GETTING STARTED
What Should Parents Expect When Their Child Starts Acting?
BY JENN BOYCE
FORMER HOLLYWOOD TALENT AGENT & FOUNDER OF THE HOLLYWOOD PREP
I’m going to tell you something parents don’t always realize when their child decides they want to act:
Congratulations! You just got another job. 😂
Sometimes it feels like your second job. Sometimes your third.
Because even though your child is the actor, there is a LOT that happens behind the scenes to make their career possible—and much of that falls on you.
How Much Time Does Being the Parent of a Child Actor Take?
You need to be prepared for things to come up at the drop of a hat.
Auditions don’t always arrive neatly on Monday with a due date of Friday.
You may get an audition today that’s due tomorrow.
For TV and film, most first auditions are now done by self-tape, which has made things much easier for families.
Commercials are different. I would say they’re roughly a mix of in-person auditions and self-tapes, so depending on what your child is pursuing, you may still need to get in the car and get to an audition.
And sometimes you aren’t going to get a ton of notice.
That’s just part of the business.
Do We Need a Self-Tape Setup at Home?
Yes.
If your child is going to pursue acting professionally, I want you to have a self-tape setup that’s polished and ready to go.
It doesn’t need to look like Steven Spielberg built a movie studio in your living room. 😂
But you don’t want to be scrambling every time an audition comes in trying to figure out where you’re going to tape, whether the lighting works or where you put the tripod.
Have your setup.
Know how to use it.
And be ready.
Because when an opportunity comes in, I want your energy going toward helping your child give a great audition—not figuring out how to film one.
And don’t worry, you don’t need to turn your living room into a professional recording studio. 😂
You just need a good, reliable setup so that when an audition comes in, you’re ready to go.
If you’re not sure where to start, I put together a blog that walks you through the basics of creating a great self-tape at home, including some of the equipment I recommend.
How Quickly Do Parents Need to Respond to Their Child’s Agent?
Quickly, within 15-30 minutes.
This is something I cared about A LOT as a Talent Agent.
You need to be available and responsive to calls, texts and emails.
If your Agent sends you an audition or asks about your child’s availability, they need an answer.
And I know you’re busy.
I know you’re at work.
I know you’re picking another child up from soccer.
I know you’re standing in the grocery store trying to figure out what everyone wants for dinner. 😂
But here’s what I used to tell parents:
You’re carrying a computer and a phone in your pocket.
There really aren’t many excuses anymore for disappearing for an entire day.
You don’t necessarily have to solve everything that second, but you can acknowledge the message:
“Got it! Let me check and I’ll get right back to you.”
That tells your Agent you’re on it.
And Agents LOVE a parent who’s on it.
What Does It Mean to Be a “Can-Do Parent” in the Entertainment Industry?
I’ve always said this business loves a can-do parent.
The parent who says:
“Yep, we’ll figure it out.”
Audition tomorrow?
We’ll make it work.
Self-tape tonight?
We’re on it.
Need updated information?
Sending it now.
Those are the parents Agents love working with because we know we can count on them.
But—and this is important—
Being a can-do parent does NOT mean saying yes to everything.
You’re still the parent.
There are going to be times when something doesn’t work for your family, isn’t right for your child or simply doesn’t feel right.
You are allowed to ask questions.
You are allowed to set boundaries.
You are allowed to say no.
What matters is how you communicate it.
Being professional, responsive and easy to work with doesn’t mean blindly agreeing to everything that comes your way.
It means being someone your child’s team knows they can communicate with, count on and trust.
Your Child May Be the Actor, But This Is a Family Commitment
That’s probably the biggest thing I want parents to understand.
Your child may be the one in front of the camera, but the whole family participates in making this career possible.
There will be auditions.
Self-tapes.
Driving.
Schedule changes.
Emails.
Paperwork.
Last-minute requests.
And yes, occasionally a little chaos. 😂
That’s why I want you to think about whether this works for your family, not just whether your child wants to act.
Because when the child loves what they’re doing and the family can realistically support the journey?
That’s when this can be a whole lot of fun.
Jenn's
Take
Being a can-do parent does NOT mean saying yes to everything.
You’re still the parent.