It can be a roller coaster of emotions for a parent throughout the whole process and the rejection can be tough! At Models Direct we do not send you on lots of castings with your children, however some clients will only select child models if they attend the casting. So here are Models Direct top tips to surviving it!

Pay Attention to the Requirements

Read the brief properly and only take children along who fit the description. There is no point going to an open call for toddlers with your adorable four-year-old. You’ll only be disappointed, and it will slow the process down for everyone else.

Don’t Go Overboard on the Lines

If there are lines for older children to deliver, don’t overdo the delivery training. Casting directors will want to be able to direct your child. Help your children learn the lines, but let them say them as they please.

Read the Instructions Carefully Before Calling

Casting directors’ offices have very little time or patience for answering calls or emails about specifics that were already mentioned in the posting. Do not expect them to tell you what has already been stated.

Dress Your Children Appropriately

Unless otherwise stated, the dress code for auditions is simple, clean, modest clothing. Avoid outfits that are all one colour and make sure shoes are clean and fit well. Clothes should also be age appropriate. Do not put too much makeup on older children, and keep jewellery to a minimum.

Make Sure Your Child Has Eaten a Healthy Meal

Casting directors want to see that your child is bright but also well-behaved. A sugar rush might make your child smile a little wider for a few minutes, but will also cause mood swings afterward.

Leave Brothers and Sisters at Home

Having extra children in the audition or waiting area leads to excess noise and acts as a distraction for the child auditioning. Generally speaking, there should be at least one adult present per child.

Know Your Child’s Data

Make sure your write down your child’s current and correct date of birth, height, weight, clothing size, and shoe size. Be patient and bring toys, casting calls are a waiting game. Treat it like waiting for a flight: bring toys, healthy snacks, and patience!

Only Go to an Audition if Your Child Wants to Go

Modelling and acting can be very demanding work. It’s important that your child enjoys it. You know better than nearly anyone else whether your child is genuinely interested in acting or modelling.

Have Fun and Praise Your Child

Auditions refuse more models than they choose. This can be a great way of building resilience in children, but only if they actually enjoy the auditioning process. Whatever the outcome, celebrate afterward and be proud of their efforts. This way, you’ll be setting them up well for the next audition.

To find out more about child modelling and the option to make an application click here.

Photographs: –   It is surprising how many models do not update  their photographs once  they are on the books. Your application pictures may have been good, but when being put forward to clients it’s important to have a variety of great shots, to show your personality and how versatile you are infront of the camera.   Keeping your photographs seasonal can also make a big difference too, if a client is viewing you in a search during the Summer months seeing you wrapped up in the snow isn’t ideal, so be sure to update your photographs as the seasons change!  Regular updates also means that if any of your looks have changed, ie; hair, weight,  tattoos/piercings etc , clients are viewing you as you are at that moment which is essential  if you are then selected for the assignment. Make sure your photographs are clear, taken in natural light and have a plain background, this will make you stand out and more likely to catch a client’s eye when they are sourcing the next face for their new campaign!

These are examples of ideal images for  a portfolio:

Statistics: –   Depending on the nature of the assignment your measurements will be essential and therefore need to be accurate . Make sure  your portfolio is completed  fully and you include all your measurements. If your body shape changes for any reason  be sure to amend your measurements online as it could make all the difference of you being selected for a particular job or not.

Experience: –  Clients   will be keen to know if you have any experience and  if so what kind of experience you have in the industry. Sometimes a client will not mind whether a model is experienced or not and their budget may reflect that, however for some assignments the client will specifically request models with experience and their budget will be a little higher. Again this can be information that will make the difference of you being selected, so it’s important to include these details on your portfolio.

Additional Talents:-  Models Direct works with a diverse selection of  clients across the UK and Internationally, often clients will be looking for models or actors, musicians, voice overs and presenters, so it’s not just about your looks! Additional talents are a huge benefit in this industry, and open up other opportunities for you.   Models Direct supply all sorts of talented people to clients  for  exhibitions, shows, events and acting roles, so don’t be shy to share you skills and shout about yourself!

Your portfolio is  an equivalent to a CV , it needs to show you at your best and include all the information a client would be looking for to book you for a potential job. Models Direct will put you forward for suitable assignments, but it’s up to the client who they select!

Friends are essential in life, whether you choose to have a special few or  you’re one of those people who have friends all round the world,  they all offer us different things!

We see our  colleagues  every day and probably spend more time with them than our families in some cases, so it’s lovely when you have ‘work friends’ too. Models Direct’s head office is predominately female, we rely on each other for support, advice and of course humour when times are stressful or difficult, it’s great to have a strong team of people around you who you can call your friends.

Alot of our models also get to make friends when out on assignment, often thrown together in a pressured environment with nerves bubbling, it’s a time  where models seek reassurance from one another and form friendships, some of them life long! On set or on a shoot location you often spend alot of time with the people you are working with and there may be times when you’re not filming when you can chat with lunch or refreshments, so fiendships are formed and it makes work alot more fun!

At Models Direct the  New Face team often hear from applicants who want to be with an agency because ‘their friend is’ or Models Direct has been recommended to them by a friend, it’s always great to hear and  some of the most successful models on the books have found us this way.

Friendships can of course have their ups and downs, when we are young and studying or travelling, we perhaps make more friends as we are out socialising and meeting lots of people, however as we get older often some friendships fall by the wayside, when life’s responsibilities get in the way and it’s therefore harder to meet people – as you mature you get to realise which friends are important to you!

New parents often make lots of new friends when they have a baby, you may well be on maternity leave with your baby so therfore do dofferent activities, groups and socialise with people who you hadn’t before, this is often a time when really strong friendships are made as you offer support to each other throughout what can be a challenging time.  This is the case when baby models are used in a commercial, campaign or photoshoot, mum’s and dad’s chat and talk about their experience of Models Direct and often remain in contact.

Often when people are going through the application process here at Models Direct  our agents will spend a lot of time talking to them on the phone  to get a clear understanding of their personality, skills and abilities.  When asked  WHY they think they would be  right for this industry people often respond whit “my friends say i have a good look” or ” my friends say i’m a great singer, dancer, actor or musician” – we look to our friends for reassurance, the good ones will help build your confidence and point out what you are good at, our best friends make us feel good about ourselves!

So today remind your best friends who they are and be grateful to them,  they really are your diamonds!