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Step 1
Expect to sacrifice time and invest money if your child is serious about performing. Children and adolescents who want to be in show business will require as much of your time as those who play Little League ball or take piano lessons. It is also likely to cost you more, since many show business kids eventually realize they have a better chance of landing a role if they have had lessons in voice, acting or dance.
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Step 2
Begin slowly, and let the child take the lead. Children and pre-teens often waver about being in show business, depending on the role, the show or the job they land. Follow their lead and don't fret about lulls. Most kids are passionate about the work once they're on stage and having fun with other children their own age. Making friends with the same interests makes all the hard work worthwhile.
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Step 3
Seek out auditions. If your youngster can handle rejection, then look for auditions. A top source for casting calls and audition notices is backstage.com, the online version of Variety, the show business newspaper that is hard to find unless you live in New York or Los Angeles. The online version charges a fee, but provides access to notices of auditions being held around the country for parts in films, stage productions and commercials.
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Step 4
Find an agent. This is the next logical step for a child who really wants to work. Be sure the agent does not charge to represent your child. Real show business agents charge the company doing the hiring, not those applying for the job. Once your child does land a job, expect the agent to take a percentage of his or her earnings. The best way to find an agent is to be referred by another actor or director with whom your child has worked.
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Step 5
Get a head photo shot taken and create a resume, once your child has done some work in show business. This is important as he or she steps up the audition process or wants to find an agent. Head shots are 8-by-10 photos, either black and white or color.
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Step 6
Sit back and enjoy your child's independent success. Your assistance as a stage parent will be invaluable to your child, but know when to back off and let him learn the ropes on his own. Most directors and agents resent a parent who interferes with casting decisions and generally gets in the way. Chances are, your child will be mortified if you step onto his turf and embarrass him.
