Quiet On The Set!

If you have ever entertained the idea of supporting your child/grandchild in their desire to become a young star (actor, model, etc.), this article is for you.

Our girls went from participating in youth programs at church to oratorical contests, fashion shows, dance recitals, school plays, talent shows…and the list continued. After proving their commitment to the stage, we joined the “Film and Fashion Industry”. We had no idea, what we were getting into. It’s not just talent and auditions. There’s the make-up artist, photo shoots, headshots, resumes, monologs, talent scouts, agents, etc. Headshots and resumes are submitted prior to being considered for an audition. Keep in mind, nothing is free. Before the audition, you have made a nice investment in your child.

Audition notifications are not time sensitive. Meaning, it could be the next day or the next hour. School was not a factor (one of the benefits of home school). The girls knew they had to keep their grades up and go to school. Therefore, if an audition was during school hours, they could afford to miss school or a few classes. Our agent always gave us a 30 minute window to accept or deny an audition. Auditions were not guaranteed to be local either. The girls have auditioned and performed out of state. Sometimes they auditioned for the same project, but different characters. Occasionally, they would even audition against each other; which was never fun for me.

Appearance and wardrobe were always critical. Remember, they expect to recognize you from your headshot. Acne breakouts were unacceptable; along with the bills and prescriptions from our Dermatologist. Also, weight gain/loss would mean new headshots and resumes. If we did not meet the wardrobe requirements (colors, season, etc.), we had to go shopping-quickly! One audition required five outfits, with matching accessories. Yea… that was fun.

A private lifestyle was also very important. For safety purposes, only one or two of their closest friends knew this part of their lives. In today’s society, peer-pressure among teens (especially girls), result in violence and/or death. It can all be viewed with the click of a mouse; sad, but true. Not even their closest friends were willing to risk that.

Finding balance was often challenging for the girls. Unlike most teenage girls, they really couldn’t share their excitement about a “callback” or other memorable moments. Plans were constantly on hold or being adjusted because of auditions and/or rehearsals. Last year we decided to take time off from Film and Fashion and focus on dance. The girls auditioned at a local dance studio and became “Company Dancers”. They rehearse four times a week, compete locally and out of state, participate in local parades and perform at recitals. Next week we’ll be in Florida for the National Dance Competition. As we attempt to squeeze a little vacation time in, I probably won’t post another article until we return.

Raising talented kids is a blessing…umm sure…ok.