Does My Child Need a Talent Agent to Start Acting?

A Parent Safety Note About Self-Submitting

I want to stop here for a second because this is really important to me.

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Please be careful about where and to whom you are submitting your child.

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When you’re using self-submission platforms or responding to casting notices online, don’t automatically assume that everyone posting a project has been thoroughly vetted.

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Remember what you may be sending them:

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• Your child’s photo.

• Their name and age.

• A video of your child.

• Possibly information about where you live.

• And sometimes other personal details.

You need to know who is on the other side of that submission.

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Unfortunately, there are a lot of creeps out there, and when it comes to kids, I am always going to err on the side of being overly cautious.

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Before submitting, take a minute and look at the project. Who is producing it? Who is casting it? Does the information make sense? Are they asking for anything that makes you uncomfortable?

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One of the first places I tell parents to look is IMDb. You can research the Producers, Directors and Casting Directors involved in a project and see what they’ve worked on before. It’s a great starting point for getting familiar with the people behind a production.

And remember, just because someone has an IMDb page doesn’t automatically mean they’re legitimate or that a project is safe. It’s simply one more tool to help you do your homework.

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And please trust your gut.

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No audition or acting opportunity is important enough to compromise your child’s safety or privacy.

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This is one of those times when I’d much rather you miss an opportunity than ignore something that doesn’t feel right.

Are Self-Submission Acting Jobs Worth It?

Some absolutely can be.

But I don’t want you spending all day submitting your child to everything just because it’s available.

A lot of the opportunities parents can access themselves may be unpaid, low-paying or simply not the kind of credit that’s going to move your child’s professional career forward.

And remember—your time has value too.

Every audition takes time.

You have to get the material ready. Your child has to learn it. You may need to tape it, edit it, upload it and submit it.

Before you do all of that, I want you asking:

Is this opportunity worth our time?

That’s very different from:

Can I submit my child for this?

So, Does My Child Eventually Need a Talent Agent?

If your goal is for your child to pursue acting professionally, yes, I want you working toward getting the right Talent Agent.

A good Agent gives your child access to professional opportunities you aren’t necessarily going to see yourself.

But it’s not just about getting more auditions.

We’re trying to build a career.

I want your child to audition for projects that can help them build meaningful credits, develop relationships with Casting Directors who can bring them back again and again, and yes…

Make some money so they can start paying for their own acting classes and expenses. 😂

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Don’t Rush to Find Just Any Agent

And here’s where I’m going to stop us—because finding the right Talent Agent is an entirely different conversation.

Your child doesn’t need an Agent the second they decide they want to act.

First, let’s make sure they’re ready.

Let’s get the right foundation underneath them.

Then, when it is time to look for representation, you can approach that process strategically instead of signing with the first person who says yes.

Because remember:

The goal isn’t just to get an Agent. It’s to get the right Agent at the right time.

And don’t worry—we’re going to talk a LOT more about finding the right Agent when we get to Finding Representation.