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Tips To Protect Your Child Actor
By Jamie Jamison
Tips To Protect Your Child Actor
Getting your child into the acting business can be lots of fun for
both you and your child. As your child gains more and more fame, it
will become more and more apparent that you need to protect
their welfare. It's a crazy world out there, and even young children
can acquire rabid fans and stalkers. Here are some tips to help
protect your blooming star:
Most of these items involve common sense, but you will be
surprised how easily they are forgotten when your child has a
chance at stardom. Keep your wits about you and remember your
number one priority is the welfare of your child, not booking the
part.
Don't look for agents in the mall. If you get a flyer asking you to
bring your child to the mall to meet with a talent manager, run the
other way. Many of these companies make their money by
charging outrageous fees for photographers and showcases. They
thrive on signing hundreds of kids, hoping one of them happens to
make it big.
Do your research. Never stop learning about the entertainment
business. Read books on child actors, auditioning, acting
technique, and biographies of former and current child stars.
Attend workshops and seminars in your area.
Stop using your child's social security number on their resume. It
use to be commonplace to use a social security number on a
resume so producers, directors and casting directors could refer to
you as a number when you went in for an audition. This is no
longer the case. When your child signs in for an audition, there will
be a spot for their SAG number. If they are not in the Screen Actors
Guild, leave the box empty or ask the receptionist if they can use
another number.
Change your phone number. Once your phone number is listed, it
will remain in online directories and even print directories for a long
time. Simply changing it to be unlisted will not stop people from
finding it out and calling you at home. Obtain a new number and
keep it unlisted.
Check your child's fan mail carefully. Once your child has appeared
on a TV show or in a movie, they will start to get fan letters. While
this may seem neat at first, you must be careful when allowing
your child to read the letters that come in. Look over the
envelopes carefully and note strange addresses. Letters from
prisons oftentimes are marked ¡°Inmate Mail¡± or may have a
strange address that looks like a P.O. box.
Avoid leaving comments on fan web sites. While at first it may
seem cool to see a web site dedicated to your child, avoid
contacting the maker of the site or leaving feedback in a
guestbook or forum. Your computer information can be tracked
fairly easily, allowing them to get even more personal information.
Take your own digital cards to your photographer. When it is time
to get your child's photographs done for their portfolio or comp
card, ask if you can bring your own digital card for the camera. If
the photographer still shoots on film, make sure that their session
fee includes giving the negatives to you. By protecting the raw
images of your child, you will help prevent their likeness from
showing up on online auction sites tomorrow or in years to come.
Audit an acting class. Instead of shelling out the full fee for an
acting class ask the instructor if your child can audit their class.
Most will say yes. You should be skeptical about those who will not
allow your child, and a parent, to sit in on a class or two.
Provide a support structure for your child. During the course of
your child's career, they will be turned down many times for
different reasons. It is important to have both internal and
external support mechanisms for your child to turn to when they
need to talk or vent their frustrations.
Register your child's name as a web site domain name. As soon as
your child books that new commercial, TV show or movie, register
your child's name as a ¡°dot com¡± immediately so nobody else can
steal it out from under you. Registration services are under
$10/year at most places, so it will be a cheap investment in your
child's safety.
More Info at http://www.best-agencies.com
About the Author
Author represents Best Agency. A leading Television Modelling Company. Visit them at http://www.best-agencies.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/27931.html
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