bizzykidz

[squirmyworm]

anyone done baby modelling and used BizzyKidz? Any idea what they are like?

[poppycockandfudge]

I'm new to the world of baby modelling and have applied to 4 agencies for my DS. Several people have said he would be a good model and while I'm not working I have time to do this - hopefully it will be fun for us and he can have a little boost to his savings. Also I really don't think I will do this pst baby-hood. I haven't yet heard back from 2 of the agencies but he has had a 'yes' from Elisabeth Smith and Scallywags - which should we go for? Or should we try one with no fees upfront?

I would really appreciate any opinions on this....

[RainbowsandDaisies]

poppycockandfudge..
did you decide as we are in same situation - daughter been accepted by Scallywags and ES so just wondered which you went with???

[RainbowsandDaisies]

which are the top 3 agencies to put your child forward to???? dont mind fee but want work for her if we going to pay

[Bougie]

Someone posted a short while ago that Bizzykids have far too many kids on their books and make their money by giving courses to wannabees. I think this is true, but it doesn't have to be bad as long as you understand what they're selling you

I thought I'd pay for my grandson to join Bizzy because he was a bit overshadowed by his brother. He's done a couple of workshops at Bizzy and enjoyed it. they are VERY good courses. . He even got a day's work on an ad, and a couple of auditions. Bizzy aren't fakes, they do get work, but most of it was about selling their courses and photo sessions and showreels.(My youngest daughter actually did work professionally when she was about his age and it was entirely different.)

Plain fact is that most kids can't sing or act or dance properly, so they won't get well paid film work because many clients would try the proper stage schools where kids are really trained, and not somewhere like Bizzy. It's easier with modelling, but the agency can't force the client to take particular kids. My guess is that Bizzy only push the kids who have recently done their courses so I shouldn't think most clients even see most of their kids.

My grandson is really happy with what he did and he loved the classes, but he won't care if he doesn't get more work. Bizzy hasn't paid for the one job he actually did get, and that was months ago, will have to chase them on that, but I guess they will.

As far as I can tell, the SE London agency that actually gets the modelling work is Alphabet Kidz in SE15 but there is an awful lot of hassle in getting that work, endless schlepping around and it is hard on both parents and children. Decide if you want your life to be turned upside down or whether you'd be happy just to have your kid get a taste of it, a few auditions and a little job or two.

If your kid is really desperate to act or perform, you should probably try them at one of the proper stage schools. But it's hard, hard work, not as easy as getting taken on by Bizzy!

[reluctantmodelmum]

Thank you for that post Bougie. I was really happy when my teenage DD was recently invited to one of these sessions but I am wondering if they take pretty much anyone it is worth it? I don't mind paying if it is more likely to get her work, but if there are thousands on their books it might not be likely. To be honest I thought the photos and voiceovers on the website are pretty poor. Are there any Mumsnetters out there with teenagers who have tried this agency? Do they get much work in for this age group and is it photographic or TV or what. DD wants to be an actress eventually. She is tall enough to be an adult model but I don't want to go down that path until she is at least 16. She has experience but not enough to be taken on by Sylvia Young etc.

[LuciaCandia]

My son has done one job for Bizzy Kidz - that was last September and we still haven't had the money. They stopped allowing pics to be uploaded to the children's profile that weren't from their own studios (£40 per session) and on top of the £15 doctors note fees every 6 months expenses add up. They never answer their phones and constantly send rude and patronising emails - often grammatically incorrect. If I ever get the money from my sons job I will take it and put this whole thing down to a bad decision. It's all a bit of a con.

[LuciaCandia]

Hi Bougle,
Just wondering if you managed to sort the payment out for the job your grandson did for Bizzy Kidz? I have waited 7 months for payment for the job my little one did... I have found it very frustrating!

[Bougie]

Nope, they haven't paid. they've used the excuse that they haven't been paid by their client. Welll, our contract is with THEM not their client. Maybe they haven't billed their client properly or something. Anyhow that's their problem not yours. They had a contract with us to do the work.

You'd win if you took them to the small claims court and win if you could be bothered. Depends how much it is. Further experience of them makes me think that they are just there for wannabe parents and kids, not a serious agency at all, although their training is pretty good, but they don't seem to really be able to deal with the professional work side of it.

[Bougie]

Sorry Lucia, I accidentally sent that before I'd checked it over but despite the grammatical errors I hope you see what I am saying. :)

Also wanted to say to Reluctantmodelmum that hard though it is, I think Sylvia Young etc route is the best way if your daughter is serious. if she doesn't have experience she has somehow to get it. In professional acting and modelling (or any creative work) the problems of being noticed can seem insurmountable ...but getting your foot in the door of a good agent really, really helps and it is the first step in weeding out the ones who will make it, Another way to increase your daughter's chances is to make sure she develops a skill at a reasonably high level, music, dancing, horseriding, sword fighting, you name it!

One of my daughters was with Elizabeth Smith in SW London between the ages of 8 and 10. She has the skill of speaking a second language fluently. She got a part in a BBC childrens serial set abroad, a part in an Italian film and she was shortlisted for a named role in a Disney movie. She also got catalogue and other modelling. What with repeat fees all over the world, over many years, she amassed a surprisingly large sum of money which we put in children's bonds for her till she was 18. . That was years ago I don't know what Elizabeth Smith are like now but it gave me the experience of working with an agent that is really serious about placing children. It also made me realise the importance of having a skill that sets your child apart.

As soon as I walked into Bizzy I saw it was quite different, it is about having a bit of fun, not serious. You can tell because they have so many ways to get money off you and they keep banging on about how professional they are. Real professionals just get on with the job, and they NEVER tell you they are professional!

You could also tell Bizzy weren't serious because they had too many kids and didn't stand to gain when the kids got work - they make their money by getting kids on their books and didn't need the kids to work in order to make money..

We didn't mind because my grandson just needed something like this for his confidence, and he really loved it. He doesn't realise he hasn't been paid.

Oh, did I say, I was talking to other mums and grandparents and seems that Alphabet Kidz of London SE15 actually do get the kids proper work. They are quite selective, though , people said. Or you could try Elizabeth SMith it is still going. Good luck.

[Coniger]

anyone have their children signed up with ann koska and sally king and if so did they get any acting jobs or was it all extra work? thanks

[elsiegall]

A bit of a late reply but maybe useful to anyone else considering Bizzykidz. I would avoid them at all costs. The up front fees once you have paid various deposits, website fees, photo fees etc are more than £200. They say you can use your own pics, but strongly recommended we didn't. We then never heard a thing at all and I did chase several time. Our account was then "deactivated!" I would not waste your time or more importantly money money as they accept anyone and I suspect very few get work....

[JustGiveMeTwoMinutes]

I wondered if anyone could recommend a serious child model agency, and are there any outside London. We are in Chester.

[jelboy1]

My son has just been accepted onto their books. I have just come off of the phone to them. The £180 pound fee is payable in three instalments . You pay £30 now , £60 on the day of your interview and the remaining £90 within thirty days of the interview. I'm now considering Bruce & Brown as there are no fees whatsoever with them . Hope this helps.

[LeeLeeMe]

my daughter was with bruce and brown, she done well but mostly model work and she's really confident so i wanted to try other stuff. I moved to bizzykidz last year because of seeing lots of their kids at auditions and speaking to mums. Really glad i did. Had some lovely jobs and i find them very nice to be with so far. I payed a joining fee but no more money since and earnt it back and more so i am very happy. They do seem to get a lot more work than a lot of the other ones i follow online and where i work shift work they always reply to emails and Facebook messages outside normal hours and its never a bother to them. They only ever been nice to me and never horrible. Other parents are always posting audition photos and work to them on their wall so it looks like they are very busy with work and I've not found anything like the things others have said on here. Maybe it was ages ago or people with a grudge about them i don't know but it doesnt sound like the agency i am with at all? . Hope that helps too

[Padthai00]

Avoid Bizzykids at all costs. They took my money but never got my daughter any work. They did nothing for her.
We had to move abroad foe a few years so I told them the situation. They told me that since I had paid until she was 18, it wasnt a problem and to call when we returned. I called and the rude woman on the phone laughed at me. She told me there was no way they would keep my daughter on their books and that we had broken the contract. I had been told we could resume on our return and simply update her profile. The woman I spoke to told me there was no way that would happen and was unbelievably rude to me.
She was very unprofessional. Avoid them.

[BIWI]

Touting for business? Not allowed.

[Sparklingbrook]

I had a 4 year old when this thread started.

How do you just 'come across this page'?

[hurleybird87]

Joined my daughter last year to bizzykidz she had a lot of interest but not yet had a shoot. Just recently updated her pics for her profile hoping she will get work this year if not doesnt matter shes only 5yrs. Membership is for life so many year to get work

[jenn55]

I have just joined my 9 year old daughter to Bizzykidz agency and we at every excited.

I have had a lightbox e mail through and it has only been a week. It seems like my daughter is being submitted for work.

Any Bizzykidz parents out there?

[Acorn123]

Hi! Can't find any recent BK reviews! How many are you out there? Thinking of joining them with my 7months old!