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Original poster

Child Modelling - March

247 replies

2ManyPimms · 01/03/2007 14:45

Cripes! March already!?

Have things been quiet this part of the year, or is it just me? Only had one call for a casting a couple of weeks ago and couldn't make it. Otherwise - nada!

Lets hope March picks up!

OP posts:
altin · 16/04/2007 17:25

KJmummy: I can only reiterate what others have said. Try agencies like Kids London, Urban Angels and MOT. They charge little or nothing and keep the numbers low. ESmith invited me for a 'screening' interview last year which would have meant paying a fee just to see if my kids were good enough to go on their books. This is a bit of a scam, imo, esp. as there are v. good agencies out there (above) who keep their numbers low and don't charge a fortune.

I got the impression with ES that because they've been around since God was a child that this equates to some kind of impeccable pedigree, therefore a license to take the proverbial and charge a lot of money. They may be good, but there are better out there at a cheaper price. I only know this as me and dh did our homework before committing to an agency and realised that agencies are v. different as regards numbers on books, culture etc (we'd heard a lot of horror stories)

Good luck to you

altinxx

kjmummy · 16/04/2007 20:55

Thanks for all the advice...have decided not to fork out a fortune to ES and check out a few others .

Housemum · 18/04/2007 11:12

FooFoo - we went to Burberry as well - when were you there? We were number 87. Not sure how DD would have done - she was very chatty with the photographer, but she didn't do the "serious" face they asked for at the end. Did photo shoot for Harrods yesterday, so will not be too upset if she doesn't get Burberry as yesterday was a v long day for her - 7 hours (she's just 4)

Lolly68 · 18/04/2007 12:04

Hello Housemum! So pleased for you re Harrods - what a lovely booking. Fingers crossed for Burberry. Nothing for my DD for a while - have just sent updated pics in to KL so hopefully we will get something soon.

FooFooTrue · 19/04/2007 14:05

Housemum, dd was number 48, she is 19 months old. She wasnt asked for any particular faces but she's too young for that anyway. Do you know what the dates of the shoot are? Agency didn't tell us as I think they didn't hold much hope for her!! Congrats on Harrods

Housemum · 19/04/2007 18:32

I was told by B&B that the shoot would be today/tomorrow/Saturday (don't know if just for one of those days or all 3) but we've heard nothing so are assuming it's a "no"

Housemum · 19/04/2007 18:36

Harrods was really good - a very long day as it was 10am to 5pm (she's 4). There were 5 children there, it was advertising the new designer childrenswear on the 5th floor. The photographer was lovely, as were all the team. DD got to wear 3 outfits - D&G, Dior and Cavalli. It's the only time she'll wear a £400 dress until she gets married!!! (Actually, my wedding dress didn't cost that much!) The advert will be in a West London magazine called Angels and Urchins, possibly in You magazine and they are waiting to hear what others. They will let B&B know which ones when confirmed.

BigmummaL · 19/04/2007 20:49

Congrats Housemum, sounds fantastic, what a lovely booking!

lizzymouse69 · 19/04/2007 23:27

Hi BigmummaL

Has there been much going on for your lo with castings and things. Very quiet this end!

BigmummaL · 20/04/2007 18:09

Hy Lizzymouse69,

No been very quiet actually, haven't had anything since the Blooming Marvelous casting. DS did have gastric flu over Easter for a week so it was probably a good job, but could certainly do with a few more things coming in now. XXX

lizzymouse69 · 20/04/2007 20:03

Hi BigmummaL

Sorry to hear about your ds - its horrible when they're poorly. My lo is teething on and off and v clingy so it's prob just as well that nothing has come up. Going to Broadstairs for a few days so hope this nice weather keeps.
x

midgeymoo · 21/04/2007 14:05

Anyone got any advice re agencies...new to this, my dd particularly after commercial and tcv rather than photgraphic.

Agencies interested are bizzykidz, childsplay, alphabetkidz and elisabeth smith. No idea how to choose any advice very welcome

julie4travel · 21/04/2007 14:39

midgemoo - if you are mainly at tv work you could purely try a casting agency such as aj management or cs management, casting agencies do not charge to join aswell.
norrie carr does more tv work than modelling yet the fees are quite high if i remember rightly. i think bk do quite a bit of tv work aswell as photographic.

i think personally if it was me and i only wanted tv i would go with a casting agent rather than a modelling agent.

Good luck in your decisions

midgeymoo · 21/04/2007 21:51

I really wasn't expecting a response but sent out info to 8 agencies with photis and 5 have replied instantly asking to see her. I haven't heard from the others yet as I only posted on Weds. Now confused...

totallyfloaty35 · 22/04/2007 20:37

Midgey,the best agencies re; reputation and low start up fees are Mot,Urban Angels,Kids London and Bruce & Brown.If you try Mot they are not sole agency so you can be with a casting agent too.
Other agents with higher fees but that i know do tv work are Bubblegum and Truly Scrumptious,Goodluck

christabel · 24/04/2007 21:37

Is there anybody on here from Yorkshire or the North. I am in Leeds. Everyone seems to be from London end. My DD has been modelling for 4 months and had 4 jobs without going for castings so far.

ThisTime · 24/04/2007 22:27

Hi Christabel - i live in Leeds and have posted on here from time to time. My DS has had two castings but no success. Who are you with?

dancerdeb · 25/04/2007 12:38

Hiya Im new to this forum,
My little one has just been accepted by KL.
A couple of questions to the more knowing mums! We have been told that the agency dont want to see him for now? and they havent asked for a docs note, whereas other agencies normally do,do I get a docs note sorted anyway? Do KL get lots of jobs without having to attend lots of castings?
LOads of questions I know but dont want to bother the agency and seem a pain!
dancerdeb

michaelad · 25/04/2007 12:45

Hiya,
new to this thread so bear with me. My ds2 (photo on profile) is with Scallywags but it has gone really quiet the last couple of months. Should I sign up with someone else when his contract is due to expire in September? We live in Essex but can get train into London

Housemum · 25/04/2007 13:00

dancerdeb - the doctor's note is only needed if you have to apply for a licence for working - these are usually only needed for TV/commercials/film work - a child should have a licence whenever they "perform" but a lot of photographic work is done without as they can take too long to get from the council.

We only see DD's agent once a year when we get her photos done. I send an e-mail if she changes much in height/clothes size/shoe size, and also if we have booked holiday so they know she's not available.

I don't know if any agency is better than any other for jobs without castings - my DD is with Bruce & Brown, she has had 3 castings in the last 4 months, and 2 jobs without castings. I think it depends on the client rather than the agency, though perhaps some agencies are starting to get a reputation for reliable kids so more coming through without castings. Don't know, just a guess.

islandofsodor · 25/04/2007 13:10

All paid modelling requires a licence. There is a £2,000 fine for not complying with this.

julie4travel · 25/04/2007 13:16

michaelad - it has been really quiet this year jan - march, its now picking up though. all age groups are different though. we only had one job with sw in a year so changed agency. we are now with bb who are brilliant it was slow at first when we changed agent yet my son has had 2 jobs and 3 castings since being with them . obvioulsy sw do have lots of kids on their books so possibly could be some internal competition aswell. we went for an agency with smaller numbers on the books which worked for us. plus with bb we had no initial outlay until we went into the model book and they did not charge a casting fee. the fees are quite high with sw so you may want to stick it a bit longer with sw. sw do get the work though and are a reputable professional agency. they were very quick updating measurements etc when my son was with them

julie4travel · 25/04/2007 13:17

isalandofsodor - its the clients who would get charged the fine though not the parents or agency or am i wrong?

julie4travel · 25/04/2007 13:19

dancerdeb- some of the mums with kl may post on here later. kl are one of the highest rated agencys and u r lucky to be accepted without assesment, well done. Personally i renew my drs letter every 6 months regardless so i have it on file for any jobs which come up

islandofsodor · 25/04/2007 13:33

There has been some discussion on this issue on NAPM recently with reference to FSS.

Although it is the agency/production company who applies for the licence, the parent has to fill in PArt 2 and sign the form to support the application and to say that they will adhere to the conditions of the licence and requirements of the Children (Performances) Regulations 1988. At the bottom of this page it states

NOTE ? Any person who fails to observe any condition subject to which a licence is granted or knowingly or recklessly makes any false
statement in or in connection with an application for a licence is liable to a fine not exceeding £1000 (level 3 on the standard scale) or
imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both (section 40 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963).