Happy Universal Childrens Day. Since MAX is a talent agency that represents many Toronto child actors/models, we thought wed put together a list of some tips to follow if you are raising one!
#1. Dont let your child audition unprepared
As the parent of a child auditioning, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child is as prepared as they can be. If there are lines or sides to memorize, make sure they know them. If they are asked to dress a certain way for the audition, make sure they are in proper attire.
#2. Stay relaxed
Your nerves or agitation will affect your childs nerves as well. Stay as calm as you possibly can so your child will be on their best behaviour too when they go in to audition. You also dont want to make a bad impression as a parent because casting directors may remember that and not want to work with a difficult parent.
#3. They must have energy
Your child must bring their own unique energy to a performance for the best results. Dont necessarily just have them perform the script exactly as is, let them add a bit of themselves into it so they really stand out against all of the other kids auditioning. They have to shine!
#4. Put them in professional acting classes
The best way to ensure your child can meet the standards is enrolling them in professional acting classes. This allows them to practice their craft and be coached by a professional. It will allow them to get over the natural nerves they have and be a better performer. It also gives them the chance to interact with other actors.
#5. Get them involved in activities to improve their abilities
Getting your child involved in activities such as school plays and community theatre are key ways to improve their chances for auditions. The child gets more comfortable performing for a crowd and rids them of their shyness. You can also consider dance classes, sports or other activities!
#6. Do not overstep boundaries with casting directors
You can not take casting directors decisions personally. Whenever theres a rejection, accept their decision and move on. Do not nag them, asking what your child did wrong as it will just make a bad impression. They do not have time to respond to every upset parent. It is most likely that your child will not be as affected by it as you and are able to move on easily so you should too!
#7. Do not try to control them
Do not force your child to do anything they dont want to do. If you notice your kid is not enjoying the auditioning/acting process as much as they used to, check in with them and see if this is still something you should be doing. The happiness of the child always comes first.
#8. Must be willing to dedicate your own time
As a parent of a child actor or model, you must be willing to make sacrifices and be flexible with your time. There will be a lot of travelling to and from auditions along with taking time off of work for their shoots which a parent must be present for. As your child is not capable of being completely independent, you must be supportive of whatever they need to be successful.
#9. Must be willing to invest in it
When starting out in the business, you have to be willing to invest in it a bit. As mentioned before, paying for acting classes and the gas getting to auditions. In addition, you will have to pay for professional photos/headshots to be done and you may have to take smaller paying gigs at first. In the long run, your investments should pay off as your child starts to get more work.
#10. Stay organized
Similar to the point of being flexible, you must also be extremely organized. You must keep track of auditions, bookings, classes, extracurricular activities, etc. It is your responsibility to get your child to auditions and shoots on time, in proper wardrobe and with lines memorized!
Photo credit: pixabay.com
Max Agency is a successful model and talent agency in Canada representing men, women and children. Max Agency is involved in providing actors, models and entertainers for the film, television, fashion and advertising industries as well as appearance in trade shows, promotions and special events.
If you would like your child to be represented by an agency, fill out an application with us now: http://www.maxagency.com/application.php
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