New and a bit confused (re Bizzykidz)

[Cooks6]

Hello,

After being asked to join a few agencies about 15 months ago we decided to sign up our son with Bizzykids (he was 7 then, has just turned 8 now). We signed him up last Jan, he had on audition for a commercial
the next week (which he didn't get) and since then only had one audition in the whole year.

I know it all depends on what casting people are looking for, but is this normal? Do other people just not hear from agencies at all? We get an email every now and then to say he's on a shortlist for an audition, but they never come to anything.

We've done all we can, he's on the agency look book with professional photos etc.

He really loves acting, has done lots of performances at the threatre school he goes to.

I've heard good things about A&J as acting agents, but are they sole agents? Would we have to leave Bizzykidz? I only ask as for one of his Xmas presents, ds asked his grandparents to pay for his update photos etc for Bizzykids, bless him.

Thanks.

[janine]

Hi, I cant answer your question about Bizzykids directly,as my daughter is not signed to them, but have you signed up to any of the casting websites. http:/www.mandy.com & http:/www.talentcircle.org , are free sites & would give you the freedom to apply for roles ect for your son yourself .http:/www.starnow.co.uk
http:/www.thecastingwebsite.co.uk & http://www.castingcallpro.com are sites which all charge,but would give him good audition experience & the potential of jobs, which would help the look of his Cv
This may be a good way for you to see for yourself what auditions are out there, & gives the parent a certain amount of control.
one thing to say the auditions coming from your agent are proberly much better paid than those available on these sites, as oftern there is fierce competition for a no pay job! It sounds as though your son is just desperate to act, how lovely & what dedication to prefer new photos ( in the hope of work) to a present. my daughter is 7 & would do exactly the same.
Maybe a phone call to your agency, asking their advice,if you live outside of London this may be why , seems a lot of CDs like kids that are commutable to our Capital.
My daughter is with Chillikids, & they send everyone an e-mail on potential jobs & if you fit the requirements & you are available you can ask them to submit you. I really like this way of doing it, as I can see exactly what shes submitted for. They are Non-Sole agents.
Whatever you decide, Good Luck to him for 2011!!

[Cooks6]

Hello, thanks for your reply.

We are comutable to London, just over an hour for us, and as ds is homeschooled, we don't have to worry about when auditions take place etc.

He is with Chili Kids as well actually, but the same thing, we've had a few emails texts but nothing has come of them. We are not bothering to update pics etc for them this year, we are going to let that slide.

It seems such a pity really, we only looked into it as he does LAMDA acting exams and after every one he did the examiner would always come out and tell us how great he did and had we looked into agencies.

It's just all a bit frustrating at times!

I will look at those sites, thanks so much for taking the time to lst them!

[sophiesocks]

My ds is a similar age to yours he will be 8 in February, he has been in a dozen short films,a run of pantomime and been on channel 4 in a documentary with Jo frost, he got down to the final 6 for a lead in a feature film over the summer and he does not have an agent. We are starting to look into it now but I have so far represented him and he has done really well from websites like starnow, Mandy and talent circle, he has been to 2 other castings for feature films and for a cbeebies program. I wouldn't say that not having representation has held him back so far and has let us find out if he really has a passion for acting before joining an agency and he seems to be enjoying himself. I would go to the websites for him as I have found them to be very useful. I have now sent his details in to abacus and are waiting to hear if they want to meet him, apparently they will be in touch by the end of deb so fingers crossed. My dd is 5 however and does have an agent as her drama group also runs an agency but I would say ds has had more successes so far than her.

[snookienoo]

Mine are with Bizzykidz. Youngest one has been with them for a couple of years and been successful. He's had lots of lovely jobs. My eldest has been put forward for a few acting roles as well, so for me they have been great. I would look into an acting agent as well. I believe as long as you only use BK for photographic and voiceover work then you can join the acting agencies such as A&J. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!
Also like Sophiesocks mentioned, get some acting experience in by looking at Starnow. Good luck x

[francescasmum]

I agree with sohpiesock. My DD has been acting for 9 months and has done over a dozen short films, three feature films and two theatre runs, mostly through me trawling the internet. With all the experience she has gained 'off our own back' the agents and Cds are taking her seriously and she has been given some high profile opportunities recently because of her experience.