Expert: Hyunjin Jo - 12/10/2006

Question
My daughter is 11 years old and very beautiful. People make comments about her every where I go. She is very passionate about modelling and acting especially in the Disney shows. My question is: How can I find a legitimate agency that does not ask for thousand of dollars up front?  

Answer
Hi Devika,

WOW.

First off, ABSOLUTELY NO legitmate agency will ask for any money up front (let alone, thousands of dollars) to represent a client.  Agents and managers receive a commission WHEN they get a job for the client and not a minute before.

You didn't mention what city that you're located--which plays a part in the gameplan in trying to get representation.

Generally, though, the easiest way is to first contact SAG (Screen Actors Guild) to receive their list of approved contract representatives (agents and managers).  Every metropolitan city is going to have a SAG associated office.  You can check find out your closest BRANCH office (assuming that you're not in the Los Angeles area) at their website at http://www.sag.org then select the "branches" link.

The other thing is to check out LOCAL commercials and LOCAL television shows that have younger talent.  Contact the production company and say that you're trying to contact a particular actor (such as the kid that was in that commercial, etc., etc.) and could they provide their name and their agent contact.  This will at least get you the name of a local agency (who represents children) that actually gets work for their clients.

The other thing is to sign up for Actor Access http://www.actoraccess.com   It's free to sign up and you can create a profile with your daughter's photo and resume and submit yourself to acting opportunities on your own.  Because you don't have an agent there is a charge to actually submit yourself, but the charge is only $2 per submission.  The nice thing about this is that you can have your account set up so only roles that fit your daughter would be emailed to you than spending lots of times for roles that your daughter is not appropriate.  There is no guarantee that she will get a job or get called for an audition, however there is a better chance since the jobs are solicitating submissions  (jobs listed range from commercials, print jobs, television and film) and also you can set up your profile that agents who might be looking for new clients can search for your daughter.  This might be a good place to start, because you only mentioned the looks of your daughter in your question.  Meaning she might be great for print ads, but you didn't mention at all any talent for acting.  There are plenty of attractive people who doing modeling, but have absolutely NO talent for acting.  There are very different occupations.

On another note:  Don't get too preoccupied on spending too much money for pricey headshots.  I'll be the first person to say that great headshots are worth their weight in gold (whether the person spent $100 or $1000), but when we're talking about children, where with growth spurts, etc., it's not worth it to spend too much money.  Half the time, the school portrait is enough to get started.  So, don't get trapped by someone telling you that you should spend lots of money on headshots (at least to start off).

If acting is something your daughter is interested in and let me stress what I just said--your daughter is interested in.  Note:  I did not say something YOU are interested in for your daughter (I see too many parents wanting their children to have an acting career when it's not something the child actually wants--AND there is NEVER success if that's the case).  If you're daughter is interested in acting, then what you should pay money for is acting lessons, specifically an acting coach that will teach your daughter how to behave appropriately on set.  (Many broadway actors have difficulty, because acting on stage is very different from acting on a film/tv set).  The acting classes will be two fold.  One she get acting training AND most acting coaches will know agents that would be appropriate for your daughter.

I know this entire process can be daunting, but the above information will get you started on the right path.

Good luck to you and your daughter on all your future endeavors.