*Child Modelling Sept 08*

[MelodyDaisy]

Just thought we should start a September thread

Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone on UAN, hope it's good news and acceptance's all round

liahgen your kids are stunning my ds2 had a knitting pattern job a few days ago through kl and was really lovely. his first ever job!

my ds was called for knitting the other day too. Was it sirdar?

Couldn't go as he's broken his arm so out of actio at mo.

could have sen you there.

julie4travel:

Pretty quiet right now. Still in limbo re dd and whether she's got John Richmond. Being optioned/short-listed is more stressful than getting a straight yes or no [insert aaargh! emoticon]. ds had tv ad casting last week near Oxford Circus. Bedlam, as usual, with tv castings.

I fully understand what some feel about KL and their brusque manner, but I'm not looking for the touchy-feely Tony Blair touch when it comes to feedback. Some agencies provide that, but you'll find yourself with one casting every two years or something, having forked out hundreds for the privelege of someone nice to talk to without getting your dd/ds any work. Given the choice (and in spite of their manner) I'd take KL any day. They're very good at what they do (imo), have a top drawer client list and 90% of the castings I've been to have more KL kids there than any other, so they must be doing something right. If you add into the mix that they charge next to nothing, then you've got nothing to lose. Mind you, that's the fashion side and we're talking kids 4+.

If your child is better as a performer and tv ads are for you then I think there are better agencies than KL. I think ES is very good for babies, but I found them very stand-offish when I applied and felt I should be honoured that they would see my dcs for an interview (and charge for the privilege!). £200-300 is a lot to pay to be talked down to..

Good friend has her kids with UA and they seem to have the balance right re getting work and keeping you posted. I really like UA's friendly website and the updates they give as to what their kids have achieved etc. KL's is very adult, for a kids w/site but maybe that's the image they're trying to project [shrugs shoulders emoticon]

altin

i think you're right atlin with kl's image.

sue definately likes everyone to know they get most of the designers, if you look at their gallery, you'll see lots of high end fashion.

Sue is lovely when you get to know her, and irene too.

Sue's eldest boy chaperoned my eldest ds on a commercial job once cos had both boys at jobs at same time.

Hi my ds (6 months) did a sirdar job on Friday, it was lovely, he is with ts.
Hellandfire ts only take postal applications at certain times of year may-sept i think, unless your lo is a baby then you can apply year round.

liahgen: I think they're fine at KL. dh reckons Sue is very nice. He thinks Irene is an acquired taste

On the beach - yep he's 9 months and we posted the app - they won't accept the enquiry about the consultation via email although they did for someone else on here you note!

Oh I so don't know who to go with!

hellfire, my older ds was with them for a year and had nothing at all, although it was a tricky age being 2yrs, then this year since he turned 3 he has had some nice jobs and baby s doing well too.
I think the casting breifs are sent out to most of the agencies so your childs photos will be put forward through whoever you go with, and it will be a case of if he or she is what they are looking for rather than what agency they came through, although I think certain companies do have their favourite agencies who they are probably more loyal to.
Obviously it would be better to go with an agency with low or no fees if your baby gets accepted by them, then you have nothing to lose.
As long as you avoid models direct.

you said the md word

we were approached by them when my ds won a competition many years ago. Very nearly got taken in.

and mucking about on here is much better than filling out this stupid flipping tax credit form and my tax return!

Abruptness doesn't bother me - I'll be more rude back to anyone who thinks they can have an attitude problem! I wish KL had said yes! I also wish someone would make the decision for me!
Wait for TS, go with ES, Bizzykids or Rascals (or Alphabet Kids but I think someone rubbished them?)Don't care about designers ether really, hadn't thought about it - I would just love to have him on a knitting pattern post it to my mum from ds with a message "please can you knit this to make me look like this little boy!" You would hear her scream in Scotland (she's in Somerset!) She wouldn't want anything else for Xmas!!! Oh well dream on!

Liaghen - ahhh!

oh yes md - first one I did - talk about not being able to get rid of them! Never read the Watchdog report but do hey actually DO any work and if not why haven't they been shut down?

i have no idea WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN SUT DOWN, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS. tHEY DO ADULTS TOO SO MAYBE GET AWAY WITH IT COS OF THAT. i DUNNO.

God, didn't spot caps sorry, can't be arsed to retype.

I asked my mil to knit the jumper ds iswearing, and she made me buy it cos it was a fiver!!

and she got the tension wrong and it would have fitted my 11yr old ds, not G who is 5.

I got totally taken in with md a few years back. I have actually heard of one of their models being seen at a casting but they must have thousands on their books.
hellfire, I have only heard really good things about ak recently and their models have been at jobs we have been to.

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Proud of her grandchild then! Could be the other way - I don't have enough room for the jumpers my mother has knitted!

Beautiful black and white pic. How old are all the kids?

on the beach - oh just as I'd started to strike some off!!! One comes back in! Jobs with babies?

thank you, yeah very proud, that's a whole thread on its own.

dd 13,
ds 11,
ds 5
dd 3
dd 17mths. Just had a look, need to update those,

i just got some old photos back from kl yesterday and 3 yr dd was only 13 mths at time, she was soo cute, and very bald. lol

Hellfire,if you have been accepted by ak then go with them,been on lots of shoots with their kids.Her baby charges are reasonable to.She does like you to attend all castings you get and the paing for audition for older kids is a bit cheeky but they are a well known agent.
KL never answer emails and pretty abrupt if you phone with a query,they ok on phone though if you have job or casting,we just didnt click and i think its better if you get on with your agent.Courtesy costs nothing and i got on better with u/a.
Bubblegum used to be a top agency but the owner died a few years back and things got a bit rocky,she was a lovely agent.
Met ES when lived in London,truly scary lady,wanted my middle dd who was a baby then,but got very stroppy when she found out i had a 3yr old and wouldnt put her with her agency,but the fees were frightening 10yrs ago as well and couldnt afford both of them to join,so didnt do either

thats paying, sorry

re bubblegum.. Heather's partner, Ian has taken over bubblegum. They are getting back to where they were when Heather died. She would be very proud of him, bubblegum was her passion. I knew her well, she left a little boy,

Totally

what shoots have the babies been at?

HellandFire- Dunno who rubbished AK exactly, but I joined my kids with them only 7 weeks ago today and we have not had a week off yet!! pmsl
Others have also said that they are at most commercial castings atleast!!
My DS1 has had 4 paid jobs already and a few in the pipeline 'pencils'. DD has had 2 castings and a possibly 3rd casting tomorrow if I could have got her a license for Friday. My DS2 has just done a Toys R Us shoot today, DS1 has another casting tomorrow, so they certainly do get the work and I get on great with them and have a bit of banter which is nice

Not every agency suits everyone so you have to think about what you are wanting to get out of it. I specifically chose AK as my children very much enjoy the acting/performing side of things but may not be for everyone. you could arrange to go and see a few of them, will do no harm and may help you make a decision on an agent that best suits you, good luck

Almost forgot, that DS1 and DD were wanted at a casting the other week together but was shooting in Spain and they didn't have passport's, so that would have been another one. How gutted was I that we missed out?!! I need a holiday already after starting this 7 weeks ago

Julie4travel- Take me on holiday with you, I is only little so you could fit me in your suitcase!

DS only 9 months so don't know if he's into the acting yet!! Looks like you have lots of stuff but are they good for babies?

I asked Mothercare, ELC, John Lewis, M & S, Pampers Debenhams who they use 5 of them said B & B or ES only one said BK and 1 said AK. OBVIOUSLY there are other companies that use agencies but I wondered if this did give the overview of what percentage of agencies get used. Yes which ever one we go with his photo will always go out, but how often?

After all this he will still get nothing! Or we'll be inundadted and I don't want that either!!

oooooooooooooooooooooooh mine has a passport!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a beautiful little girl with AK and a few others who have had tonnes of photographic work with AK, my DS2 justh ad one and DS1 has had 2 photographic jobs so they do get sent to the photographic castings too of all ages.
You'll find that most of the reputable agencies in London will be approached for all the same jobs, just maybe not all for the 'high end fashion' though.

P.S. Make sure you alway's keep it in date just incase to stop yourself hurting yourself if the opportunity came up like it did for my ds1 and dd