In this business I have met some great people with talented children. They all have their horror stories of when they have fallen prey to predators that promised to make their child a star.
These parents are smart and hardworking. So why would they fall prey to a scam? There is something unexplainable that takes over a parent when they are trying to make their child happy. I guess it is the same phenomenon that makes a parent stand in line for 2 days straight then spend $300 on a video game console. Just so they can see there child smile on Christmas or the child�s birthday. Toy makers and clothing designers use this same phenomenon to sell there products. And scam artists use it as well.
Let�s just imagine for a moment that you are blessed with the most adorable and talented child in the world. You know that your child is the �next� big thing. What would you do to make that dream come true? Or rather how much would you pay?
Would you pay me $1500 to help you pick out the perfect pictures, clothes, and submit your child to an agency that my children are signed to? Of course most parents would. Why? Because in the scheme of things $1500 is a small investment compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars a child can make off of one national commercial. It is even smaller if they are signed to a sitcom where most children make $10,000 per episode to start. That is why so many parents fall for different scams. It does not mean that their child isn�t talented. What it means is that they are caring parents that want to see there children on TV. Where in the business world could someone invest $1500 on a product and there return is $100,000? No where!
The problem comes in when parents don�t check credentials. All you hear is, �I can make your child a star!� The rest of the conversation sounds like the teacher from the Charlie Brown series. �Wonk- Wonk- Wonk � Sign here, Wonk-Wonk-Wonk�Pay $1500 Wonk- Wonk-Wonk.� And the parents jump aboard. In reality they really have no choice.
Agents don�t have time to talk to them. Some photographers and acting coaches sell them things that they don�t need. And parents in the business won�t help because they are afraid of competition. So what�s a parent to do? How do you get your child in commercials?
My advice to all parents is that you should treat this as a business. After all it is called Show Business. Take the emotion out of it. Evaluate ever opportunity thoroughly. When someone approaches you make sure you ask yourself these two questions: What do they get out of it? What do you and your child get out of it? If the answer is they get your money and you get a hope and a dream, then I would stop right there. Research and then research some more. Never stop learning the business aspect of it. Network and make connections the right way.
There are some honest people left in this business you just have to find them.
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