Child Modelling Jan 2009

[brooke77]

Happy New Year !
I hope this thread will re-start what was always great modelling chat on this forum..
Here's hoping 2009 brings lots of castings and jobs for everyone !

MABS I'm sure they'll be loads more!

Thanx for your advice, Maybe I should just try and see what happens, if she's not happy and seems uncomftable thats fair enough, I would never make her do something she was not happy doin, Im not one of these pushy parents who just want fame for their kids and to hell with the consequences, my babies happiness and safety are paramount, I just think she may enjoy it. I have read every thread on here and decided which agencies Im going to try and just see what happens.

Ok, so the agency have excepted your child on to their books, wot happens at these castings ???

HI Ladys..

I think I have dicided to go with Bonnie and Betty rather than one of the bigger companys, have been chatting to the lady there and seems realy nice too.
anyone think thats a bad idea? Or anyone sighned with them?

Might still send off photos snail mail to KL just to see.

Had a photoshoot with carosel kids but was realy small, in someones flat!! so dont think ill go with them, but got some nice photos for 30 quid!

Also Bruce have emailed me back ( after a month !) asking for more photos, is that a good sighn?

Thanks Pros!!!!!

so nice to get some help!!

"wot happens at these castings"

it depends on what they are for.
sometimes your kid goes in they take a photo or two and that's it, in and out in 5 minutes.
Sometimes they have to learn a few lines.
sometimes they have to learn a dance.
sometimes someone just talks to them a bit to get a feel for their personality.

Thanx, its goin take me a while learn all the jargon, I have taken a few pics of her (she loves it lol such a poser) and will send them off. It must be a proud moment for you all when you see your babies looking cute and adorable, I know Im so proud of my little angel ( altho she not always the angelic little soul that she looks lol ) xx

funny, I'm not exactly proud. I'm quite conflicted over it all TBH.
But my dcs seem to enjoy doing it so that's all that matters.

Oh how come your conflicted ?? How old are your children ??? I have no idea wot dsc means sorry ( must be having a blonde moment lol) xxx

Does anyone have any experience of Kitsch Kids ???

Hi all - new to site but kids been modeling for a while. DS chose not to renew contract with SW wanting a change and been acccepted by AK and ES - but cant decide which to go with. He is wanting to do more TV work. Does anyone have any idea on which of the 2 offer more TV work or are they on par?? just cant decide... help - thx

I would say go with AK as they get a lot of tv work

Hi all
I am currently getting my lo signed up to a couple agencies. I hear bizzykids are good as is Kids London and Bruce & Brown.

champagneanddaisys may i ask how old your child is please as i applied to BruceBrown and got an email saying their books were closed. my daughter is 2

I recently signed with Bonnie & Betty and we had our pics taken a few weeks ago, but Im not too happy with them and i have not had any contact from them or availability checks or anything-anyone in a similar position??

Im not giving up hope just yet though, probably give it all til the the end of the year and if we dont get called for at least 1 casting then will call it a day.

Hi Chelle,
My ds was accepted by bonnie and betty this week, I was wondering why you are not happy with them? Did you not like the photos?

Hi Chelle,
I've heard really good things about bonnie and betty. I don't think it is hugely unusual not to hear for anything for a couple of weeks. Also, I've been told that the age group for whom there is least work are toddlers because they are the hardest age to work with, so you maybe will find things are a little bit quiet.

With regards to KL and bruce and brown, both are sole agencies so if you stay with bonnie and betty then you won't be able to join either of them. BK aren't sole, and I know some people who get a lot of work through them, but they apparently have a lot of internal competition and consequently there are also a fair number of people who get no work.

Good luck! Fingers crossed you get some good phone calls next week

ally

xtracex - ds = darling son
dd = darling daughter
dc = darling children or darling child

Not sure why they have darling in front of them, but that is how people refer to their kids.

If you go for one of the agencies with low start up fees then you can see how your daughter enjoys it. If she doesn't enjoy it it wouldn't work out anyway. If she does, then you could see how you enjoy it - it is a lot of time and energy on your part too!

Good luck.

Hi ladies

Thx for ur replies.

Onthebeach-its the pics from the shoot im not too happy with. The agency is fine.

allyfe-dont get me wrong Bonnie is a lovely lady and i cannot fault her at all and she made us feel comfortable from the get go. I have heard that toddlers are not in much demand-which is a shame because my lo is quite easy going.

Will apply to a couple more agencies or if push comes to shove jus have another baby and start the ball rolling a little sooner this time. lol

But like i said if things dont pick up then i may jus cal it quits for a couple years-didnt realise this modelling bizz could be so strenuous.

Good luck to all with any castings

Hi,

I am new to this chatroom. I have sent my son (1 year old) pictures to BB and received a yes within 2 week. Is BB good? Is there anything I need to be aware of?

Thanks!

Just to clarify it's Bruce and brown

Thanx Alyfe, its all making sense now lol, I have had a yes from KK and supposed to be going down in sept for some pics but I have applied at other agencies to, waiting for UA to open their books again and Ive tried a couple more local to me. I kinda get the feeling that my DD lol, will enjoy it and I have a felt a little lost lately and in need of something to get out of bed for so maybe this will be good for both of us, and if it dosnt work out at least I can say we tried xxx

Hi Ollipop

Dont know anyone on a personal level who is with Bruce and Brown. But the fact your ds has been accepted is very well done-i hear they are very selective.
I say enjoy being with a great agency. Sure you will get loads of castings and jobs whilst with them as they are in the top three agents.

I gave them a call to find out when they open their books to older childen and they told me Sept so im holding out til then if im not worn out from "waiting" for a casting.

Hi Chelle14, thank you for your reply. I guess my DS is quite lucky. There are so many agencies out there some with upfront fees some don't. Some do portfolios, some don't. It's like a minefield!! I am new to this 'field' and from the threads, it sounds like a full time job to take babies to castings and stuff. I hope my DS will enjoy the experience. I know BB did say they will not take on anyone older than 1 year old until Sep. Will update you re how we get on :-)

xtracex

I'm sorry you have been feeling lost, but child modeling is not the way to fill anything.
You may go months without anything - no calls, no castings, nothing. Then you may get a casting and get yourself (and your child) all worked up for it, it lasts 5 minutes and you don't get it. Disappointment for everyone.

I'm not trying to upset you or put you off, but it isn't something to take very seriously. There are literally thousands of kids out there for the casting agents to choose from.
I have seen so many mums pushing their kids, grooming them, and it never seems like it is for the kids, but for THEM.
It's really sad actually.
You asked why I was conflicted over it, well, that's one of the reasons.
I like the people who work in the industry, but a lot of the mums out there with their kids, are quite honestly - scary, and I feel terrible for their children.

ollipop BB are a really good agency, very selective.

I know wot you mean but trust me, Im doin this for jess not for me, Wot I meant woz something we can do together, Im not taking it seriously as I want this as just a bit of fun for us and I have no great expectations that she will land herself a role as sally and kevins long lost daughter in corrie or that she will be the next kate moss, Im not even expecting that she will get any work, just nice to try. I know it is a competitive field and parents drag their kids kicking and screaming to these things and the parents are just trying to live the dream thru their kids, but that just isnt the case for me, Jess happiness and welfare are paramount to her family and the minute she didnt feel comftable doin something she would not be forced or even coaxed, bribed, or whatever it is that mums do to get their kids to do wot they want them to. Jess has a big personality, she is sassy, spirited and sometimes stubborn and will not do something she dosnt want to and no amount of pushing will change that, but on the other side jess is talented, she can sing, dance, loves to play to audience and just loves the camera, so why shouldnt I give her the chance.

So are you LO not enjoying it then ??? I suppose I just depends how you look at it and why people persue this child modelling malarky, Is it child labour with the parents trying to make some money off the back of their kids, wanting their kids to have fame and fortune so they can ride on their coatails, or harmless fun with some really nice proffessional photos of the LO at the end of it with realistic expectations.

Hollybunda,

I have to disagree with your views on most of the parents in this industry, I mean sure there are probably a few around like that,
but I can honestly say nearly all the other mums/dads I have met are lovely, not pushy at all and are seeing it as a fun hobby with their children who are the type of child that absolutly loves doing this kind of thing, for the right kind of child it can be very rewarding, fun and good for their self esteem plus the money in the bank for when they are older is a real bonus. I agree that it is wrong to push a child into it who dosen't really want to do it, I have 3 ds's, the younger 2 model, but my oldest is not interested and that is fine with me, his intrests are elsewhere, such as sport, he loves cricket, football, and I am involved and behind him in that just as much as I am with the other 2 with their modelling, (not that they are really busy with it all the time, I have to add! but they have been lucky to have the experience of a few nice jobs between them)
Sorry to ramble on, just wanted to get the point across that we are not all pushy scary type mums!

well, I didn't say most of the parents. I said I have seen so many of them, and after doing this for 6 years with two kids on the books, I think it's a fair assessment.

There ARE loads of parents out there who are doing it for the wrong reasons and I have seen parents berate their kids for not smiling or talking or doing what they were supposed to do. Not all parents obviously, but they are out there.
It's really very sad to see.
so when xtracex mentioned that she was feeling low and this was something to look forward to, it rang alarm bells for me.

xtracex - of course you should let her try it out. it can be loads of fun. Just don't let it get to you. It's very easy to get excited about a casting, only to be let down. Or to get upset if you don't hear anything for awhile.
Just keep it in mind that it is a bit of fun.
I don't even tell my kids about their castings until that day or the day before, just so they don't sit and stew on it.

And my kids enjoy it, my dd more than my ds.
If they didn't, there would be NO WAY I would pursue it.

what happens if you sign sole agency with one, but then another you approached in first place offers a casting? you must turn it down i assume?