NotaPushyMum.Com

I have a bit of a dilemma and wondered if any of you have found yourselves in a similar situation...

DD is nearly 9, has been with a brilliant agency for two years but still has yet to get a job through them. She's attended castings for a few adverts and stills shoots and auditioned for a musical and CBBC thing in the two years but has only got as far as being pencilled for a couple of things. In the mean time she's started ballet (and been told she has the potential to be a dancer) and taken up the trumpet (passed ABRSM grade 2 with distinction after a year of group lessons at school) so she is developing interests that weren't on the horizon when she was first taken on by the agency. She has secured a couple of jobs through StarNow (one singing, one music video and one short film) and thoroughly enjoyed both experiences.

I wasn't expecting her agency to want to renew her contract as they have a couple of other 8-year-old girls who are regularly getting jobs and DD is never going to be a popular choice modelling-wise as she's fairly tall for her age. However, her agency are interested in keeping her on which means I have a decision to make: do we sign up for another year, recognising that reaching the all-important-for-licensing age 9 may help her, or is it time to accept that DD is just not what CDs are looking for...especially when they can select similarly aged girls who have lots of TVC/modelling experience under their belts?

Any input would be much appreciated - I wasn't expecting to be in this position! FWIW, DD would really like to be in a musical, ideally Matilda i.e. shows that hold fairly open auditions.

Thank you!

Is there any money involved in signing up for another year?

If there is - then, in my opinion, that's your answer.

TVC's and modelling jobs are just lottery tickets really. Some people's faces fit and they get work - others don't. I would certainly not base a decision on whether or not to stay with the agency on the likelihood of getting TVCs and modelling (unless this is something your dd really enjoys the castings and doesn't mind the random nature of it all).

As you obviously recognise, you can find out about the big musicals without an agent - and it's certainly possible to get involved in interesting low pay/no pay or amateur work without an agent.

It's quite often the case that actors can do far more performing in the amateur/youth theatre arena than in the professional arena - so if performing is what she enjoys she need not be turning her back on this at all by leaving the agency.

Does the agent make any charge other than Spotlight?

Thanks PG. There is an annual charge of £60 for maintenance/hosting/admin of the child's web page. The only other cost is Spotlight which is an optional extra.

Since posting, DD has auditioned for another TV series so opportunities are coming her way, it's just hard to know if we're barking up the wrong tree!

dd never had many castings - although she's short, she always had a 'grown up' face - her agency was cool and charged nothing other than the spotlight fee, and she enjoyed the bits and pieces she did get, so she stayed with it - and amassed a nice lump sum to start her off at uni - but now she's decided acting's not for her - but she doesn't regret a minute of it

Thanks for the replies, it's always good to hear that we're not the only ones who've been in this position.

We've had the official invitation to renew DD's contract with the agency now but I've declined. As she's on Spotlight (and will be for the next year+) they've offered to represent her through Spotlight and to submit her only for things that select via audition for which she can prepare i.e. a situation that she is very comfortable and confident in. I've asked for details about how this would work but it certainly seems like a good way forward for DD.

I agree with the OPs about amateur and open auditions. My Ds has loved the acting he's done with amateur groups.
Also, have you considered background work? My Ds is with an agent that specialises in employing children for featured or extra roles. Of course they won't have as much focus on screen but my DS loves it and for me the benefits are - very rarely required for auditions, generally get several weeks notice, several jobs a year. He also loves meeting all the other children and cast. He says at school you talk about which films you've watched - on jobs people talk about which films they've been IN!
There's no way I could fit in auditions and castings around my job and family so this suits us fine. Let me know if u ant our agents details although it would mean paying out fees etc.