Which modelling agency should I go for?

[castanha]

Hi there

I sent my daughters pics to few modelling agencies in London. Bizzykids replied rather quickly and I liked their very detailed email with lots of instructions and the way they work like taking the child into their studio and getting to know them better also taking professional photos...their price is not too bad either but doing some research I found out that they seem to accept everyone and are not sole agency.

My daughter was accepted also with Elisabeth Smith which I thought was a very good agency but they are asking me for £175 registration without any sort of audition and no professional photos done by them...I can use domestic photos for my daughters profile and the contract runs only for a year.

She wasn't accepted on Truly Scrumptious but they close their books on September and I am still waiting replies from Chilly kids and others...

What do you think?

Anyone with real experience with BK or ES?
Help please!!

[castanha]

sorry I posted it on the wrong place

[igloobabe]

Argh! £175 registration???

I'd give them a wide berth - the charges almost certainly won't stop there! Chilli kids are inexpensive, they only accepted one of my dds and we haven't had any work at all, so not great, but that just may be they are the wrong look, age, etc.

[pollypickles]

Had experience with BK for 2 years and was not impressed! DD only had one casting with them in a year and I think that they take on hundreds of kids! I was encouraged to use their photographer but was never really happy with the photos which is probably why we had a lack of auditions/ castings. I would personally go for a smaller agency that charges little or no money up front.

[Trish2410]

I thought that one should never pay an agency (unless of course it's for photo's) is it different in modelling>?

[pleasingdance1]

Both dd and ds were accepted by Elisabeth Smith again without any meeting, interview etc. Was totally put off by the £175 x2 and they said it could be paid in installments still decided not to go along with it.

[igloobabe]

Well, we can see how they make a living!! Accept everyone, take their £175 and never bother again!

[missmoneypenny]

I think that the never pay relates to any adult modelling agency. It is quite normal to pay something at a child modelling agency - although this can very hugely!! Elizabeth Smith is a very well established agency, but to be honest I would only go with them if I had a baby/toddler - I do not see them at any of the older kid castings. If you are close to London then I would definitely try the well known London agencies first - they are very selective but they are also very busy - and usually there are very low start up charges - although you do generally pay something for a photoshoot/ to have a web page made etc, but again, this varies hugely. In my opinion the best ones to try around London are Bruce & Brown (books closed until around christmas), Kids London, Urban Angels, Grace & Galor - these all have a great client list - also Bonnie & Betty are coming up as a contender - they have a growing client list and a low start up, and I think they may take kids from slightly further afield - but could be wrong there.

Hope it helps x

[castanha]

Today I also received a reply from Tuesday Child Agency. They do require to meet and interview all applicants and charges one off of 120 with free photo test. The money will refunded in case the child cant be accepted after the photos are assessed. Anyone ever worked with Tuesday Child.
I read the Elisabeth Smith terms and they accept phots only from one of the 3 photographers they have and they charge thier own fees, nothing is included on their price...very very expensive and seams loke scam...

[tikto]

Today I also received a reply from Tuesday Child Agency. They do require to meet and interview all applicants and charges one off of 120 with free photo test. The money will refunded in case the child cant be accepted after the photos are assessed. Anyone ever worked with Tuesday Child.
I read the Elisabeth Smith terms and they accept phots only from one of the 3 photographers they have and they charge thier own fees, nothing is included on their price...very very expensive and seams loke scam...

Hi,
Elisabeth Smith are not a scam, they are a genuine agency. As someone else said there are other agencies that are perhaps better but they only take kids from the London area, so if you are within the M25 I would apply to all of the above, although £175 is expensive, there are other genuine agencies that charge even more eg Scallywags (£175 plus you HAVE to have their photographer which is another £100, and I have a friend whose daughter is with them and had alot of work, but then some hear nothing??) Also Truly Scrumptious charge something in the region od £200, cant remember exactly. With ES you dont have to use their photographer and also they are not sole so if you wanted you could join another non sole agency (like Bonnie & Betty) Re Tuesday Child, as they are up North and it is notorious that there is moe work in the South, I would personally go for a good London based agency, that is if you are near London, if not there are better Northern agencies (Boss, Nemesis etc)
Hope it helps.

[Conella]

As I said before Elizabeth Smith are not a scam and know someone that has worked for them very recently !

[LondonMum123]

Sorry, we are really new to the industry , can a child be with a model agent and an acting agent? We are with Mark Jermin but could we sign up to a model agent too ?

[Irishdancer]

yes as long as they only do modelling some modelling agencys try and get u to do adverts with them but as long as u make it clear that u only want to do modelling should be ok

[balletmad]

Hi, i was reading through , and wondered has anyone had dealings with Alphabet kidz. If so are they very good?

[LondonMum123]

Are you allowed to a model agent and acting / stage school agent

W e have been sent for photo shoots and TV things