In spite of some reservations, I allowed my son to audition for a TV commercial. He was fortunate enough to be offered a part, and it filmed last week. I was really surprised by the whole experience- it was so much fun! We did have to be there quite early and it was a very long day. I really didn't understand before the day of filming, but my son had a "principle" role. He got to be in the "star trailer" (totally makes me giggle just to type that, it sounds so completely overblown for what it was!), got make-up and wardrobe, etc. Everyone on set was great- the primary cameraman even held my son on his lap for a few minutes so he could see how the camera works. I got to see a few seconds of footage and it was so so cool to see my little one on the big flat screen. I can totally see how parents get carried away with this stuff. Who doesn't like being told how adorable and talented their kid is? And most important, he had a blast. It was so amazing to see the same kid that I tell to focus 87 times per day...focus with such single-minded determination on getting a scene right. He did things 5 and 6 times in a row without complaint, took notes and applied them, it was like some strange, idealized version of my kid! It was just a great experience.
So now, as I feared, my brother and sister in law are really encouraging us to look at more opportunities. I am open to doing this again, but I am thinking maybe 1-2 times per year, not making a crazy "career" out of it. I have had several people tell me that I should talk to an agent. Again, even the phrase "talk to an agent" in reference to my 5 year old just sounds ridiculous. But I suppose it couldn't hurt to talk to someone, lay out my expectations and find out if there are options and opportunities out there. My question- if we go to talk to an agent, what should we ask? This is just a tiny toe in this whole world, I would welcome any advice from moms who have been there!
Thanks so much for reading- I know this is largely self-serving bragging, but i am super proud of my little man and giving some thought to how much effort I want to put in if this resonates with him long term.
Thanks so much, everyone!!
The commercial is airing in select cities nationwide. It is for Cold Stone Creamery- my son is the "tee-ball boy." His "fake mom" is way cuter than me :)
I am not sure what the "normal" way to get involved in this would be...we kind of stumbled into it through my brother in law. I have seen other posts that say you need to get an agent first to track down auditions. I am happy to pass on the name of any reputable agents that we track down in this process!
Congrats! How exciting! I don't think it is the industry that is inherently the problem. It is the parents that get goofy. You sound like a mom with a good head on her shoulders! I say go for it and talk to an agent. What an opportunity! Please keep us posted!
How exciting! Congrats! Tell us what the commercial is so we can watch for him!
Yay! I remember your earlier post and reservations. I am glad it was a good exepreince for you AND your son.
Hey, ride the wave until you want to get off it:)
Congrats to your little guy. Heck, if anything it can help pay for college!
I don't have a child in acting, but we did work a lot with children at the ad agency both for photography and TV commercials.
You definitely want to find an agent or a company. NEVER pay upfront for anything, and you don't need to pay a lot for professional photo shoots or anything. Any company that tells you that is trying to make money off of you. A simple headshot and body shot (and even one you take yourself) is fine. You should definitely not pay to have your son featured in a book that "goes to all the companies" because that's not how it works. We contact the agency, they send us the candidates and we choose them based on their photos (again, just headshots and body shots) and recommendations.
It's an interesting business, easy to get "caught up" in, but it can be rewarding. Just be prepared for a LOT of rejection. Honestly, the way we chose children for our TV commercials was basically based on our mood of the day! We picked the kid that we could "picture" being in the commercial and that was it. So don't take rejection as being a commentary on your son and don't let him take it personally. Sometimes we want a little brown-haired boy with cute cheeks, sometimes we want a blonde girl with curls. Pretty much all the kids are "charming." I think that's the hardest part, the rejection--and it's not even personal. I could tell a lot of moms would get in snits at auditions, or try to make their child be "more" what we were looking for. Don't be that mom! Either your child has it or they don't (and they might not be right for this spot, but they could be right for the next).
Good luck!
An agent will be able to get him more auditions than you can on your own. He doesn't have to go on every audition the agents calls him for, and he doesn't have to accept every job that's offered to him.
The only up-front fees an agent should ask of you is for head shots. The agent gets paid a percentage from what his/her client gets paid for the job - usually around 30%.
Congrats. As for future work, see how it goes, take it slow and have fun with it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I don't think it's bragging. You have a legitimate question...do you contact an agent? My take? HECK YEAH!!! Even for one or two "gigs" a year...
Yes, that means you would have to pay and give him/her a portion of your proceeds, however, it's best to have someone who is knowledgeable in the industry having your back.
As to what you should ask? I don't know. Here's this.http://filmtvcareers.about.com/od/gettingthejob/a/AT-GetA...
do an internet/google search about finding an agent and go from there!!
have fun!!! good luck!!
Congratulations! I think it's wonderful that you both had such a nice experience.
Sorry I don't have the experience needed to answer the question!
I don't have advice, but I will say I love the bragging. I love hear parents' pride in their kids! It give others an opportunity to celebrate. Very glad it was a fun experience and here's to many more at your choosing.
Don't worry about your brother and his wife. Enjoy yourself. I do think an agent is actually a good idea. They can help you keep from getting cheated.
Dawn
i know in ca they wont work you with out an agent or work permit. i would seek out a reputable agent (one that doesnt ask for money! not even for head shots!). they will interview your son and see if he fits the current look that is being sought out. my daughter got a great agent when we lived in ca. but it took her friend multiple times to get in with the same agent. since we moved my daugthers friend have been booking things left and right (shes an amazing little girl :)). you have to be ready to dive in. its like another full time job driving to auditions, missing work if he gets booked for something. also invest in good head shots!!! not walmart pictures good professional head shots! i see it as your helping your child secure their future and also value hard work.
How fun. I remember your earlier post, I'm glad it all worked out well. I have always wanted to see if my kids had what it takes to do something like this. It would be a great way to get a college account funded. i think my younger son would love it but not sure what my older son would think of it. I know someone approached you about this but do you know how a mom would go about getting her kids involved in something like this? Enjoy and have fun!
