Should Your Child Have an Agent

It can be a daunting task to make all of the decisions as a parent for your child when it comes to the business of acting. To you it may be a fun hobby that your child is interested in and you are flying blind when it comes to finding work that your child really wants to do. So you may be asking yourself if your child needs an agent.

The plain fact is that Show Business is a business and if you want to succeed you need to treat it like a business and seek an agent. In reality you can find work for your son or daughter without an agent but many times that is non union work and will not do anything but give them experience. If that is all you want for now that is okay.

But if you want to get into the auditions that will get your child the jobs they want to go out for that will require the help of an agent. The reason is because agents receive breakdowns for jobs that actors do not. So if you want to get in on what is being cast you will need an agent to get you in there.

Your child's agent will submit them for projects through the audition process. If chosen the agent then will call you, or email, and let you know that your child has an audition. They will give you the time and the address and ask you to confirm that you will bring your child there.  They will be the life line between you and the casting director until your child books the job. 

Another reason to have an agent is because of their knowledge of the business. They have the legal background of looking at and negotiating contracts. They also have the networking contacts that you do not as a parent to get your child into the audition. Their reputation will get your child in the door where you cannot.

An agent will take 10% of the earnings that your child makes. This is warranted for all their hard work. They are working basically for free until your child books a job. They earn their commission will all the hard work they perform and your child does not book (secure) employment.

Yes there are the lucky lottery winners who get plucked out of a mall and make it big, but this is very rare. Most child actors have not only a caring parent behind them driving them all over Los Angeles but also an agent who believes in them and working hard to book them jobs.