I have been asked by a talent scout to promote my DD - Should i say yes??

[lilima]

I have no idea about this industry. I have been approached by a talent scout in regard to my DD. They want her to be considered to sign up for B.ambini T.alent A.gency. Mainly to do catalogue work, or TVC.
Does anyone have any experience in this industry that they would like to share?
Especially in regard to the agency that has approached us? Please PM me if you prefer, but any advice would be much appreciated.

I have absolutely no idea - I don't know how much such places cost, or if this is a reputable one. Or if this is an industry I really want to get my DD into anyway!

Many thanks
meg

[BellyBelly]

I prefer to call them sales people They are looking for people to sign up in their books. If its something you want to do, do it, but its important to realise there is no guarantee and you never know what the casting people are looking for. My daughter did modelling work for Target, Big W etc but all they really get at the end of the day is $85 a shoot (around that amount from memory) and you have to travel there, wait for the shoot and drive home. Unless there are bigger jobs she is able to secure, thats what most of the jobs consist of. I hope I dont sound like a wet blanket but there are many companies for kids modelling and they get paid per each registration.

[Amaunet]

Do you have to pay to join their books, have a photo shoot etc? If yes, then I wouldn't bother.

[Rivlas]

One thing I would also consider along with what Kelly said is your other child. How it will impact on him and also your family life.

[peanutter]

We had a similar experience, and ended up out of pocket.

Sure, we got some really nice pics, but we paid $500 for the privilege, and we could have paid that amount with a professional photographer to get 100s of pics with the whole family.

Remember also that for every commercial they do get, you can easily have been called in to go to 2-10 other casting calls for the jobs you *didn't* get.

And sometimes those casting calls involve 2-3 different locations, in various studios (warehouses/sheds) which can be hot and awful, and your child is expected to smile and be happy the whole time... Sometimes with awesome photographers who muck around with them, help keep them happy etc, and sometimes with people who are *also* tired and cranky and frustrated, in non-weather-appropriate clothes, who seem to think you can magically make your child camera-perfect.

We went to a few, and soon decided the "operational costs" and time as against the amount of money being received were NOT worth it ... If nothing else, our tie going to the park, feeding the ducks and jumping in muddy puddles was being replaced by endless drives out to Docklands and South Melbourne to wait in a room for an hour before 10 minutes of camera shoots, then driving madly to the next place for the next part of the shoot, etc.

I also was quite shocked by the judgment of other parents - the ones who are asking what we were doing with our child's "hard earned money" (I kid you not) and asking whether we'd set up an appropriate trust fund, to manage my child's investment, etc. I made a somewhat tongue in cheek comment about the $55 having been deducted from DS1's debt to me for the $500 joining fee, the $25 parking fee, the $7 petrol, my time as chauffeur ... works can't describe the vitriol that followed from her, or the looks from the other parents.

All that aside, if it was something my child really wanted to do, because they wanted to get into acting or something, I may well view it the way I would soccer club or violin lessons - an expense in terms of time and energy and money, but giving them opportunities to find passions and meet new people and try new things.

If it's because you're happy that someone else has seen what beautiful babies you make, and you might be able to make some extra money, then make sure you're managing your expectations, and know what you are and aren't happy to do, and set a time for how long you'll give it a crack before reassessing whether you think it's worthwhile.

Before joining, I asked around here, and with some friends who have tried similar things (and my mum, who did catalogue stuff for all of my siblings) and I am yet to find anyone who actually made any money, or enjoyed it much ...

But I did hear plenty of stories from people who ended up with some nice photos.

So with DS2, we have elected not to sign him up, but just to take that money, and we'll get some professional photos done of the 4 of us

[Dollyroux]

They're is quite a lot of casting calls made for multiples and that particular agency keeps coming up with negative comments in multiple forums.

[lilima]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I still don't know what we will do. DD really wants to do it, but she really has no clues on what it actually involves. Anyone know of any good ones?
Maybe I can enrol her in some drama classes instead and she can do some community plays.....