Does performing professionally as a child affect your chances of becoming a performer as an adult?
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 10:39 am
Hello,
I just have a query that’s been nagging me for a while. For those parents whose child has been through all the training, etc, do you think it helps for long-term career prospects as a performer to have performed professionally as a child?
My DD is 12 and is doing lots of extracurricular training and takes part in youth theatre such as RARE productions and YMT, but doesn’t have an agent and has never done professional work. A lot of children at the YMT residential have agents and I hear about agents and West end shows a lot on this forum. She’s now 5 foot so too tall for west end shows and to be honest, I don’t have the time or energy to take her to any more auditions (than the youth theatre ones) as well as all her extracurricular activities. I was very laid back about the whole performing thing when she was younger and was afraid of being the parent that ‘thinks their child is great when they’re not’, so she has missed out on trying out for west end shows, etc. The local panto is not using children at the moment and auditions for other more distant pantos clashed with other activities!
Basically, it would be a struggle to get professional work for her and my gut feeling is she should focus on training now, but I just keep wondering if she’s missed out. Any input much appreciated many thanks!
I just have a query that’s been nagging me for a while. For those parents whose child has been through all the training, etc, do you think it helps for long-term career prospects as a performer to have performed professionally as a child?
My DD is 12 and is doing lots of extracurricular training and takes part in youth theatre such as RARE productions and YMT, but doesn’t have an agent and has never done professional work. A lot of children at the YMT residential have agents and I hear about agents and West end shows a lot on this forum. She’s now 5 foot so too tall for west end shows and to be honest, I don’t have the time or energy to take her to any more auditions (than the youth theatre ones) as well as all her extracurricular activities. I was very laid back about the whole performing thing when she was younger and was afraid of being the parent that ‘thinks their child is great when they’re not’, so she has missed out on trying out for west end shows, etc. The local panto is not using children at the moment and auditions for other more distant pantos clashed with other activities!
Basically, it would be a struggle to get professional work for her and my gut feeling is she should focus on training now, but I just keep wondering if she’s missed out. Any input much appreciated many thanks!