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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Casting agencies

10 replies

thirdistheonewiththehairychest · 30/12/2022 17:27

Hi.

My 12yo DD is interested in acting and she would like me to help her get signed up with an agency so she can get some experience as an extra or something similar.

I have no idea what I'm doing though! I have had a look and most seem to be based in London. We live in Brighton so I think this is doable?

I have also noticed that all of the casting agencies state whether they are sole or non-sole...what are the benefits of going with a sole agency and what's recommended for a novice?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom/advice.

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 30/12/2022 20:31

She would be much better looking at National Youth Theatre - training as well as production opportunities. She can't start with Masterclasses now and the audition to become a member when she is 14.
To have a lasting career you need good quality training.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 31/12/2022 13:58

Unfortunately 12 is a really bad age to try and do this - unless your child has literally just turned 12, is tiny and young looking for age (eg. looks 9/10 and is about 4ft 8" max) and/or has a very particular look or ethnicity.

Children need to have a licence in the UK to perform and that means time and costs for productions as they also need chaperones, tutors etc. There are almost no roles in screen for 12-15 year olds and those that there are tend to go to young-looking, small 16 year olds who can play down and don't require a licence or any of the other things.

In terms of agencies, it doesn't matter where you live in relation to the agent as the chances are you will never actually meet.

What you do need is a parent with absolute flexibility and a decent amount of disposable income. You will need a Spotlight account (£114 a year), professional headshots (anything from £70-£350 a year), a self-tape set up (tripod, backdrop, possibly lights and mic, editing software and a quiet space in which to do these) and ability to travel at the drop of a hat.

Once you have been accepted by an agency (no easy feat - at 12 they will generally want a child with training and credits), you'll generally hear nothing for weeks and then suddenly get an email with a tape request/audition request. This can need turnaround in anything from 12-36 hours. Once tape is sent back then you will almost certainly never hear another word. You could get one tape in a month, or nothing for 6 months, or you could have nine in a week - or end up needing a week off work & school because of day after day of recalls. You don't get to say no to things either unless there is an extremely good reason (eg material in the script is controversial and this has already been flagged by casting) unless you want a v annoyed agent.

If you do win the lottery in terms of a recall then it's either another tape, or you'll need to drop everything and go into London at short notice. Generally auditions are after school, but you'll have to take them out of school in order to get to London for 4.30pm or whatever time you are sent. 5 mins in the room and again you will almost certainly never hear again.

You basically never get feedback and you never get a no. After 2-3 weeks you just write it off. Once in a blue moon, the stars align and then you have a whole new set of things to negotiate!

We've been doing this for over 10 years now, and even with huge amounts of training, West End and screen credits and a top tier agent, it's incredibly hard and a lot of work for both child and parent with mainly disappointment at the end. Someone once told me that booking 1 job in every 50 auditions is a good rule of thumb. Luckily for DD I had no clue what I was letting myself in for when we started - and I have an extremely flexible job.

Supporting Artist work (what used to be called 'extras') is completely different from acting. Some people enjoy doing it, but it is not credited and should never go on an acting cv nor does it count towards Spotlight qualifying credits.

If your DD is serious about acting, then the best bet is to look into getting some decent training across stage and screen genres and aim for things like NYT at 14.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 31/12/2022 14:01

Sole and non-sole.

Sole agents expect that you are only represented by them. Non sole agents allow you to have more than one agent (some children have one agent for film/TV and a second for modelling/stills work, or a separate agent for voice-over work).

We have always been with a sole agent that covers everything, but DD only does film/TV/theatre/VO - we don't do modelling and don't really do TV commercials.

For older children, I would say sole is better.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 31/12/2022 14:06

Be careful that you don't end up with one of the numerous scam agencies. Go for ones that are members of the AYPA

Bebenama · 14/01/2023 11:36

Hi all,

can you recommend some reputable casting agency I can register, my daughter are 6 and 7 and are interested. I have no idea what I need to do.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow which agency does your child attend please.

we are in Derby, East Midland

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 14/01/2023 12:07

There’s no such thing as a “casting agent”.

There are Acting or Talent Agents/Agencies and there are Casting Directors.

The former represent actors and put them forward for briefs that are sent out by Casting Directors. Casting Directors put together potentials for the role and coordinate auditions etc for the Directors/Producers of a particular production.

For young children, best bet is to look at those agencies that are members of the AYPA. You need to find out which ones have their books open and then send an email setting out what training and experience they have and including a headshot photograph (well lit, no hats/hair bows etc, no jewellery or props and absolutely no make-up). Doesn’t need to be professional but needs to be a realistic photo of the child and show things like eye colour clearly.

Good agencies include ones like: Daisy & Dukes, AM Kids, Ardent, Mark Jermin, Allen & Abel, Sylvia Young, Young Actors Agency etc

There are also agencies that do more modelling or a mix of modelling and acting. I’ve read good things about Paris Kids, Bonnie & Betty and Lacara but no personal experience.

My DD is with an adult agency. They don’t really rep kids.

Generally you will only hear back if an agency is potentially interested (they get a lot of applications) and they may ask for either a meeting or for tapes of acting/dancing/singing. It doesn’t really matter where the agency is geographically as you will probably never meet - everything is done via email.

Hope that helps! There are a lot of scams out there so feel free to message if you want to check if someone is legit - or stick to AYPA members.

CatatonicLadybug · 14/01/2023 14:44

Crumbs gives excellent advice.

I will add that Instagram gives you a way to see how many kids are getting what kind of work from an agency. Of course there some fab agencies that don’t have an account but many do and they will shout from the rooftops when their clients get work, and they will indicate when their books are open. You can get an idea of what kind of kids they tend to take on. We have friends who are with an agency that really makes an effort to have kids with different languages and ethnicities. We are with an agency that has a good track record for children’s parts in west end musicals, because mine only speaks English but he can sing! :)

If you book any small group or one to one training, most will either give agency advice freely or set up an appointment for a small fee to walk you through their thoughts.

@Bebenama At age 6/7 with little to no training, they might be okay modelling (depending on the job!) but would need to be very confident to go through an acting audition day and you’d have a very steep learning curve for self taping, so training first leading to an agency can be a more practical path. It is also possible to find an agent directly through training. There is little scouting on the street like we used to hear about in the 70s and 80s but there is certainly some scouting that goes on in workshops, intensives, and showcases.

All that said, not trying to talk anyone out of it as long as it is what the child wants to do. My DS would happily live in the theatre if he was allowed so I just try to keep up with him rather than convince him to do anything! The happiest child performers I know are all incredibly self motivated, to the point where I wish I had their focus myself!

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 14/01/2023 15:32

All that said, not trying to talk anyone out of it as long as it is what the child wants to do. My DS would happily live in the theatre if he was allowed so I just try to keep up with him rather than convince him to do anything! The happiest child performers I know are all incredibly self motivated, to the point where I wish I had their focus myself!

/\
This!

No matter how much a parent likes the idea of seeing their child up on stage/on the TV, do not go down this road unless it is 100% driven by the child.

It can mean years and years of no birthday parties, no holidays, no school trips, no family weddings, not daring to take on any commitments that don't leave you potentially free to traipse into London for castings. Covid has made things a bit easier in the sense that a lot is now via tape or zoom rather than in person but deadlines are tight.

Look at it like an elite-level sport basically.

I remember picking DD up from school on her birthday once and saying she had the option to go out for the planned birthday meal, or to go home and learn 6 pages of script and then do a tape for a TV series that had just come through and had to be in next day. She said she'd rather go home and tape and move her birthday to another day... she was 8 years old.

There are children who literally live/breathe doing this, and equally there are ones who would clearly be much happier doing other things. Most of the former also seem to have parents whose worst nightmare would be having to be on a stage in front of people and are slightly surprised to find themselves in the role of 'stage mum'.

There is also a lot to be said for focusing on local non-professional productions with far more of the 'fun' and less of the 'work' angles.

MyLlamaLikesDrama · 27/02/2023 16:27

Does anyone know anything about I Am Epic? They're advertising for children atm, and they aren't one I know?

Outofsync9 · 17/05/2023 08:16

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