Answering a Reader Question #867

Unknown Wrote:

 Should you put your child in a modeling school? And will they guarantee them a job

Hi, Unknown!

I personally and professionally do not believe, encourage or recommend putting a child in modeling school UNLESS you simply want to help them overcome shyness and get a sense of what it is like to be in a new environment and around new people (and if money isn't a factor because modeling schools are expensive).

If the goal is to get your child into modeling professionally then you should submit them directly to modeling agencies, which is 100% free to do. No portfolio, professional images or previous experience is necessary or required. Digital snapshots of your child are all that is needed for a modeling agency to consider your submission, in addition to other information, of course.

Modeling schools get paid to offer services and cannot (by law) guarantee that your child will get a job or signed to an agency as a result of using their services. Even modeling agencies themselves cannot and will not guarantee or promise work. No one can make that claim because it isn't how the industry works.

I would strongly recommend looking online for modeling agencies within a 2 hour's drive from where you live and checking out the websites of agencies that come up in your search results. The websites will state if they represent kid/child models or not. If they don't, then skip that agency and move on to the next one. The agency websites will also contain information related to instructions/guidelines as to what you need to submit and how.

Best of luck!

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2016 at 10:20 AM

    Hi Dania, I hope you day is going well. I am 15 years old and I'm 5'10 I want to get into the modeling industry. I have a cousin who is a model in Germany and she was giving me tips but I don't know if they apply the same in the u.s. but, I have had surgery on my belly button and it has left a scar. Will that affect my chances for modeling? And do you know any good modeling agencies in Houston Texas? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dania DeniseFebruary 9, 2016 at 9:36 AM

    Hi, Anonymous! You'll find the answer to your questions in its own post, titled "Answering a Reader Question #871," which can be found on this site. :-)

    Thanks for reading!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Answering a Reader Question #1,037

Image
Charlie Wrote: I just had a conversation with my mother that modelling pays really well. And she straight up went like "it's a dirty business , you don't know what works models have to do to get on the top " . It was my way to tell her that I want to pursue modelling but before I could even tell that to her directly , I lost all my gathered up courage and I can see all my dreams dying right infront of my eyes. Hey, Charlie! I'm sending you the BIGGEST virtual hug right now...you are not the only one who has had the wind taken right out of their sails by a parent who simply doesn't want to risk their child being disappointed, possibly taken advantage of, or wind up as an example of why people shouldn't get into modeling. I don't know your age or what the situation is but if you are under 18, it's gonna be a bit of an uphill battle to try and convince your mom since it sounds like she's already made it clear how she feels. However, that doesn'
Read more

Answering a Reader Question #1,036

Image
Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, so kind of you to do this and support us young in the biz. I did a print spot for a well known company as a NU model last Oct. for $2500 1 year buyout. They are considering renewing for 2nd year $2500 and 3rd year $3750. I’m unrepresented atm. I am union now. I’m on hold for my first scene in a feature and I just worked a Chanel commercial (featured BG, let’s not roll out the red carpet here). But, one: I think, even with the strike, I’m moving on up, and two: isn’t 2nd year buyout rates supposed to be more? Could you help me on what an appropriate response would be or a fair counter-offer would be? Again, you rock. Thanks for helping the wide-eyed! Hey, Anonymous! You're SO welcome, thank you for being a reader and reaching out...congrats on the recent bookings you've gotten so far, that's awesome...and yeah, you are definitely moving on up. :-) As far as the buyout rate for the print job, I've been in the same scenario where the renewal rate
Read more

Answering a Reader Question #1,035

Image
Anonymous Wrote: I had a model agent say " but you are not the right type for us at this moment ". What does that really mean. Hi, Anonymous! Typically, that phrase is "agency speak" for politely saying you aren't what they're looking for. If you don't meet the physical requirements stated -- for example, if it was a fashion agency you were talking to and you weren't within their stated height or size range, that would be a common response. Or it could mean that your look isn't one that they feel is currently in demand at the moment and they don't want to take the chance of signing you, only to have you sitting on roster the entire time without any traction.  While it's not a great response to receive, it is their polite way of saying no, thank you. Now that you have a definite answer from that particular agent, you can move on to submitting to others and hopefully find the one that you are the right type for. Best of luck to you!
Read more