Getting My Daughter into Modeling

Hi, B.!

There are many great agencies in downtown Chicago. Just search the Internet. I can't think of the names off hand, but one is Lily something, then the Ford Agency, Shirley Hamilton (if it is still there)and there are a couple others.

Beware of places like John Casablancas, and John Robert Powers. Here is the deal...

I used to model as a pre-teen and then again for a short while as a 19-20 year old.

Anyone who sees your children and feels they are marketable, will want them in their agency and it willnot cost you a dime! Hear me clearly, if you are asked to go out and have a portfolio of pics taken and/or to buy a "package" so your child can be coached or a "package" for a specific amount of months where the agency will "put your child in front of actual prospecting agents", you will end up putting yourself into hock spending all the money to keep up with the comittments, and your chiildren may or may not get a few little jobs.

My daughter, who is 13, was called by John Casablancas. I took her to an audition where there were hundreds of other girls wanting a spot in the limelight. My daughter was supposedly one of ten girls who was called back. Instead of taking my daughter to the call back, I called the director to ask questions, since I was a model myself, and I know what my parents had to go through and what they had to spend to get me into modeling. As I thought, we would have had to purchase a "package" for anywhere from $2000. - $12,000. that would go from like one month for up to 9 or 12 months, where she would get a coach and be exposed to prospecting agents every Saturday for the term of my package. Now, keep in mind, once you buy a package, you are committed to bringing your child every Sat to the auditions, wherever they may be, in state or out of state, at YOUR expense and out of that committment, your children may or may not get the parts or the jobs.

The committment is HUGE and so if you have the flexibility and schedule that will allow every single one of your Saturdays to be dedicated to modeling auditions, awesome; it might be for you....but it will cost you and you will be expected to have your children there.

I am not trying to put a bad name on the world of modeling, because I am fully aware of the success that many other-wise unknown girls and boys do get from these types of facilities, however, as I have always believed, the best, most well known models out there, have truly been discovered out of the blue, or happened to walk into a legitimate agency and were discovered and pursued by that agency, on that agency's dime, because they knew they had someone very marketable!

Sorry this was so long....but I'd hate to see you go and spend thousands on pics of your children, making comp cards and all, and paying for packages to have them audition, and then never ever get a crumb of your money out of it.

Best of luck!

Go to Lily's talent agency. First, send them some photos of your kids, headshots and just one of each child, with a letter of interest. They will call you if they would like to rep your child(ren). Most kids they call back since they're all so damn cute and clients like them in all shapes and colors. They really go for uniqueness, not just a pretty face all the time.
If they call you, they'll set up an interview to see your child in person and see their personality as well. They go from there, and you will pay for your own photographer and comp cards, which in modeling, is like a photo business card you send out to potential clients, which is what Lily's does for you. She literally deals with hundreds of kids, and is reputable as an agency in the city. Stay away from anything asking for money upfront. Ford is good but very choosy and might be for older more experienced kids in the industry. As i remember, were also extremely critical. Good Luck!

The best children's modeling agency in the Chicagoland area is Lilly's. I think they're in the northern or northwest suburbs, and I know you can find them online or in the yellow pages.

I modeled as a child, and found that Lilly's had the best representation. They have big name clients like McDonald's and Sunbeam, and I was sent on auditions for commercials, movies, print ads, and more.

I also remember Lilly's having special seminars for parents of models, which were both informative and helpful in dealing with the realities and stresses of the modeling and acting industries.

Lastly, know that it costs some money to begin modeling. Each of your children will need their own composite card, which is a head shot and their stats (age, clothing size, measurements, etc.), and the composite cards need to be updated every time your child grows, changes, even gets a new haircut, because the clients rely on the composite cards to determine whether or not to select the child for an audition.

Best of luck to you!

Its expensive but I highly recommend a photographer named
George Papadakis out of S. Barrington, Illinois. They work mainly with kids and have worked with many famous people. They are extremely professional and give the steps to follow with submitting composites to agencies in Chicago. My baby modeled for the first year and had about seven agents. Most of it was print work. You will have to have a very flexible schedule and go for "look sees" at the drop of a hat. Its exciting but you need to deal well with rejection as well. Good luck!