What Are Your Responsibilities as the Parent of a Child Actor?

Do you really know what your responsibilities as the parent of a child actor are?

Being the parent of a child actor is not an easy job.  It requires a huge amount of effort on the part of the parent or parents.  At times, it can be as time-consuming as a full-time job.

I talked about flexibility in my post Parents, Do You Have the Flexibility Needed for Your Child’s Acting Career? Because of needing flexibility, it is easiest if at least one parent of a young actor or model is either not employed, works from home, or has their own business.

The list of tasks that showbiz parents take on is a long one.  I will be discussing most of these tasks in more detail in other posts. The showbiz parents are responsible for:

1. getting good photos/headshots of your child and keeping them up-to-date
2. obtaining the representation of an agent and/or manager for your child
3. getting a work permit for your child
4. setting up and managing a Coogan account for your child
5. preparing/supplying information for a resume for your child
6. scheduling/obtaining auditions for your child
7. rehearsing lines with your child or otherwise preparing your child for auditions
8. getting coaching for your child for auditions when needed or requested by your child’s manager/agent
9. putting your child into appropriate acting classes and transporting your child to these classes
10. accompanying your child to auditions
11. communicating with your child’s agent/manager
12. keeping up with important audition information
13. accompanying your child to their jobs and filling out appropriate paper work
14. handling any money your child receives from jobs and verifying that is is appropriately distributed and deposited
15. keeping up with all your child’s expenses and income for preparing tax returns
16. keeping your child safe
17. reviewing all audition material to make sure that the content is appropriate in your eyes
18. helping with the marketing of your child
19. helping your child deal with rejection

While this list does not include everything, it should give you a good idea of many of the things you will have to do for your young actor or model.

Please subscribe to my Acting Newsletter for more information about your job as parent of a child actor.  I also welcome any comments and questions you may have.

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