Anyone with Acting Kidz?

Give advice, ask questions and find out information about Agencies.

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Shaz12
Nominee
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:23 pm

Anyone with Acting Kidz?

Post by Shaz12 »

Hi I’m new to this, have already posted this but think I put it in the wrong place! My son has an audition to join Acting Kidz, I’m not sure about them at the moment due to poor communication. Has anyone else got children with this agency?
Pandora II
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:58 pm

Re: Anyone with Acting Kidz?

Post by Pandora II »

Personally I would pass...

Had a quick look at their FB page and website and:

a) several negative reviews and very few positive ones
b) they seem to post pictures up of everyone who is going up for auditions. I know pretty much when all the WE audition dates have been in the last 12 months and they appear not to have sent a single kid. Given that these are open calls that don't even require an agent, that seems a bit odd to me - although they don't say that they specialise in theatre, so maybe that is why.
c) they charge £169 for their website plus £60 for photos, (don't mention that Spotlight will be another £98 per year) and take 25% commission. Just for a comparison, the agencies I am considering charge around £60 for an annual photoshoot plus the Spotlight fee, but otherwise they only charge commission (15 - 25%). The £169 is ridiculous.

There are plenty of agencies out there. DD has been with two - I made the error of putting her with a very large and not very selective agencies. Didn't cost me anything financially other than headshot and Spotlight, but also didn't help DD at all. I've spent 18 months DIYing and we're now looking for the right agent - hopefully I'm a bit more clued up as to what we are after. Worth reading all the different review on here, and have a think about what you are looking for in an agent and the sort of jobs your child is interested in.
Shaz12
Nominee
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:23 pm

Re: Anyone with Acting Kidz?

Post by Shaz12 »

Thankyou for your advice, I have been having doubts about it and I thought the fee was a bit much. Are you able to recommend anyone? Have been looking at the top 20 recommended agency’s.
Pandora II
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:58 pm

Re: Anyone with Acting Kidz?

Post by Pandora II »

What age is your son, are you London-based, are you looking for MT, theatre, TV, film, TVCs or anything in particular? Also does your son train in dance, singing, acting etc and/or have any experience? Plus, are you up for the horror that is being a parents in this industry (my husband swears he is never attending another audition ever again).

The answers to those will give an idea of the direction to look in. Some agencies will only take you if you have a couple of big roles under your belt and no point in applying if you only decided this would be fun at Christmas, others are easier to approach.

The list of 20 are all pretty good afaik.
Shaz12
Nominee
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:23 pm

Re: Anyone with Acting Kidz?

Post by Shaz12 »

He is 11, we are not London based, we are an hour away from London by train. My son really wants to do TV, Film and TVC, he would love to do MT as well but realistically I don’t think we would be able to do that with not living closer to London.
He has been attending a local theatre company since he was 4 years old, he attends 3 classes a week and performs in at least 6 shows a year with these on stage locally.
He also performs once or twice a year with a local Amateur dramatic group.
He has been in a professional Panto playing the part of Michael in Peter Pan and has played a main role in a short film made by a local film company.
He has also takes Trinity Guildhall exams in singing and Acting and is learning to play the guitar.
I have thought about this a lot for about a year now, he just loves performing so much and at the moment he wants to go on to some kind of Acting/Theatre university when he is older. I thought if we try it now and he may get more of an idea If he stills wants to go into the industry when he is older.
I will admit I am worried about how we will cope with it all and not really sure what to expect but after thinking about it a lot I think we need to at least give it a try.

A&J management have asked to send a self taped monologue in. Which agencies would you recommend?
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