Modeling auditions.

I've had a lot of people ask me lately how I am finding out about modeling auditions for Linna, so here you go...

Everyone thinks their child is the cutest right?! Well, I am one of those moms, so I decided I would get Linna into modeling:) When I was younger, I did some modeling too, and it was a lot of fun. So when Linna was three months old, I decided to send her photos off to agencies in the Twin Cities. I took some photos of her myself, using our Canon Rebel camera, and put three of the photos on a comp card with her name, contact, and stats. I just went onto Walgreen's photo website and created the comp cards myself. I think it cost around $10. A comp card looks like this (with your contact info on the back - I just wrote mine on the back)...

I sent her comp cards to Moore, Wehmann, and Meredith Model & Talent Agencies. After a few weeks, I heard back from two agencies, and now we receive calls from the agencies when there is an audition that Linna fits into. She has since gone on three auditions, all for Target (which does a lot of their castings here in the Twin Cities). The castings are normally during the day, which works well for me because I am a stay-at-home mom.

The first audition Linna went on was an open casting, so there was a LOT of competition. The casting director had her lay in a baby swing, and they took a couple photos. Linna looked perplexed, but she did give the photographer one smile and then decided it was nap time:) The second audition we went on was for another Target toy advertisement. The director had Linna lay on the ground and Linna decided that she would just look unamused, and after a couple shots the director said, "thank you", and we were on our way. She didn't book either of those jobs. Today, however, they had her dress in a pink dinosaur costume (for Target's Halloween ads) and Linna sat up so nice, smiled at the photographer, and even got to do a second shot on her tummy, and smiled again at the photographer! She did a really good job today. We both have our fingers crossed that she books this one:)

A few things I have learned so far...

1. Be ready for rejection - Two of Linna's auditions lasted less than a minute. Directors know what they want, and if they can't get it out of your child in a matter of minutes, they are onto the next baby!

2. Auditions can be a cattle call - The "holding rooms" they put you in are filled with crying babies, breastfeeding mommies (some that just whip out the boobie for all to see, and start feeding), annoyed moms, etc. If you don't have a "patient" child, or a child that cooperates easily, don't even waste your time.

3. Directors want to see which babies can "last" - I swear they hold you in a room for at least 15-30 minutes, just to see if your kid can hang out without crying, wanting to eat, etc.. Who wants a screaming, tired, hungry baby on set anyway?!

4. Don't be a "stage parent" - Today, they director had to tell me to "shush" after I was talking to Linna to get her to smile during the shoot. Oops! The director and photographer want to be in control, and they want to be the ones to get a reaction out of your child. You'd think I'd remember this after my years as a television producer:)

I am by no means a professional at this, but we're just doing it for fun, and hopefully to put some money into Linna's college fund. Make sure you know what's best for your child before putting them into modeling. And remember, there are a million cute kids out there... not one is better than another:) Good luck!