Acting Jobs For Kids

Good actors are hard to find these days and good acting jobs are even more difficult. With children's literature being transformed into movies and the wild success of movies like “Harry Potter,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “Bridge to Terabitha” acting jobs for kids are becoming easier to find.

With the right support system, a good manager, and the right amount of talent anything is possible. Take it from child actors like Haley Joel Osmond, Dakota Fanning, Freddie Highmore, and Abigail Breslin. All of these children have made their name in Hollywood because of their amazing acting abilities.

Unlike most professions, acting jobs do not discriminate based on age. While most careers require an age of at least 15 years old, acting jobs do not abide by these rules. Acting jobs for kids can start as young as six months. Some of today's  most famous actors are or were child actors. Actors like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Ron Howard, and Raven Simone all began their careers as child actors. Although there are success stories, there are a lot of tragic endings.

The best way to avoid a bitter end to an acting career is to start out with a few good indicators. According to startips.com, the best way to begin a child in an acting career is to:

* Live close to Hollywood
* Develop the child' singing, dancing and acting abilities.
* Provide the child with an acting mentor
* Make sure the child obtains some experience in front of an audience or the camera

Once all this is in order, keep a look out for open auditions for commercials, movies, or anything in front of the camera. Acting jobs for kids come in many different packages including commercials, magazine work, model work, print work, and movies. An open audition is the best shot for exposure and experience.

When attending open auditions, or any audition for that matter, there are four things that are required: headshots, resume, social security card, and a work permit. Without these things it will be hard, if not impossible, to get a part.

Another good option is to have some kind of agent. A list of Hollywood talent agents and nation wide agents can be found on startips.com. Remember: a trustworthy and legitimate agent does not ask for fees up front or make big promises. Instead, they should find out what the child is capable of and go from there.

While Hollywood is the premiere location to land Hollywood acting jobs, there are other places with the same opportunities available. Cities like Chicago, New York City, and Seattle are quickly on the rise for acting jobs. And acting jobs for kids isn't the only way to start. Some actors don't start really getting into the business until later in life. This has its pros and cons. Pros: old enough to have perfected the craft, wider range of acting jobs, and less likely to have stage parents. Cons: bad habits die hard, financial issues, and more likely to have stage parents.

No matter what the age or where the location, acting jobs can be obtained with a little patience and perseverance. Hollywood acting jobs and Iowa acting jobs are the same thing: jobs. A love for acting can be the most powerful thing in the world, or it can be the most horrifying. So be careful, perfect the craft, and go for it!


Sources:
Acting Jobs. Entertainment Careers Inc. 2007. 8 Feb 2007 <http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/jcat.asp?j cat=129>.
Acting. Explore Talent. 2007. 8 Feb 2007 <http://www.exploretalent.com/>.
Show Biz Kids. R.J. Management. 2007. 8 Feb 2007 <http://www.startips.com>.