TIPS ON CHOOSING AN ACTING CLASS FOR YOUR CHILD  

Part III - From Acting Class to Agent Representation 
Contributed by Nora Feldman -- Youth Arts Editor

The acting teacher tells you that your child displays quite a bit of a talent. What do you do now?  What is the next step? 

First, you need to determine as best as you can whether or not your child wants to continue with acting.  Sometimes hobbies such as sports or playing with friends are more important to a child than taking another acting class, doing a play or pursuing an acting career.  It is important that you honor your child’s wishes.  From an agent’s standpoint, nothing is worse than watching a child audition who really doesn’t want to be there.   

If your child does want to continue, have him/her take another class or audition for a play to see how the child rises to the challenge or copes with a possible defeat if rejected.  If your child seems to take both challenges and rejection in stride, then maybe you might want to consider continuing. 

Should you consider continuing, it is important to note that a child who is going after a professional acting career ultimately is a decision which involves the whole family.  A family member or legal guardian must be available to drive the child to all auditions and work.  That means that if you have other children who participate in a lot of activities or you have a job, a career in acting for your child may not be a good choice for your family.  However, if you have flexibility and can drive your child around, you may want to take the next step. 

Take some good ‘smiley’ snapshots of your child. Create an acting resume listing your child’s name, phone number (Never list an address on the resume, just a phone number that you have no problem giving out.), age, hair color/eye color, all public performances your child has ever been in and a list of skills such as singing, bike riding, skate boarding (whatever the child does well with confidence) which goes at the bottom of the resume after the acting credit. 

Ask other ‘acting’ parents if they have recommendations of an agent; some parents will gladly tell you, while others will remain guarded.  You can also get a list of kids’ agents from the Screen Actors Guild website.  There are also books available at Samuel French Bookstore and other theatre/film industry based bookstores which have listings of agencies and whether or not they handle kids, and the names of the kids’ agents. Take your recommended agent names and agent names you’ve researched - - mail off a brief note about your child along with the picture or two with the resume attached to each agent on your list. 

If an agent is interested, they will get in touch with you.  Whatever you do, don’t call them to follow-up, for whatever reason, that agency had to pass on your child. 

Let’s say you don’t get a response, have your child continue in acting class -- an agent or manager might see them there and express interest.  Or, if your child is old enough, have him/her go after a part in a local play that agents, managers and casting directors might attend scouting for fresh talent.   

And, this is Hollywood!  Sometimes kids are even ‘discovered’ at school, on a playground, or walking on the street. 

Best of Luck!