Expert: Peter Messaline - 12/11/2007

Question
Hello my name is Shalena Dudley and I am the mother of a 4 year old girl and a 14 month old son.  My children are exceptionally beautiful and extremely talented; I live in New London CT and I want to get my children started early because they have so much to offer and I really do not know where to start.  Can you please give me any information that you have to assist me?
Thank you so much!!

Answer
Your main problem, I'm afraid, is that you are two and a half hours from NYC on the I95.

If you were lucky enough to get an agent to list your kids, you'd have to audition only in the middle of the day, and spend a whole day driving, parking, auditioning, finding the car, driving...
Or you could go by Amtrak at between $80 and $116 each way.

Since you could expect *at least* ten auditions before scoring a job, you'd have worked for two weeks before making any money, or having much fun.

The problem is that there is VERY unlikely to be any sort of legitimate local modelling or film/TV work for your kids because, ironically, you are so close to NYC. Anyone wanting promotional work done will look to NYC for the best selection of models and photographers.

You may find local agency/schools which advertise opportunities, but that sort of operation can't change the business facts. They may just possibly give classes that your kids like, but they will not be seriously in the business of advancing careers. Typically, people are snowed by the agencies and end up hundreds of dollars out of pocket with nothing in writing about the promises, and only a set of mediocre photographs as a souvenir of a lesson learned.

Enjoy your kids, enjoy the admiration you hear in stores and family gatherings, and let the kids enjoy their childhood without a five-hour commute.