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It sounds tempting: Put your adorable toddler to work as a model or actor, and bring in thousands of dollars. But the real story is a little different.
By Abby Ellin, MSN Money
Judy Goss knows all about the world of modeling. A former actress and Ford model and the author of "Break Into Modeling for Under $20," Goss knows just how difficult and competitive it can be. Still, that hasn't stopped her from shepherding her 4-year-old twin daughters, Dara and Danielle, from audition to audition, hoping to get them into the business.
"They're very outgoing and theatrical, and identical twins are rare," says Goss, 40, who lives in a New York City suburb. So she got professional pictures taken of her daughters and has stood in hours-long lines with them, hoping they will land a coveted spot on a commercial, TV show or print ad. (So far, they have shared a bit part on "Law and Order," back when they were babies.)
As the economy falters and unemployment increases, the prospect of putting your kids to work -- in the worlds of acting, modeling or even beauty pageants -- can seem more alluring than ever. But would-be stage moms and dads should take note: Helping your child takes serious investments of both money and time. It usually falls to parents to put together portfolios, schlep kids from audition to audition and make contacts in the modeling world. And it might take years for the family to see any substantial income, if ever.
Goss, who is also a spokeswoman for TheCuteKid.com, a Web portal for children interested in modeling, says that lately she has seen throngs of parents lining up with their offspring just to get a quick meeting with a casting agent. "A commercial could pay enough so that we would never have to worry about college," Goss says. "You get a royalty every time the commercial airs, so you could be set for a long time." Twins, she notes, have even more potential. (Olsens, anyone?)
It's that potential upside that draws parents. Take 12-year-old Ashton Cline of New Orleans, who has been acting for just more than a year and already has three commercials and one small film under his belt. He has had an agent for some time and just signed with Morgit Management in New York. Is he rich? Not yet. "But the potential is amazing," says his mother, Gnanse Nelson.
That's the same way Alan Byrd feels about his daughter Abby. Two years ago, when Abby was 3, she was filmed for a local TV commercial. The director praised her and told Byrd she should get into acting, so her parents signed her up for acting classes, invested in head shots and got her an agent. Since that time, however, not much has come of it. "We've been putting her into local theater, but as of yet, it's been one audition with no paid roles," says Byrd, who lives in Orlando, Fla.
Jennifer Bourgoyne of San Jose, Calif., is trying to get her son Cash into acting. Cash and his brothers "have always made home movies, since he could be 'directed' at 18 months," Bourgoyne says. "Do I want him to be a celebrity his whole life? Goodness, no! I am hoping for a doctor out of this one.
Judy Goss knows all about the world of modeling. A former actress and Ford model and the author of "Break Into Modeling for Under $20," Goss knows just how difficult and competitive it can be. Still, that hasn't stopped her from shepherding her 4-year-old twin daughters, Dara and Danielle, from audition to audition, hoping to get them into the business.
"They're very outgoing and theatrical, and identical twins are rare," says Goss, 40, who lives in a New York City suburb. So she got professional pictures taken of her daughters and has stood in hours-long lines with them, hoping they will land a coveted spot on a commercial, TV show or print ad. (So far, they have shared a bit part on "Law and Order," back when they were babies.)
As the economy falters and unemployment increases, the prospect of putting your kids to work -- in the worlds of acting, modeling or even beauty pageants -- can seem more alluring than ever. But would-be stage moms and dads should take note: Helping your child takes serious investments of both money and time. It usually falls to parents to put together portfolios, schlep kids from audition to audition and make contacts in the modeling world. And it might take years for the family to see any substantial income, if ever.
Goss, who is also a spokeswoman for TheCuteKid.com, a Web portal for children interested in modeling, says that lately she has seen throngs of parents lining up with their offspring just to get a quick meeting with a casting agent. "A commercial could pay enough so that we would never have to worry about college," Goss says. "You get a royalty every time the commercial airs, so you could be set for a long time." Twins, she notes, have even more potential. (Olsens, anyone?)
It's that potential upside that draws parents. Take 12-year-old Ashton Cline of New Orleans, who has been acting for just more than a year and already has three commercials and one small film under his belt. He has had an agent for some time and just signed with Morgit Management in New York. Is he rich? Not yet. "But the potential is amazing," says his mother, Gnanse Nelson.
That's the same way Alan Byrd feels about his daughter Abby. Two years ago, when Abby was 3, she was filmed for a local TV commercial. The director praised her and told Byrd she should get into acting, so her parents signed her up for acting classes, invested in head shots and got her an agent. Since that time, however, not much has come of it. "We've been putting her into local theater, but as of yet, it's been one audition with no paid roles," says Byrd, who lives in Orlando, Fla.
Jennifer Bourgoyne of San Jose, Calif., is trying to get her son Cash into acting. Cash and his brothers "have always made home movies, since he could be 'directed' at 18 months," Bourgoyne says. "Do I want him to be a celebrity his whole life? Goodness, no! I am hoping for a doctor out of this one.
"But I do feel he does have a special little gift," she adds. "And I think it would be fun to give him some opportunities to experience some interesting things in life."
Indeed, some parents believe money is beside the point. For them, confidence and poise are the real payoffs of the modeling-acting-pageant circuit.That's why Laura Topliffe of Florida's Tampa Bay area just started her 4-year-old daughter, Tabitha, in pageants.
Topliffe began by enrolling her daughter in classes at Tampa's Hazely Academy of Refinement & Modeling to work on her manners, etiquette, on-stage poise and self-esteem. Pageants were a natural outgrowth of that; Topliffe thought they might lead to some modeling or acting in Tabitha's future.
For now, however, Tabitha has not earned any money, and Topliffe points out that the pageants offering lucrative prizes often cost thousands of dollars to enter and require a closet full of thousand-dollar dresses.
"We simply aren't at that level yet," Topliffe says. "Maybe we will get there, but I am not doing this as a way to earn extra money due to the economy. I am not so blinded that my child can come out of the gate and be the next grand supreme queen or go into acting to be the next Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez."
(Though Gomez reportedly got her big break at an open audition, it should be pointed out that Cyrus had a head start: She's the daughter of country-music singer Billy Ray Cyrus.)
Given the shaky economy, Topliffe says she is "mindful of how much we are spending. . . . Since we are new, we are focusing on some of the smaller regional pageants."
Topliffe has also been scouring eBay for deals on pageant outfits and has considered taking sewing classes or getting a BeDazzler and some rhinestones to start making items herself. Adds Topliffe: "My real motivation was to get my child involved in an activity that would really channel . . . her need to be the center of attention into something positive."
Indeed, some parents believe money is beside the point. For them, confidence and poise are the real payoffs of the modeling-acting-pageant circuit.That's why Laura Topliffe of Florida's Tampa Bay area just started her 4-year-old daughter, Tabitha, in pageants.
Topliffe began by enrolling her daughter in classes at Tampa's Hazely Academy of Refinement & Modeling to work on her manners, etiquette, on-stage poise and self-esteem. Pageants were a natural outgrowth of that; Topliffe thought they might lead to some modeling or acting in Tabitha's future.
For now, however, Tabitha has not earned any money, and Topliffe points out that the pageants offering lucrative prizes often cost thousands of dollars to enter and require a closet full of thousand-dollar dresses.
"We simply aren't at that level yet," Topliffe says. "Maybe we will get there, but I am not doing this as a way to earn extra money due to the economy. I am not so blinded that my child can come out of the gate and be the next grand supreme queen or go into acting to be the next Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez."
(Though Gomez reportedly got her big break at an open audition, it should be pointed out that Cyrus had a head start: She's the daughter of country-music singer Billy Ray Cyrus.)
Given the shaky economy, Topliffe says she is "mindful of how much we are spending. . . . Since we are new, we are focusing on some of the smaller regional pageants."
Topliffe has also been scouring eBay for deals on pageant outfits and has considered taking sewing classes or getting a BeDazzler and some rhinestones to start making items herself. Adds Topliffe: "My real motivation was to get my child involved in an activity that would really channel . . . her need to be the center of attention into something positive."
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