Getting your child into "show business" is very confusing and filled with many barriers to success.  Watch out for the following:

 1. Model searches...What you'll find out is that you spent a lot of money to be seen by people who just as easily could have screened you from a mailed in snapshot. These events are money makers for the people who put the searches together, not you. 

2. Internet agents/casting websites are another one to be wary of. Make sure you investigate thoroughly whether these websites are working for you or making money from you.

3. Don't bother with the combination school/agency. Many of the places that spend so much on radio and print ads to get your attention are exactly the kinds of places you should avoid. They get you excited about your future in modeling or acting and in the next breath try to enroll you in their school or sign you up for picture packages. The so-called agency that they have is really just bait so they can generate money from their classes and photos.  A good school will first of all only be a school. They will also allow you to audit (check out) their classes so that you can see the quality of their education. See our school page for a current listing.
     
     Here is a simplified step-by-step for getting your kids in the biz.
        1. Know your child. Being cute and adorable is not enough. Well-mannered, easy-going children who can warm up to strangers quickly are much more valuable to the people who need them. You can make your child better for this business by encouraging them to look adults in the eye when speaking and by letting the child answer questions by themselves. Making sure they understand proper etiquette and aren't running around as you stand by will help their career more than you'll ever know.

        2. Send a legitimate agent a good recent snapshot (no shadows on face, happy expression). Don't spend money on quality photographs until you know that there is a market for your child.

        3. Once you get good feedback, get good pictures. There are a lot of parents working hard to get a lot of children into modeling and acting. The thing that will separate you from them quickly will be your ability to look and be a friendly professional. This includes returning phone calls quickly, being on time, not being an overbearing stage parent and being an excellent business person. (We can show you how...see our Business of the Show workshop page).

         The best parents with successful children in show business know that their job is to make sure that their kids are happy, well-rested, properly fed (candy...NO!), on-time and always bring something for them to do during down time (schoolwork, coloring, books, Gameboy, etc.)

        5. The more available you and your children are, the more likely they will work.    
    
        6. Be patient. A lot of people are trying this out too, but most will quit within the first year because it wasn't the easy money they thought it was.

GOOD LUCK!