I’m 14 years old and currently living in Cary, North Carolina. I know that there are not many job opportunities for people of my age, but I know that we can model/act/do commercials and stuff like that. Are there any modeling/acting agencies that I could get affiliated with? Is anybody out here hiring? Thank you(:
Unless you already have professional modeling or acting experience, you’re not going to be able to find an agent. An agent’s sole job is to provide casting directors or fashion industry clients (you’d need different agents for acting and modeling, since legitimate agents represent actors OR models, but not both) with trained, experienced actors or models who can show up to jobs knowing exactly what’s expected of them. Film production and photo shoots are expensive and directors and photographers don’t have time to provide on-the-job training to amateurs. That’s precisely why they call agents when they’re looking for actors or models. They know agents will only send them people who’ve proven they’re qualified to work in their field.
The actors you see on TV (including in commercials) have generally spent years taking classes and appearing in low-profile theatrical productions before they found agents willing to represent them. Just about everyone thinks it would be fun to be on TV, but very few people are actually willing to devote themselves to learning and mastering the craft of acting. Agents know this and can’t afford to risk their reputations and livings (since agents only get paid when their actors do) on amateurs. The so-called agents who recruit in malls are frauds who make fortunes promising shortcuts that don’t exist, but they’re not the ones casting directors call when they’re hiring actors. Legitimate agents will only represent people who’ve shown they’re serious about the craft of acting.
Likewise, modeling agencies know that at least 90% of people with “model looks” aren’t capable of the work, so most of them won’t even meet with models who don’t have portfolios showing they’ve worked professionally. But if you contact the main office of a local store or chain that advertises where you live, you can inquire about appearing in print ads. That’s how most models begin their careers and build the portfolios they need to access other opportunities. You won’t make a lot of money doing local modeling work, but you’ll get experience and may be able to sign with an agent after you’ve worked for a while.
You’re going to have to have your parents represent you for a little bit to build up a resume. Once you do that and have something decent to put on your portfolio, then you can go to the agencies.