Are you looking to get your child into the modeling field? The first question you should ask your self is what you, as a parent, are willing to put into it. Although this is something for your child, your participation is very much a part of it. I have been in and out of this field for more years than I care to count. All this information I am going to give you is my experience and strictly my opinion, others will have there own opinion.
The first part of this quest is searching on line or in the yellow pages for modeling agencies in your area and if your like me you might also search for out of area agencies, you know, the big names that you would love to see on your child's' comp card and if you know anything about this field you know who the big names are! The draw to these names is very strong and that is what all models goals are but, you have a child, and your child and your family must meet strict criteria. I have been in both worlds as a parent, as a model, a models parent, and as a photographer and I give you this piece of advice, sometimes smaller is better! Shocked are you? Let me go into some details.
Tall, short, thin, chubby, freckles, no freckles, this is a constant changing world. What is in this season is out next season! It is fast paced, and you must listen to critique of your child, good and bad, sometimes insulting. You must understand that the modeling agency is strictly in it to make money off your child, they do not have time to make mistakes, they know what sells and that is what they want. They do not care if Timmy has a fever, or Suzie is sleepy this morning, they are not the parent, they are on a quest to make money and your child is simply their tool to doing so. I know it sounds harsh but that is the reality of it and it must become your reality if you are to succeed in this business because it is a business and your child is an independent contractor in a world where there are many that can fill the same part your child is going to audition for.
When looking for agencies in your area and you submit photos and they must be good photos of your child, they need not be professional, only good. You submit to the ones that accept children and you go on to submit to the big names as well. You get emails or phone calls that they are interested, some may take up to six weeks to reply as they get alot of submissions. You wait for the big names to call and when they do you get excited! You hold off replying to the smaller agencies because the thought of your child in a big agency seems the way to go, this may be your first mistake in this highly competitive world.
The question for any parent is not what is better for the child in this world because there is no solid answer for that. What is good for some is not good for others, but think what is best for the family unit as a whole, because all family involvement and unity is necessary! Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, they must all support the decision as it effects everyone in the family as well as the child's school, they will all need to sacrifice and make concessions.
In the big time agencies there is no time for preparing your child, the child must be ready at a moments notice to perform their required duties and this also stands true for the smaller agencies but there is a whole world of difference between the two. Yes, the bigger agencies may have the bigger clients, yet the smaller agencies also have big clients. Let me give you an example, A big agency that we belonged to in Miami had Walmart, Beals, Vogue Bambino, etc., but an agency we wound up with in Orlando, (which is not a five hour drive,) had Universal studios, Disney, Lands End, etc., so just because they have a big name attached to their agency don't be fooled by their client list as small agencies also have great work!
Another difference between big agencies and the smaller agencies is you get a more involved feeling, you have much more say and the development of the child is what is the goal. Don't get me wrong they are both about making money, but the smaller agency, I have to say it...cares more! We signed our daughter with a one of the top 5 agencies in the United States as her first step, and we were appalled by their bad behavior, we finished our contract, let it roll over once and proceeded to search for something that fit our family unit better and could offer us more on a personal level which starting out in this business I feel, is of utmost importance, but like most parents I fell for the bigger name (once again!) because I thought they would somehow be different!
There are some pitfalls with the smaller agencies as you must search a little harder to weed out the good from the bad as to avoid being scammed, but the smaller good agencies are out there, and if your child fits their agency look, they are more than willing to work with you. You will need photos and comp cards done, this is not a free ride as these are the tools your child needs for marketing, but choose your own photographer, let them give you a list of some in your area but always choose your own and DO NOT join any modeling schools, they are not for models, the only way to learn to model is to really model and any agency that wants you to join their school pack yourself up and run away as fast as you can!
I hate to say it but with the bigger agencies comes bigger egos, and it seems to be with all involved. The name is just a name but they take it a step further by somehow seeming to add importance to it yet the pay scale your child's receives is across the board, it is set by an industry standard, big named agencies do not get more pay for the same ad as a smaller agency, they get the same. The agent you work with must fit your personality because you must have the same goals for your child, the agencies is underlying as they are looking to make a profit but you must both have the same mind set as to where you want your child to go in this field. Let me give you an example of what I mean. We had my daughters photos done, (big agencies have their own photographers that they use so this is usually a must that you use them) my husband and myself thought they would be these powerhouse photos and could not wait to see them, what a disappointment, they were good but they should have been great! We see her and we have always seen her as older than her years but they took photos of her as if she were five years old and six months later they do not even look like her, so even though I wanted her to go into the teen division, they put her in the kids division and she grew out of it in a short time so, we needed more photos, and another five hundred dollars later we finally got the pictures we should of had in the first place. What I am saying is sit and talk with your agent, do not feel rushed or intimidated and see where there mind is pertaining to the marketing of your child and if you disagree, say so, you must be assertive, this is a dog eat dog business and it is a must that you acquire a thick skin!
Keep in mind I am not bashing big modeling agencies, they are a much needed source in this industry, I personally just think a smaller agency for first timers is a much better way to progress until your child is ready for the big time. Let him or her get acclimated to the demands of the business and to see if your family wants to continue in this venture. Don't let other parents intimidate you by trying to impress you with big names as you sit in a casting call, you know bigger is not better. Letting your child develop in a smaller agency gives them the confidence they need to go forth in a world that is extremely competitive and sometimes hurtful. It builds their character and sets the stage for knowing the responsibilities that must be taken seriously in this line of work.
Had I had to do it all over again, I would have been happy with the smaller agency we are now with( not to mention cheaper overall ) so it would not of have been such a learning lesson for my child, and her development in this field would have perhaps been more gentle. We are now happy with our choice of agency and realize she has all the time she needs to make it in the big agency, for now we are happy that she is building her college fund, enjoying herself, and believing that dreams even small really do come true.
