ASK AARON - October 1999 Answer
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Tags: children modeling
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From Kristin, CO
I am interested in getting my daughters started in modeling. They are 10 and 3. What do you recommend we look for in an agent or agency?
Dear Kristin:
There are two types of people you might want to contact to help your children get started in modeling – agents and managers. Keep in mind that some agents do work with children, but some only work with teens and adults.
Managers do more than just send their models and actors to auditions. They help guide and mold their careers. For that extra service, they will take a percentage of any jobs the model or actor books. The fee can range anywhere from 10 to 25%. Here’s how it works: An agent will get a phone call about an audition for a project where children are needed. The agent (if she does not represent children) will call managers of children. The agent describes what types are needed and the manager will submit the appropriate children. The agent will also get a percentage for the booking. That fee could range from 10-20%. If your child is a member of SAG or AFTRA, the agent is only allowed to take a 10% commission.
A very important rule to follow is to NEVER pay an agent up-front fees. Having an agent ask you to pay for mailings, long distance phone calls, etc., is not a common practice. An agent should ONLY receive a payment of a percentage of each booking. The only other time you might pay an agent that does not involve a booking is if the agent asks you to be in his or her agency book.
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