Good post, Nathan, and although we missed your input for a few days, it's good you took your time to decide how to proceed and respond.

My DDs don't model, so I don't know you, nor had I heard of you before this thread came up. But, boy, did it become a catfight! Not pleasant, but hard to avert my eyes . . .

I'd thought, though, from the beginning that perhaps you'd just made a bad business decision in making the access to your website contingent on the purchase of your book. I know theater producers who've made bad policy and practice decisions on the road to the growth of their theater companies, and when they made those bad decisions they learned from them. Needless to say, they backed away from what they were doing and tried something else and eventually found practices that worked and were acceptable. And I'd guess that this kind of trial and error is common in any entrepreneurial pursuit.

Did you ever think you would be setting off such a firestorm? Good luck with the finalization of your book - DD2 would actually like to model, so I might just check out your website now . . .

Lots of mudslinging here! I just want to say for the moms like drcole who want to genuinely pursue a careeer for their kids. good luck. My kids are repped in NYC. It is great to win this contest that you are entered in and I am not sure of the affiliation with the agencies and the photographer. but it still hasn't been addressed as to how children outside of the city area will be repped by agencies in ny. Are they going to fly in....my question is if they are affiliated with this contest and going to meet with the winner are they promising a contract. thats grat, but how are you going to get to a go-see in NY?
I have chosen to avoid the negative comments except for one, no offense to the others, Kipmil is one of the most helpful people I have met in this industry. When I knew nothing she gave me a point in the right direction..I now have some very successful and happy children!
If we take down the fangs and read the posts, people hear are really only trying to help.

Before I head off to sleep, I have to say that I think that some people would be thrilled JUST to win a contest based in NYC, nevermind that it doesn't lead to anything (or lead to anything realistic for a particular family to pursue). There are so, so many kids out there who want to be in "show business", and both they and their parents might think it's "easy" and all it takes is winning a contest. And for many people, just winning a contest is enough to make them happy (laurels to fall back on).

As most of us know, there is a huge commitment needed by both child and parent to pursue any career in this business, and the majority of people don't realize that. They think it's all about a "lucky break." They don't realize that it takes a LOT of time and discipline and sacrifice (oh yes, and $$$), and research and talking with other parents to really get an understanding of how things work. AND you never stop learning. For me, though, that's actually part of the fun of it!

Not all of us can pursue this seriously, but those who can should be glad and enjoy it (ah, the serendipity of living near NYC - what if I still lived in the boonies of NH, where I grew up??)

TheModelChild.com (Nathan Yungerberg) has posted the top 20 finalists for the cover casting which was held the month of April. I am proud to say my daughter Amanda Rose is one of the finalists - very exciting! If there are any community members from TMC who are interested in voting - we would love any support! If you are interested in purchasing Nathan's new, great book about the modeling industry, you can purchase that as well on his site for $24.95. Thank you!

I started this post (thread?) on May 6th, excited to announce to anyone who cared, that my daughter (I guess I should say DD?) made the TOP 20 of a contest - a modeling contest for a book cover! Now almost 6,250 posts later - and gaining a world of education for a beginner in the "biz", I would still love to have your supporting vote - no cost to you! I hope that everyone has learned something - about something or someone from this post. Perhaps that you can't judge a book by it's cover - especially one that is not yet complete! Best of luck to Nathan and his completion of his hard work - I have a feeling there will be a lot of people interested in your book!

I meant to quote the top part - don't know how to do that yet, and also meant 6,250 viewings, not posts...wow that would be a lot!

Now everyone can go to the site and read Nathans blogs and realize that all he offers is helpful information. I have nothing but respect for him for taking the time and considering what everyones comments and concerns were. I DO NOT want a refund I am sure there is valualble information provoded in that I will find very useful.

Nathan, Thank you for coming back and considering revising your business plan. I will certainly visit your website now and give it a fair chance.

BRAVO NY! Now, unhook from that scouting camp, and you'll be golden in my book!

Hello....

I am also a newbie(LURKER) member here and would love for you to view my DD, a finalist, at The ModelChild.com ..........Summer Rose.

She is a lovely 3 year old who lives in sunny Florida. She is Daddy's twin and is very smart and friendly. We would love your vote if you think she deserves it.

I am a member of Themodelchild.com forums and would love to invite all the members here to come over and offer their advice and knowledge of the business........and their votes on the cover model search.

We would love to have you all!!

Thanks for your time Estelle

What is the point of entering this contest?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by drcole22:
I think you have made some good points about purchasing his book. Prior to the voting, it was an open site ... I think it is a fair way to those who have made it since an open vote could really throw off the numbers. I see it as a way to protect the kids from being viewed by anyone and everyone. . QUOTE]

I always find it amusing when parents want their kids to be in the modeling/acting business, but at the same time are afraid for the child's likeness to be viewed by just anyone.

Think about that... Just about every parents dream would be to have your child book a job resulting in a billboard in Times Square or the cover of child magazine or in a SAG national commercial. This business is all about being seen.

If you don't feel comfortable having people from every walk of life looking at your child's smiling face, then you are definitely not cut out for this business. What will that parent do if their child was put on the cover of Nathan's book???? Tell Nathan to screen every purchaser?

I admit, it is a scary world out there, with a lot of sick people preying on children. All you can do is protect your child, by not exposing them to situations where they will be photographed in a manner that is inappropriate.

Any good parent knows what inappropriate it is. If you feel uncomfortable, then it isn't right.

But if you spend all your energy protecting their headshot from being seen by the general public... then what are you going to do when they have a giant poster in Target???

It's completely different. My dd's ads do not have her name or location attached to them. Yes, if someone was very enterprising they could probably find out who she is but they would have to go thru a lot of trouble to do it. When your child is on a website that comes up when "model" and "child" are googled and then you list their name and location you are giving out a lot of information if someone is a predator.

When my kid is in a magazine or ad I am not worried because her name, my name, our location, our agent's info etc. are not attached to that info as is often the case here in this forum. People give up way too much information. If the cute little blonde above ends up in an ad, the ad is not going to state "this is Summer Rose who is 3 years old and lives in sunny Florida with her mom Estelle". In case you didnt notice from reading this thread we were able to find out who a particular bragging mother was with little info. and her pics. Plus, you just never know WHO knows WHO in this business.
IMDB pages are a whole nother story.

You beat me to it not blond!

Miaminonnative ~ I would be very happy to have my daughter on a sign or book cover, I am pursuing this with her for a reason. What I meant by that post was that there are contests where people send major e-mails out to family/friends and send them to the voting site - and also ask them to forward and forward the information. To me you then lose control of who is viewing that information. I thought, and have found out perhaps differently, that there were people here who would support this type of contest because they may be able to relate to the feeling of wanting their child to win as well. I stated that I would be more than happy to support someone else's child because they came on here to share something important to them. This has all been a learning process and I am willing to keep learning.

As for photos on agency sites, I know they do that and it is accessible to anyone, no password or username. TMC did not have photos posted until the voting began, and that is why I felt it was more protected because it was a community of parents that had to log in. Who knows - it is hard to protect children 100% I do realize that.