Unfortunately, the name stage parent or stage mom has been given a bad rap. We all picture the crazy mom, forcing a child to do something he or she does not want to do and then yelling at and belittling him or her when the performance is not perfect.
When I use the terms stage parent or stage mom, I don’t mean it in a negative way. A stage parent is simply the parent of a child actor. I will also call these parents showbiz parents, show business parents, or just the parents of a child actor or model.
The fact is, there are good stage parents and there are bad stage parents. I believe there are more good ones than bad ones. Just as no parent is perfect, no stage parent is perfect either. We all make mistakes, but it is my belief that most parents in the industry try to do their best.
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It has been a crazy week for us. My daughter just finished a musical theatre production. She played the lead role of ‘Inga’ in a family-friendly spoof of the movie Young Frankenstein with music from the Broadway show by the same name.
This was a local musical theatre production, but in productions in the LA area many of the kids and adults in the shows, as well as directors and choreographers are in showbiz. The result is typically a high-quality production.
We are both sad and relieved that the play has come to an end.
My daughter had a blast, as always, but it was tiring for her to go to all the rehearsals and shows and then go to school and get her homework done each day. As a sixth grader in public school, she often has two to three hours of homework each night.
My daughter had rehearsals for four to five hours nearly every day for the last week before the show and then six performances. I was involved, as were other parents, helping with costuming, lighting, stage crew, and other production activities. So it was a busy time for both of us.
Why do we do theatre? We do it because my daughter loves it, and it makes her happy. She loves performing in front of an audience and she loves singing.
We did not do any theatre for some time because her acting teacher and manager did not want her to. We are no longer with that manager or with that acting teacher, and so now my daughter is enjoying doing shows several times a year.
Why do some talent managers, talent agents, and acting teachers not want their talent to do theatre?
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Do you have a flexible schedule to accommodate the demands of your child’s acting career?
Once when my daughter got a last-minute audition, I was in the laundry room in our apartment complex moving half-washed clothes from a broken washer to a working one. I’d forgotten my cell phone, so I missed several calls from my daughter’s manager.
I grabbed the ringing phone as I walked in the door to our apartment. The manager had been calling for 30 minutes and was frantic.
Fortunately, I was able to find appropriate clothing, retrieve our wet clothes from the laundry, grab necessary items, and pick my daughter up from school early so we could be at the audition on time.
That 30-minute delay almost made us miss the audition, and it resulted in an annoyed manager. But because I had the flexibility to drop everything and go, we were still able to get to the audition.
Parents, do you have the flexibility needed for your child’s acting or modeling career?
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Parents, do you really want to help your child pursue a career in acting or modeling?
A big factor in deciding on an acting or modeling career for your child is how you, the parents, feel about the role you play in this great adventure. It entails a huge amount of work for you.
I had no idea what was involved when we first started down this path. No one sat down with me and told me about all the things I’d have to do if we decided to try to help my daughter become an actor.
There were, and still are, times when I would prefer to live a normal life again, without worrying about headshots, resumes, acting classes, coaching, jobs, work permits, SAG dues, and so forth.
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A question you really should ask yourself is: “Why am I looking into an acting or modeling career for my child?”
There are a number of reasons people do this, and some of the reasons may not be good ones.
First and foremost, be sure you are doing this because your child wants to do it and NOT because you want to do it.
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It is important to take a close look at your child before you decide to pursue an acting or modeling career. What sort of child is right for showbiz? What characteristics are likely to indicate that your child is right for an acting or modeling career?
While nothing can guarantee your child’s success in show business, it may help if your child:
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Acting: Shakespeare
Making a decision to pursue an acting or modeling career for your child is not a decision that should be made without a great deal of thought.
It is certainly an exciting thought that your child might be the next child actor to hit it big.
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My name is Debbie, and I am the mother of two children, one of whom is a young actor in the LA Area. I’d like to welcome you to my blog.
Perhaps you are considering an acting career for your child and that is what brought you here. Or perhaps your child has just begun acting and you need some help.
In either case, you probably have a million questions and are looking for some easy-to-follow advice on what to do. I’d like to share what I have learned over the past eight years in the hope that I might help you as you look into an acting or modeling career for your child.
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Los Angeles Acting, Stage Parents | Debbie Sikkema | 
November 23, 2008 11:08 pm | 
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