Knowing when to find an agent is tricky, are BOTH your child and your family ready for it?

Maybe your child LOVED being in the school play, or they have a friend who was in a commercial, or maybe they've always "wanted to be on TV"; whatever the reason, your child wants to become a professional actor! When do you know they're ready for representation?
Being a child actor is exciting, but it can also be a lot of work for both children and they're parents (maybe more work for the parent!). Understanding that talent agents have certain expectations for their clients is important, so here's a quick checklist to ask yourself if you're not sure when to start the search for representation.
#1 - "Does my child have experience acting?"
I'm not talking about professional credits, I'm talking about any acting whatsoever! If your child has done a school play and they enjoyed themselves, you know that they're open to going further with acting. You want to know that acting is something your child is passionate about because a potential agent will put their time and effort into your child's career and you want to make sure the kid has fun!
It's also a way to show a potential agent that your kid is outgoing and not shy. A child with a more extroverted personality has a better chance at booking commercials, which are the first kinds of auditions new actors will be submitted for.
#2 - "Has my child taken audition/acting classes?"
Just like any other sport or activity, your child is expected to attend "practice/training classes" or what we call "acting class"! I'd recommend putting your child in an "audition" or "on-camera" class, they're different from theatre classes because they focus on developing auditioning skills child actors need to have in order to book work. It's also more disciplined and teaches children how to focus and listen to instructions from other adults.
#3 - "Can my child take direction?"

This is probably the most important question to ask before you look for an agent. Whether your child is 5 years old or 13 years old, they need to be able to listen to a director and apply the direction they give them without question. Sometimes I've seen kids in class who debate or argue with instructors, are unsure how to apply the direction, I've even seen kids who get offended or upset that a direction was given. Because child actors are expected to work "like little adults" on set, they need to behave a certain way and it can be a hard ask for some kids.
#4 - "What do I do if my child isn't ready?"
This is the important thing to remember with kids in the acting industry. They're kids! They have all the time in the world to explore acting and to become professionals! Some kids are ready to start their careers when they're tiny babies, others might not be ready until they're 10 or 12 years old. There's nothing wrong with waiting until your child is ready, I know there's a FOMO (fear of missing out) but acting will always be there. Don't stress! Acting is supposed to be fun!
For more tips and tricks, check out www.TheDramaClass.com !
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