Get That Kid an Agent!

Do you catch your child lip-syncing in front of the mirror all the time? Does your son act out skits for the whole family? Is your daughter a regular stand-up comedian? If so, maybe your child has potential for stardom! So what’s next?

Parents often see successful child actors and models and wonder how they got there. Questions about how they were discovered, whether they endured rigorous training and how to hire an agent may cross parents’ minds. Here are a few simple tips to get you started if you think your child has potential for this type of career.

• Don’t feel pressured to invest in expensive professional head-shots or portfolios. Instead, contact a local agency first and see what they recommend. Kim Hoffman of Hoffman International Model & Talent Agency says that her company does not want to see photos initially. They want to meet the child first, with the parent present. After the interview, the agency will decide what the next step should be. 
• If you do wish to start with professional pictures, keep them simple. Avoid makeup, excessive accessories and costumes. Modeling agencies want to see children who may have potential in their most natural state, without anything that distracts from their face.
• Let your child be himself when interviewed. Don’t prep him with what you think the agency wants to hear. His personality will be of utmost importance in the interview, but it should not be forced. Agencies want to see who your child truly is. Hoffman advises, “People think we want cute, but what we really need to see is personality.”
• Ensure that your child truly wants to do this. If you are having to push her to engage in the interview, this probably isn’t the best path for her. She won’t enjoy the experience, and her negative emotions will show in her interviews and auditions. A happy, motivated child will be dynamic and more likely to succeed. Be sure to check in with her often, because once the ball is rolling, the experience can be a bit of a whirlwind. Remaining grounded and communicating with each other is vital to you and your child. 
• Prepare your child and yourself for rejection. This is an extremely competitive market, especially for children between the ages of 4 and 10, according to Hoffman. Having potential clients decline your child may simply mean they were looking for another type of personality or a youngster with a different look. If you and your child are committed, don’t let rejection deter you from continuing on, as it is something every actor and model experiences—adults and children alike. 
• Do your homework and be wary of scams. Agencies should not ask for money up front, but rather should expect payment once your child has found work. Also, before committing to an agency, check their status and history with the Better Business Bureau (courtesy of Parents.com).

If you believe your child has potential for the acting or modeling industry, enter this field with realistic expectations and do your homework. Find a reputable agent. Work with people you trust—your child’s future is in their hands. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you or your child. And above all else, listen to your child. If your son or daughter says, “This is too much. Can we stop?” then STOP. In the end, if successful, this experience should be one that fosters confidence and positive self-esteem in your child. 

Quiz: True or False?

• The first step to starting your child’s acting or modeling career is to invest in professional pictures and complete a portfolio. FALSE.
• The most competitive age bracket for child actors and models is 4-10. TRUE.
• Interviews and photos should be done with children at their most natural state: no makeup or accessories. TRUE.
• Most children need to be pushed and will regret quitting. Agencies recommend parents force their children to continue if they don’t seem to be enjoying acting or modeling. FALSE.
• Most agencies ask for money up front, so prepare for that and accept it as commonplace. FALSE.

Hoffman International Celebrates Milestone Anniversary with a Highly Anticipated Model Search

May 2016 was a monumental month for Hoffman International.  This premier Model and Talent Agency, located in Leawood, Kansas, celebrated their 30 year anniversary in May.  Kim Hoffman, Owner and President, is renowned for finding, developing, and placing her top models with national and international agencies, as well as successfully operating a commercial division which provides models and talent for the Kansas City market.  

Hoffman’s years of experience and influence in the modeling industry have allowed her to forge many long-term business relationships with elite regional, national and international agents.  For 25 years, her agency participated in AMTC, an annual model and talent convention in Orlando, Florida.  As a result, countless Hoffman models and talent were signed with agencies spanning the globe.  With the current times changing and people’s schedules more demanding, Hoffman’s vision for 2016 is to streamline the process and bring these agents directly to her models.   On Saturday, May 7th, Hoffman hosted a Model Search exclusively for their commercial and fashion models.  Model scouts from agencies including IMG Worldwide, Wilhelmina Models, Ford Models, Vision- Los Angeles, Power Models-Asia, and The Rock Agency-Wisconsin were the powerhouses in attendance to scout Hoffman models.  Local clients, representing the Kansas City market, had an equally important influence on the Hoffman Model Search.  Hallmark, VML, RT Events, Wlaa Style, & 8183 Studio were represented with their prominent producers, talent coordinators, wardrobe stylists and runway consultants participating in the much lauded event.  

Reflecting on all of the changes in the industry over the past 3 decades, Kim Hoffman knows the importance of adapting to our fast-paced world by keeping everything simplified and efficient.  “In business today, you have to evolve with the trends.  Having agents come directly to Kansas City for a model search right here in our own backyard is a win-win situation.  It is great for Kansas City and it’s a great opportunity for our amazing models,” says Hoffman.