Expert: Kitty Kavey - 9/17/2008

Question
i have a 6 months old baby, hes very active and smiles a lot, everyone tells me he is just beautiful and i should try to put him on tv commercials or something like that. what should i do?? i live in Tyler, Texas 2 hours away from Dallas. what places can i go to, or who should i talk to??

Answer
While older models/talent generally need professional materials, usually models/talent under around age 12 can use snapshots to submit to agents, and even once they are represented for the agency to submit to clients.

If you already have a couple of good, clear snapshots of your son, I suggest looking at the agencies in the Dallas area to see if they accept talent that young.

There are modeling agency directories available in your local library, bookstore or online, and books written about child modeling/acting that also may contain an agency list - although in the latter case it would be of agents who have a children's division.

Many agencies that accept all ages still have a minimum age, perhaps two or four years old, and may not represent babies - so you will have to check with each agency individually.

Also, many agencies nowadays have a website that details submission instructions for new faces, as well as agency criteria.  

In Texas, agencies need to be licensed with the state, and should not be charging up front fees, but rather take a percentage off of the work they find for talent/models.  You can report any agencies you find to the state, and file a complaint against them if they are not in compliance with the law.

Try the agents listed below.  They are from the Screen Actors Guild list of franchised agencies, so not only have to comply with state/local laws and regulations, but also guild rules as well.  Again, the problem you may run into is that there are so few agencies who represent babies, either you'll have to wait until your son reaches the minimum age for agency consideration in your area, try freelancing/representing your son yourself, or move to a larger market that has both the work and the agencies to support your son.

Good luck to you,
~Kitty
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The Campbell Agency
3838 OAK LAWN AVENUE STE 900 DALLAS, TX 75219
214-522-8991
http://www.thecampbellagency.com/

Mary Collins, Agent C. Talent
2909 COLE AVENUE, DALLAS, TX 75204-1307
214-871-8900
http://www.marycollins.com/

The Horne Agency, Inc.
4420 WEST LOVERS LANE DALLAS, TX 75209
214-350-9220
http://www.thehorneagency.com/

Linda McAlister Talent
100 OAK LANE WAXAHACHIE, TX 75167
972-9382433
http://www.lmtalent.com/

The Clutts Agency
1807 ROSS AVENUE, #167 DALLAS, TX 75201
214-761-1400
http://www.thecluttsagency.com/

Tomas Agency
1017 ELM STREET, CARROLLTON, TX 75006
972-446-2221
http://www.tomasagencytalent.com/
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