By Stephanie Oman, Co-Owner, The Imagery
Rod and I completed a modeling session today with a 2 year old and the parents are completely new to getting their child into modeling. We get asked all kinds of questions, and I thought I'd write down the things that we DO know, and share with any future parents that might come through with similar ponderings. After my theatre degree at Drake University I went to New York to further my studies and delve into the talent industry with agents, casting directors, auditions, lions, tigers, bears, the whole jungle. I was never trained for the marketing side of the business until I went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, and from there I continued to stumble into places that helped me along the way. I was a triple threat for the stage, but I only had a few auditions in the world of film and TV. I often wondered what it would have been like if I had started at the tender age of 2. I probably would have had much more confidence and a ton more experience in marketing myself. Once I re-settled in the Twin Cities I found myself qualified enough at knowing what I was doing as an actress, that I found work in acting training at all kinds of modeling schools and actually became the education director at one of the largest schools for modeling and acting. I did not like how the push to enroll in 'classes' came with promises of auditions, however, and eventually I met and married my husband and photographer Rod, and we have been in the portrait photography business at The Imagery ever since. Training parents on 'what to do next' with their photos and class experience was part of my past life, and has found it's way into the portrait business life as I meet parents now and then that want to know how and where to start. This is the advice I'm sharing with the session that will be here this afternoon. 2 Years Old. Wow. Photos to follow!
Getting My Child Into Modeling-- Top Things You MUST Know to Start
#1) Agencies do not require you to pay to be represented, legitimate agencies make their money off of jobs they find for you and take a percentage. An agent's job is to get you the AUDITION with a casting director. Yes, you will have to pay for marketing materials (photography and prints of headshots and comp cards--and you should be able to pick your own photographer even if they have a recommendation or a list), but you should not have to pay an ‘agency fee’ in order to be represented. If you would like to attend a modeling school or workshop, those will be good to learn the basics of auditioning and working with a photographer or on video, but they do not guarantee that you will then be represented, have audition opportunities, or get jobs, and if the school is guaranteeing this, run, don’t walk, away.
#2) The Agent finds you the AUDITION, not necessarily the JOB. Although your first step is to find an agent willing to put your child “on file” (see the bottom of this article for a list of agencies and their website info), ultimately it is the Casting Directors that these agencies have connections with that will post opportunities, and ask them to “submit” people that they represent, for consideration. The casting office may then take those submissions from the agent, and they will hire your child for the job based on the information alone, or, they might hold a casting call (‘audition’) for the job with the submissions they pick out of the hundreds received. In some instances the casting companies will post opportunities for ‘casting calls’ directly, that you can submit your child for without an agent, but often they schedule priority to children submitted by agencies first. That makes sense, since agents are hand-picking those clients that they know fit the description of what the casting director is asking for. Submissions that come without an agent, are potentially a waste of their valuable time.
If you approach companies directly for modeling opportunities (small businesses, boutiques, places that have a website presence and small budgets for marketing), be prepared to be offered work in ‘exchange for photos or products’, versus cash. In the beginning, this is a perfectly acceptable way to gain experience. It takes much more commitment on the parents part to do this, but it can give your child some much needed time in front of a camera before they have an agent representing them and sending them on casting calls for paying jobs.
#3) Once you have an agent and go on auditions, don’t take rejection personally, there are multiple factors involved that aren’t about your particular child. The casting director is looking at hundreds of photos from various agencies to determine if the child has the right look, personality, and ability to follow the direction that their client needs for a particular project. The casting director makes a recommendation to their client (i.e. ‘Target’, ‘3M’, ‘Best Buy’, ‘HyVee’, ‘Great Clips’ etc.) and that recommendation might still be rejected. Sometimes it is the speed at which they need to make the decision and they want to work with known commodities, other times they are taking more time to find a “fresh face” that has never been seen before. Other times, you just don’t know, don’t second guess it. Each audition is an opportunity for your child to gain experience and confidence, and move on.
#4) Don’t be THAT parent. Agents and Casting Directors and Directors all talk to one another. If you are the ‘stage parent’ that is always questioning, nagging, pushing, the people along the way that are making decisions, then you will be put on a ‘do not call’ list. Stay out of the way on auditions and shoots and let the professionals do their work. If rejected, smile, take advice, and move on, and never ever let your child see you upset or the auditions will no longer be a fun experience for them. That’s right, the AUDITION needs to be the fun thing, and if they get hired, that will just be the icing on the cake, not the ‘be all end-all’. Agents and Casting Directors have multiple choices and potential kids to work with. I have seen the stage parent syndrome affect talented kids. No matter how talented your child is, if you are difficult to work with as a parent, you will be silently dropped from consideration. There is no ‘break up’ letter, usually your phone will just stop ringing.
#5) Do your research and pay attention to what agencies are requiring for submitting your child for consideration, and follow their instructions precisely. How you submit your child to start with is important. If you don’t follow directions on their website, it’s a red-flag that you won’t follow directions throughout the process. Once submitted, follow up once, a week to a month after they would have received your submission, but that’s it. Often their website will instruct you how to appropriately follow-up if at all. It is ok to re-submit if you haven’t heard anything, every 6 months, with NEW photos, since your child is constantly changing. However, see #4.
#6) Now you are familiar with #1-#5…Time to call a photographer and then submit to agencies! Get a good professional, close up and full length photo of your child, that shows their personality (even if the website says it can be a photo from a cell phone, a professional photo is best for your child to stand apart), and get going on following the agent’s directions on how to submit your child to become part of their available pool of talent. Welcome to the modeling world! And if you’d like to work with The Imagery on your photos, just give us a call to schedule your appointment at 952-890-7640. We are a good place to have your child first experience working with direction and commercial photos.
One last thing--- If you are called in for an interview, don't make it any different for your child than going in to have a chat with a friend--in fact, practice having friends 'interview' your child with questions about themselves and practice letting them answer in as clear a voice as possible. The key is when an agent asks questions of your child, let THEM answer. Agents know that a 2 year old is going to behave differently than a 4 year old, is different than a 10 year old. Don't sweat it. It's about finding out how they listen, and how they express themselves at the childhood stage they are in NOW. Don't expect them to be perfect--it's not about that--just let them be them.
Top Agencies in Minneapolis are (in no particular order) see also the blog “https://creativekidscasting.com/minneapolis-talent-agencies/”:
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Moore Creative Talent Inc. Nearly 30 years in the Minneapolis area, well known and competitive. http://www.mooretalent.com
2. Wehmann Model and Talent Inc. Kids Division Since 1984, it is one of the first agencies in the Minneapolis area and very well known. To become a new talent click here, http://www.wehmann.com
3. Meredith Model and Talent Agency. http://meredithagency.com/. Click on “Become A Talent” and follow the sign-up process.
4. Talent Poole. Located in St. Paul this agency works exclusively with MN talent. To learn more click here, http://talentpoole.com/
5. Agency Models & Talent. They have a very visible New Talent Submission form that walks you through the process in a few easy steps. This agency has been around since 1996. Click here to view their site, http://agencymodelsandtalent.com/
6. NUTS Ltd. This is a Non-Union Talent Agency, located in Minneapolis. Click to view their site, http://nutsltd.com/
Check this out! Creative Kids Casting is a blog that will help you with resources along the way. Her tips come straight from being a ‘mom manager’ of her own kids, and her experience in production and being behind the casting desk herself. She will lead you to other tips and places to go for information that is specific to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area:
https://www.sociallyours.com/talent-agencies-minneapolis/