school route myself, I would if I had the money but I don't, so mine go to the nicest state school I can find. It is just the way it is!

mrsjay · 27/06/2013 10:02

DO you not like your second child or something why is child 1 so special and why does child 2 need to pay their way , great message to send them well you can go but you need to pout and smile for it, granted modelling is hardly up chimneys but are you for real ,

onadifferentplanet · 27/06/2013 10:04

All 4 of my children successfully modelled and acted in both tv and film when they were younger, they had a great time and met loads of famous people and went to exciting places but unless you are the 'one' who gets the huge campaign it's never going to make you rich . Also if you have more than one you need excellent back up for looking after your other children at short notice . As they got older all of mine lost interest and tbh I was relieved.it was fun for a while but I found the last few auditions and castings we went to horrendous, pushy Mums and cocky badly behaved children were certainly in the majority.

mrsjay · 27/06/2013 10:04

FWIW I have nothing against children modelling

orangepudding · 27/06/2013 10:06

DIY, that's really not true - a swollen black eye would cause an issue but a few bruises and scuffed knees are not a problem. Kids who model don't have to be wrapped in cotton wool!

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 27/06/2013 10:07

YABU my DD has been registered with one of the best agencies in the country for a year and has had a grand total of two auditions. (She is bloody gorgeous but there's not a lot of work out there especially if you're new)

Bobyan · 27/06/2013 10:07

First post op?

Original poster
kirikou · 27/06/2013 10:08

mrsjay, I think DC2 would love modelling and may even have something 'special'.

I am thinking 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. Have emailed Prep to ask about places (no sibling discount) and sent photos to one agency.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 27/06/2013 10:09

Oh we'll, it's good that you got the square root of fuck all something from your AIBU.