Kids Modelling Agencies

Shew Joli! That does sound hectic. Just worried about the part where parents are not allowed to go on set or at the castings. That would not sit well with me Lol!

Thanks a lot though for such a thorough breakdown. Definitely gives me a better idea. My DH works flexi hours as he runs his own business so it should not be a problem to take her to castings or shoots etc.

Joli - Did your girls do modelling? And if so, did they enjoy it?

Thanks Julz! The waiting part is what kept me from not joining. I also heard the same thing but apparently some agencies allocate a specific time slot for each kid so they dont have to wait for endless hours. will definitey go with the one that organises the castings better. Right now am just investigating the options.

Hi. Can't help you with agencies, but can help you with the - how does it work -

You will register with an agency. From there, they will call you if and when a casting agency need kids which match your child's age and sometimes look. Sometimes the requirements are very specifi, blue eyes, blonde hair etc. and you will waste your time by taking your child (and yes some agencies will still try and send you - very annoying so you need to find out what the script is looking for).

From there you will take your child to the casting - they will always only call you a day in advance and sometimes the same day - so you need to be able to get away from work if you work.

Sometimes you will be lucky and it will be quick. You child will get a number and then get called in and asked a couple of questions and sometimes they ask them to do something. You are not allowed to go in with them, only if they are very small. Sometimes there will be like 100 kids at the same time and it can take a couple of hours.

Then you go home and if you child is selected, they will call you and you need to take her back once again. They call let's say 10 - 20 kids back that's been shortlisted. From these kids they will choose the final kid(s).

After this you will need to take your child for a wardrobe fit - they will tell you where and when. This can take anything from 10 minutes to 4 hours.

Then on the shoot day(s) - you need to be there normally from quite early - about 7 or say and you will stay most of the stay. Your child is only allowed to work a certain number of hours per day, but this is broken up so you will most probably be on set for the entire day. One parent is normally allowed to stay on set with the child, but once your child reach school going age, no parents are allowed on site.

And that's about it. Hope it helps.

Nayeela, my friends kid did alot of adverts. He loved it and earned alot from it.

When Dylan was 5 months old I was asked to sign him up, but I know that my friend would be given 5 hour notice to be at a casting which would last for hours and then your child may not even be chosen.

She got to the point where her son was so popular that she refused to go for castings and some of the trusted agencies would call him straight to the shoot, but it takes a while before you get to that point.

So I decided against it. I am a working mom who can't just take time off at the drop of a hat to take Dylan to a casting and not all kids enjoy it or hanging around for hours at a time.

I can't tell you anything about agencies. Some have a very good reputation so if you can get your child in with such an agency it may be more organised.

Are any of your kids into modelling?

About a month ago a friend of mine referred K to an agency in Bellville and the agency contacted me. I looked into it but never gave it a try as first of all Bellville is so far from me and most of the castings took place there and secondly its an unknown world to me.

For those with kiddies that are modelling, please let me know the following:

1. Pro's and Cons
2. Agencies that I should stay away
3. Recommended agencies closer to the southern suburbs of Cape Town or CBD
4. How does the whole thing really works?

Thanks!