Just out of curiosity, but how old are your kids? DS has done stuff in the past, mainly as a baby and toddler - but now he's at school it is just too much hassle, mainly thanks to the agency. Should point out that DS started off because a friend ran an agency called Little Boats. Was a brilliant agency that I'd used a lot when I was booking kids and I'd got to really know the owners - very relaxed, no pressure on parents, nothing to pay upfront. Had several nice days out and DS has a nice savings account as a result. Anyway, agency was run by this lovely couple, but when he died she couldn't face carrying on with it - as a result we were all given the option of going over to another established agency, which we did.
At first everything was fine, but I've just got really fed up with their complete inability to accept that DS' education is more important than sodding modelling. His school is really strict about taking time off (no, it's not some posh prep school, just the local state one) and there is no way that they would accept him having time off. Nor is there any way that I'm going to fake a sickie or a dentist appointment just so that I can pull him out of school early so he can attend a casting that he probably won't get anyway. Most importantly, what sort of message does that give my son? "Oh, it's ok to lie to your teachers and miss school"?
I've said as much to the agency and said that stuff outside of school hours or the holidays is fine - have also said that I think that castings are a total waste of time. (I mean, what is the point of them? I always found that they were no guarantee that the kids you picked would actually be in the mood to have their photographs taken on the day, so always used to book a couple of extra children. I also used to schedule my shoots so that I used the youngest kids first and any children of school age were booked outside of school hours. Can't believe I was the only client who behaved like this.)
Anyway, I know that there are other agents that would be ok with this (or, at least, there used to be. Was often told that "so and so can't get to you before 4.30/is only free in the holidays) - but it seems DS' agents can't get their head around the concept and have asked if I want to "put him on hold for now". Am so sick of their patronising attitude that I've said yes. It is a shame though, as DS and I have had some really fun days out.
Would be interested to get your thoughts?