Beginning this week, I go from monthly guest columnist to full-time seat filler as I assume the Working Actor duties for the duration of Jackie Apodaca's maternity leave. I can only hope to maintain the excellent content of Jackie's column until she returns later this year. Meanwhile, thanks for keeping those emails coming.
I have a 13-year-old daughter. We live in New York. She has wanted to be an actor and/or singer since, well, forever.
She has done a few commercials but mostly school and community shows, as well as performing as a clown in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year.
I've finally told her I'll start helping her get into more-professional things. She has taken singing, acting, and a few dance lessons.
I was also looking into one particular talent agency, and I thought I might give them a call. Other than that, how can I help her get started?
Some kids enjoy acting as a hobby, like swimming or playing video games.
But when a child repeatedly expresses strong interest in becoming a professional, I advocate encouraging that quest. Time and experience will sort out the "lifers" from those who eventually realize this career isn't for them.
So what do you do next?
Well, fortunately, my book, Letters From Backstage: The Adventures of a Touring Stage Actor, put me in touch with readers from all over the country, including several stage parents who, like you, had to figure it out from scratch. I took your question to one such mom, Carol Chase Delauro, whose daughter Micaela, now 21, definitely has "the bug."
"For advice on pursuing a professional career for kids, I suggest the book Raising a Star: The Parents' Guide to Helping Kids Break Into Theater, Film, Television, or Music, by Nancy Carson, with Jacqueline Shannon," emails Delauro, who is considering writing a book on the topic.
"I also suggest looking online for youth theatres and theatre camps," she continues. "There are some amazing summer camps in the New York area, such as French Woods, which have Broadway professionals working directly with the kids. Most regional theatres have educational programs as well.
I found some amazing opportunities for young actors all around the country."
She adds, "But living in a culturally rich city like New York, you should be able to find opportunities right there." For example, the New Victory Theater is, according to its website, "New York City's first and only full-time theatre dedicated to young people hellip;committed to creating ever-widening avenues of opportunity for young people, their families, and teachers to grow professionally and personally in and through the arts.
" It's at 229 W. 42nd St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues.
To learn more, visit its website, www.newvictory .org, or email its education department at education@newvictory.
org.
As for agents and managers, a word of caution: There are a lot of them, and they're not all legitimate. It's very easy to find someone who will claim to be able to help your child break into show business.
Be a smart consumer, and check out potential representatives carefully before signing anything.
This is one area where it makes sense to be shallow: An agent who has a nice, well-staffed office in a good business neighborhood is more likely to be legitimate than one who works alone from his or her rundown apartment on skid row. Most important, keep in mind that no legitimate talent reps take fees up front.
They work on commission: 10 percent for agents, 15 percent for managers, generally. If someone wants to charge a fee for representing your child, head for the door.
Finally, you'll find excellent resources on our website, BackStage.
com, including "A Primer for Parents," which you can locate by clicking "Career Advice," then "Should I Be an Actor?"
When the heck is "pilot season"? I'd love to take a vacation, but I never know when it's okay to leave town.
Ah, the age-old mystery. The reason you're confused is that the answer to that question has changed in recent years. For an expert opinion, I asked casting director G.
Charles Wright (That '70s Show). He explains, once and for all, what's going on: "Pilot season traditionally runs from January into April, with the bulk of casting done by the end of March. Most pilots are completely wrapped by the beginning of May, which heralds the traditional spring hiatus period for television production.
These days, with year-round television scheduling mdash; consider how many programs don't premiere until January or March now mdash; there is more of a need for pilots to be produced in late summer and early fall than ever before.
"This means that although January to April is when you'll find the bulk of pilot castings happening, you can be called in for a pilot nearly any time of the year now," he continues. "That said, May and June are usually your safest bets for getting out of town, as those months mark the spring hiatus for the television industry.
" Of the six pilots Wright has cast, he points out, only one happened during the traditional pilot season.
So, in other words, schedule your vacation for May or June. Or, better still, schedule your vacation for February.
You're sure to get a pilot.
Michael Kostroff is a working professional actor and the author of the book Letters from Backstage: The Adventures of a Touring Stage Actor, available online and at bookstores.
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