Expert: Kitty Kavey - 8/6/2009

Question
I live in Hamilton, NJ and would like to get my daughter started in acting/modeling. She attends dance and takes ballet and tap. Loves to be in the sportlight and has a great personality with her Shirley Temple curls. Please help in finding me a place to get her going.

Answer
You're not too far from Philadelphia, and if you don't find an agent there for your daughter you could consider commuting to NYC where there is a lot more work, and more agents available.

Philadelphia/New Jersey is not known for having the top agencies, but you could try the Screen Actors Guild list of franchised agents: http://www.sag.org/content/find-agent

You can use your favorite search engine to find websites of any agencies you're interested in.  Many of the agencies in the SAG list also have modeling divisions, and some represent children of your daughter's age.

Another way to find agents closest to you would be to look in your local library, bookstore or online for books on child modeling and/or acting that contain an agency directory.  There are also several good agency directories available for the NYC area (the Call Sheet may also be available on newsstands, and is online: http://www.backstage.com/bso/call-sheet/index.jsp#

Look around and see what you think would be right for your daughter and you.  I would avoid agencies that do anything other than act as an agent - so if they offer classes/training, photography/printing services or that sort of thing, keep looking.  Ideally an agency should be earning their living by taking a percentage #usually 10-20%) off of the money a model/talent earns through them.

I hope that there is a good agency closer to you than NYC, and good luck to your daughter.
~Kitty