3 Parent Tips on Raising a Child Model

One thing many parents of aspiring child actors and models fail to realize at the onset of their children’s careers is that they have to be 100 percent involved in every step of their child’s career. And more often than not, it’s when parents fail to be there for their children when their prospects of achieving modelling or acting success get sidelined.

Here are some tips for parents looking to manage their children’s careers the right way.

1. Let Go of Rejection

Rejection is something every child model will have to experience. Unless you have the greatest of luck, your first audition will likely result in you being turned down. But that’s alright, as it’s part of the game. When you’re done with an audition your child didn’t get accepted to, move on and don’t talk about it, unless of course, your child wants to discuss it.

See every chance to be in an actual audition as a win on you and your child’s book. The mere fact that you were considered for the audition is already a big deal, so don’t take things too hard if your child didn’t get accepted at an audition or by the best modeling agencies for kids.

2. Parents are Not Directors

When your child is working, let go of the reins and allow her to work on her own. Nothing annoys an agent or photographer more than a parent who tries to get into the shoot, making suggestions, and generally prying into the work their child does. Remember that at shoots or on sets, you are there as your child’s source of emotional support. Your presence is meant to keep your child safe. It is not your job to interfere into a photographer or director’s workflow.

3. You are Only a Team Player

A parent’s in a child model or actor’s life is to work within a large team of people working on your child’s career. That role, as mentioned earlier, is to provide emotional support and guarantee your child’s safety. Many parents, after learning a thing or two about how their child makes money as a model, make the mistake of thinking they can expertly manage their child’s career. However, what they don’t know is that they don’t have the crucial network of contacts the best modeling agencies for kids have.

Long story short, don’t take on more than you can chew. Learn your role and stick to it.

Stage Parents: What to Do at Auditions

A good audition is perhaps the most telling sign that your child has booked an acting gig. Whether it’s you who’s doing the auditioning or your child in front of the panel, it’s important that you know the rules of decorum that acting agencies in New York for kids and other agencies around the country expect you to abide by.

Approach it Like You Would a Job

Think of an audition as a job interview. As with any job interview, child actors and their parents have to be aware of a number of rules before they even step into the audition or casting area. More importantly, parents have to make sure that their children know how to behave when auditioning for a role.

You Are Also Auditioning

If you’re the parent of a child actor, do take note that acting agents will also judge your ability to support your child through his career. Casting directors and agents will want to know right away whether you have the right attitude and ability to be pleasant to work with when they hire your child. Child actors must always have their parent or legal guardian on set during an acting job, so you’ll be playing a huge role in your child’s career.

Some of the more specific rules on proper behavior at a casting call include:

Avoid Chewing Gum 

Although it may seem like common sense not to chew gum in an audition for courtesy’s sake, many kids still come to casting calls chewing on gum. Unless it’s actually part of a character’s description, ensure that your kid steers clear of chewing gum.

Make Eye Contact

When instructing your child on how to best behave in a casting call, teach him the importance of making eye contact with the members of the panel. Teach your child that making proper eye contact is an essential part of proper etiquette.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that during the entire length of the audition, your child should make direct eye contact the whole time. Instead, teach your child to make direct eye contact when introducing himself.

Let your Child Be

Nothing’s more annoying to casting directors and agents than parents who can’t seem to let their children work on their own for a few minutes. It’s normal to want to be there for your child during an audition, but please, don’t overdo it. Let your child work on his own and show the panel what he has got to show.

Modeling Tips to Give your Career a Boost

The modeling industry may look glamorous and fun, but underneath the glitz and glam is an industry that’s highly competitive, with many models vying to get signed with the top modeling agencies in New York and Los Angeles.

That said, it’s not surprising why many models will gladly jump at the opportunity to gain an edge over their peers, whether it’s through reading tips or knowing insider secrets about the industry.

Below are a few tips that should boost your modeling career.

1. Be On Time. Always. 

Tardiness seems to be a symptom of many models in the industry—little do they know that it actually hurts their career and puts them in a bad light in the eyes of photographers and agents. When attending open calls or appointments with agents from modeling agencies in New York, it’s important to make as best an impression of yourself in the eyes of your interviewers. Besides, punctuality is a basic factor in being professional.

2. Be Yourself

This actually means two things. First, agents and clients want to see the real you during an interview, so don’t go overboard with the makeup and outfits. Use as little and natural-looking a makeup you can when going to interviews and don’t be too fashion-forward with what you wear. Go for the classy, professional look.


Secondly, being yourself means just that—letting your personality shine in front of the agents and clients. Of course, being yourself doesn’t give you clearance to misbehave. Don’t chew gum, suck on a lollipop, or do anything inappropriate in a business setting.

3. Speak Up

In an interview, you want to exude confidence when speaking to the agent or client. Make it a point to speak in a clear and confidence manner when answering questions and telling the recruiter/agent about yourself. Relax and let your personality show, but don’t be sloppy—and by that I mean not slouching and giving a firm handshake.

4. Don’t Do Anything you’re Not Comfortable With

Many unscrupulous people and organizations pose as agencies looking to rip models off or at the very least, milk them for all their money. There are also those who harass models by goading them to do nude pictorials and other potentially embarrassing acts. Never get yourself forced into these situations and never allow yourself to do something you’re not comfortable with. Far too many models have fallen for this scam all because of their desire to get in the industry.

Using the Web to Find a Modeling Agency

If you’re a teenager in Pennsylvania looking to become a model, one of the first things you’re likely to do is get signed to one of the many reputable modeling agencies in Pennsylvania. The jury’s still out on whether a modeling agency is necessary, as many models out there who work on a freelance basis. However, it’s hard to deny that a modeling agency, particularly one that specializes in representing teens, makes life better in general. Agencies help you save time, effort and energy—all of which should be focused on trying to become a great model.

In the old days of the industry, models often had to troop down to New York or Los Angeles to attend casting calls at the country’s top modeling agencies. Thankfully, the advent of the Internet has changed all that, with agencies now offering online portals of their respective organization online. This has made it easier to search for an agency—however, it’s also made it more dangerous.

While the Internet has made it easier for legitimate agencies working within the law to reach out to more talents, it has also made it easier for unscrupulous agencies to hoodwink talents into paying them exorbitant fees.

What to Watch Out For

You should always be wary with agencies that ask you to pay up large amounts of cash for something as simple as a few pictures for your portfolio. Although there are agencies that require you to pay for certain fees, they often explain clearly where the payment goes to, showing that it’s justified.

Likewise, an agency with no physical address or contact information should raise red flags—it often means they’re operating outside the law.

Look for Feedback Online

Perhaps one of the best things about the Internet in context of the modeling industry is how it gives you access to feedback about agencies and agents. You could for instance, go to online forums where other teenage models post about their experiences with agencies, ala product review style.

A Legit Agency Takes Care of You

A legit agency will often go out of their way to help you build your portfolio, starting by organizing a professional photo shoot for pictures to forward to clients. When scouting for information about modeling agencies in Pennsylvania online, ask about what they can do for you as a talent under their care. Always be aware of the perks of signing up to an agency, that way, you know why you should even bother applying.

So You Want to Be a Victoria’s Secret Model? Here’s What you Need.

Even if you’re busy still looking for the right modeling agency in Pennsylvania to represent you, it’s likely that you have the dream of making it big as a model in the back of your head. Perhaps one of the biggest achievements any model can reach is being part of the Victoria’s Secret lineup of models, who each year, walk down the runway in a grand fashion show to promote VS’s latest collection of lingerie.

If being a Victoria’s Secret model is a goal of yours (hey, if you’re going to dream, dream big), here’s what you need to know and have.

Measurements, Height and Age

As with most other high fashion agencies and houses, Victoria’s Secret hires models that usually stand between 5’8” and 6’. Besides height, VS models must meet specific measurement characteristics, the better for designer clothes to hang on them. Since Victoria’s Secret’s main products are lingerie, models must have the coveted hourglass figure to wear them. A model with a 34-inch chest, a 24-inch waist, and 34-inch hips is perfect, although slight variations are more than acceptable, especially if a model has other desirable traits, such as beautiful facial features.

Age is also another important factor for Victoria’s Secret models. Since VS makes a habit of investing in models for the long run, younger models are usually desired. Victoria’s Secret’s main market is composed of young women, but not too young. Rookies should at least 18-years-old, but not older than 22.

Body

Victoria’s Secret models are often referred to as goddesses, and for good reason. Models under the fashion house must be in great physical shape, capable of modeling revealing lingerie and walking down runways in high heels on live television or at the very list, in front of a highly esteemed panel of casting directors.

At the very least, Victoria’s Secret models have to have full lips, high cheekbones, small nose, smooth skin, glossy hair and a toned body.

Personality

One of the most common factors aspiring models forget when applying at modeling agencies in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country, is personality. Victoria’s Secret models don’t just model lingerie, they play an active role in promoting VS’s clothes. Victoria’s Secret models may look ravishing, but their appeal is mainly towards women, so it’s important for models to be friendly, outgoing, professional and courteous. Indeed, a Victoria’s Secret model should be beautiful both inside and out.