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Jan 30

What Are Your Responsibilities as the Parent of a Child Actor?

Do you really know what your responsibilities as the parent of a child actor are?

Being the parent of a child actor is not an easy job.  It requires a huge amount of effort on the part of the parent or parents.  At times, it can be as time-consuming as a full-time job.

I talked about flexibility in my post Parents, Do You Have the Flexibility Needed for Your Child’s Acting Career? Because of needing flexibility, it is easiest if at least one parent of a young actor or model is either not employed, works from home, or has their own business.

The list of tasks that showbiz parents take on is a long one.  I will be discussing most of these tasks in more detail in other posts. The showbiz parents are responsible for:

  1. getting good photos/headshots of your child and keeping them up-to-date
  2. obtaining the representation of an agent and/or manager for your child
  3. getting a work permit for your child
  4. setting up and managing a Coogan account for your child
  5. preparing/supplying information for a resume for your child
  6. scheduling/obtaining auditions for your child
  7. rehearsing lines with your child or otherwise preparing your child for auditions
  8. getting coaching for your child for auditions when needed or requested by your child’s manager/agent
  9. putting your child into appropriate acting classes and transporting your child to these classes
  10. accompanying your child to auditions
  11. communicating with your child’s agent/manager
  12. keeping up with important audition information
  13. accompanying your child to their jobs and filling out appropriate paper work
  14. handling any money your child receives from jobs and verifying that is is appropriately distributed and deposited
  15. keeping up with all your child’s expenses and income for preparing tax returns
  16. keeping your child safe
  17. reviewing all audition material to make sure that the content is appropriate in your eyes
  18. helping with the marketing of your child
  19. helping your child deal with rejection

While this list does not include everything, it should give you a good idea of many of the things you will have to do for your young actor or model.

Please subscribe to my Acting Newsletter for more information about your job as parent of a child actor.  I also welcome any comments and questions you may have.

7 comments

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  1. lori

    you make sure that they stay a child as long as popular. they finish school and maybe even go to college.
    .-= lori´s last blog ..Tips On Buying The Right Software =-.

  2. Vaeannarbor

    Too much fuss about nothing, don’t you think so? I believe there much more better thing for children to do.

  3. Isis

    hey my little girl can be an perfict modle

  4. Melaine

    Today, I went to the beach front with my children.
    I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said
    “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
    She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!

  5. Debbie Sikkema

    Hi Melaine,
    Is this really a true story? That is very cute but sad also! Poor baby.
    Sincerely,
    Debbie

  6. Melanie Perritt

    To: Mrs. Debbie Sikkema, Wow!
    I was praying this morning for guidance, something that I need right now, as always. I stumbled on your website because I had been to the bank this morning and they did not know how to give me the information I needed for setting up the Coogan Account. We are in Pensacola and my daughter is a sophmore in high school and has been pursuing acting for the last three years. She spent some time with her dad at IPop in July 2013 and from there got a call back from MMG in New York and we headed there to meet with Michaelan Moore, our soon to be manager. The contract that we have been asked to sign seemed a bit confusing and I hope that I am not signing something that is a mistake.However, I enjoyed meeting Michaelan who is from Fairhope, Alabama and seemed on the up and up when we all met a few weeks ago in her office in Manhattan. Thank you so much for your support. We have felt like there had to be someone out there that could give some direction and there you were. I will continue to stay in touch. I am desperate for advice and someone who will steer me in the right direction…as opposed to circles. I am an educator and took this year off, mainly to help my daughter get to places she may need to be for acting. We were instructed to set up the Coogan as well as get work permits in both California and New York. There seems to be a lot of money going out right now and not much coming in. But I am sure that it is to be expected!! My nephew is on the reality tv show “Big Rich Texas” and he and his fiance’ Whitney have just had a baby girl (Rhythm). We are headed to Dallas for the wedding in October where we will meet Miss Rhythm for the first time! Maybe while we are there we can get some advice for my daughter regarding her journey into acting. I remind my daughter when she gets discouraged, that we are believers and that if God wants us to be in a certain setting then He will open the doors and put us there. There is nothing too big for the God of Angel Armies!! Blessings on you for reaching out to the Mom’s and Dad’s out there who are just trying to put some wind under their children’s wings! Thanks again for your information! It is invaluable to me!! Melanie O. Perritt, Pensacola, Florida
    August 21, 2013

  7. Debbie Sikkema

    Hi Melanie,
    I’m glad my site has helped you, and thanks so much for your nice message. For legal questions, be sure to check out http://www.bizparentz.org. They are good with everything legal related to the industry as well as anything else related to it! Good luck with everything!
    Sincerely,
    Debbie Sikkema

  1. What Should You Do If Your Child Wants to Become a Child Actor? | Your Young Actor

    […] Take some time to evaluate whether your child has the right characteristics to become a child actor and whether you are up for the  responsibilities and demands of being a stage parent. […]

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