There's lots I want to say here.
First of all regarding the update PINs. Spotlight tell agents that they should use their discretion in giving PINs to parents. In other words they are not obliged to and sometimes it's not always going to be the right thing to do. Once a parent has the update PIN they can add anything at all including photos which is not always to an agent's liking. MY opinion is that the parents ought to have the PIN with an understanding from the agent that they only change height and perhaps keep skills up to date but also notifying the agent. There is little point in adding to the skills section if you're not also advising the agent what you have changed. Photos should only be changed if agreed by the agent.
Even if you have the PIN you cannot access the page which shows all the jobs your child has been put up for. Only the agent can access this on their password. They can (and should) however download everything your child has been put up for and email it to you or have meetings on a yearly basis where you can review everything. If you ask for this then the agent is obliged to tell you what she has been put up for. They should have nothing to hide! It's in their own interests to be submitting your child for work (unless they are charging a fee to be on their books) and to get them working.
mouskouri41 wrote:Interestingly I did mention to them that I would like her to be put forward for more singing roles(though she is a bit young for these at 7)and the agent told me that these west end auditions are no longer open(just when they cast the first ones)and that the casting directors just contact the agents for a handful of kids when needed.Could anyone confirm that this is true?Also thinking of changing agents and am actually going to a different agencies talk tomorrow evening.Will see if they make me feel more included!
Good luck,don't know if I've been any help,but maybe you feel better knowing other people feel the same way!Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Kind regards to all
What you have been told about singing roles concerns me greatly. I had a similar situation with my DD's last agent. Has your agent actually heard your child sing? Has she auditioned for them? The West End auditions ARE accessable. They simply have to contact the casting director with your child's details. There aren't a massive amount of roles available for a 7 year old and it depends on how far from London you live but Les Mis is the one that would automatically spring to mind for a 7 year old girl who wants to be seen for MT work. Only sometimes you find that these auditions are 'agent only' . The agent has to be pro-active in seeking the work which means building a relationship with the casting directors and the information is then sent to them when they are looking for children to cast. They do not just contact an agent for a 'handful of kids' when needed however they do not see every child that is submitted. The criteria is very strict. ALL agents have the ability to submit the right children for these castings. The CD for Les Mis is Jo Hawes and they she is casting again for Les Mis in July. If your DD is right for it she should be seen which brings me back to the question has your agent met your daughter and knows what she can do?
Hope this helps you both.
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}