How do single moms do it... either by inheritance (LOL), great babysitters, major sacrifice, or they just don't. And guess what, it isn't just single moms. Your DD isn't being punished because she has a deadbeat dad. Single or with a partner, not everyone is in a situation where they have enough flexibility.

I don't recommend changing jobs or leaving your job, especially if you are reasonably happy and reasonably well paid.

I just wanted to add that obtaining an agent is a choice, but once you make that choice it is a commitment. You are part of this agencies income now. I strongly feel that if you make the CHOICE to sign with an agent, that you make every possible attempt to attend all auditions. If it is something you are not able to do, you should not make the choice to be in the biz at this time. Obviously if you or your child is ill, or you are on vacation then book them out, but other than that, you should be prepared to drop what you are doing if needed to attend an audition. This is no secret when signing up for this biz and if you are not able to do it, you should wait until you are.

quote:

Originally posted by Pinkrose:
I am a single mom doing it by myself who works 42 & ½ hours a week. I know my DD has got the X-factor and want her 2 have all the opportunity in the world to have whatever she wants in life. However I feel if we do go down this road I will have 2 try and work less hours a week, or quit my job all together. The + side to all of this is that I will be spending more time with my DD, but and this is the down side 2 this is we will have 2 make due on what she makes after we pay the agent and put her money away.

I have been thinking about this 4 sometime now and just thinking about it makes me feel really guilty!!!!!!!!

I know that most of the kids have stay at home moms and they have dads who work and pay all the bills, but how does someone who does not have that do it?????

Any and all comment would be very helpful I am very open minded person…….

Find a sugardaddy.
In all honesty, this is a ridiculous post. Please, think before posting something like this. I see a lot of whacko parents on a daily basis who use their kids as mealtickets. Heres some great statistics:

close to 90% of all actors make less than 15k a year.

Only about 3% make over 50k

If you want fame and fortune:
Rob a bank, you could score big!
Hope to be in some industrial or medical accident and get paid bank from your insurance
play the lottery every day, it may just happen.
Other than that, you WILL NOT make it big with print work, acting, or anything else in the world of entertainment. Pageants won't make you famous, they are a waste of time. Working hard and going to gosee's and auditions are great, but they will not make you famous or rich. If you have a steady job, keep it, and save money so that eventually you can get more opportunities. Im done with this dispicable thread.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by avidactor:
In all honesty, this is a ridiculous post. Please, think before posting something like this. I see a lot of whacko parents on a daily basis who use their kids as mealtickets.[QUOTE]

1st off how is it a ridiculous post & why do I need think before posting something like this!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly I believe that the comments from the others helped me (not yours)!!!!!!!!!! I think I just might not do it at all… I am not 100% sure on that just yet still need a few days 2 really think about it before I make that final….. My reason on the post was to have others already in the biz give me there thoughts, (I don’t know anything about this biz only what I read online) so I can make my mind up on what is right 4 my DD….. And 4 u 2 even come up here and post that I needed to think before posting something like this, u must have a great job and live somewhere nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES I would love it for my DD 2 make it big so we can move out of the HOOD where there is no gun fire outside on are street or when a kid I know gets SHOT SETTING inside of his OWN house only 5 blocks away from where we live…… And I can go on and on but I am not, but do u think that anyone would want their kids 2 grow around all of that (no)…… All I want is for my DD 2 grow up happy & be whatever she wants…..

IF DD makes it big why are YOU going to be able to afford to move out of the "hood?" What income are you going to be bringing in? And what income exactly do you think she's going to bring in? $1000 a year would be if you are very very fortunate--and again--that's her money, not yours.

I am absolutely speechless and it takes A LOT to make me speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by CSilvera:
IF DD makes it big why are YOU going to be able to afford to move out of the "hood?" What income are you going to be bringing in? And what income exactly do you think she's going to bring in? $1000 a year would be if you are very very fortunate--and again--that's her money, not yours.

U are reading way 2 much into that post!!!!!!!!!! I was tring to make a point 1st of all not state a fact!!!!!!!!!!! avidactor called it a despicable thread…… All I wanted was some advice not someone tring 2 make me out 2 a BAD MOM!!!!!!!! IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING HELPFUL 2 SAY OR STATE THEN KEEP IT MOVING AND DON'T POST ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!

JUST WANT 2 ADD 2 EVERYONE WHO HAVE POSTED WHO DID HELP A VERY BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Pinkrose:
YES I would love it for my DD 2 make it big so we can move out of the HOOD where there is no gun fire outside on are street or when a kid I know gets SHOT SETTING inside of his OWN house only 5 blocks away from where we live…… And I can go on and on but I am not, but do u think that anyone would want their kids 2 grow around all of that (no)…… All I want is for my DD 2 grow up happy & be whatever she wants…..

I think you really need to focus on a way for YOU to make a better life for your daugther and yourself, not a way for HER to make a better life for you and her. If you are living in "the hood" as you say, in an unsafe environment, then I think you should be spending your money on finding a safe place for you and your daughter, not spending it on photoshoots and comp cards and trips to the city. I think that should be your priority right now. I'm sorry, but it really is sounding more and more like you are expecting your daughter to get you out of your current situation which does, as others have said, make it sound like you are using her as a meal ticket. It isn't her responsibility, it is yours. Sorry, but that is just the way I feel. I sincerely wish you the best in finding a way to get out of your situation without using your daughter to do so.

Pinkrose,
I didn't want to respond, because yes, I think it was ridiculous to bring up the idea of having your child be the primary caretaker of the household. I am only responding because you are innocent. The fact that you don't know much about this business and you come into sites like this is a step in the right direction. I do apologize for sounding crude. Please understand that there are so many parents out there pimping their kids for their own personal gain.
I think it would be great for your daughter to be successful in the biz, but hoping for $$$ out of it is NOT going to get you anywhere. Yes, you do need to dedicate time and effort for your child to be noticed by an agency, but giving up your job for the hopes of your child making it???? Thats something you really really really need to reevaluate and reconsider. That was the main basis for why I said this post was ridiculous.

There have been a lot of negative postings on this site as of late. Because of it, many great people stopped posting on here. I find that to be a sad state of affairs. I would like to see the bickering end, and I know I am part of the problem at times. I promise to be more professional and constructive with my posts.

I am a little tiffed by your reply insinuating I have a great job and live somewhere nice. To be honest, my job means nothing to me (in terms of the corporation). I work here solely for the benefit of the kids, and for the parents and NOT for the company. As far as where I live, for the past 8 years of my life, I have lived in low rent (ghetto-ass) housing. My car has been broken into 4 times. I have been shot at, and I've had several encounters with would-be muggers. I lived in S.E. DC for four years, where being the only "white boy" I was the target of many things, that I don't need to go into. Gunshots in my neighborhood now are pretty much my morning alarm, along with car alarms, ghetto-birds (police helicopters), and bass being blasted. I leave my windows open when I sleep so I can hear if the alarm going off in the parking lot is from my car. I don't live in the lap of luxury. Yes, it would be great to have a 5 story mansion and a few fine automobiles parked out front. I am a realist. I know that even if I work my head off for years and years, that dream may not come true. The life of a performer is not an easy road. I tell all my acting students if they have ANY other desire, to pursue that instead. If you think that getting your child in this business is going to be glamorous, please, stop now! If it were so easy to make money in this biz, the whole world would be doing it.
I think you have great intentions for your child, but be smart and logical about your choices.

I too am a single mother and I am just playing things by ear. I dont live far from the city and I do have some support that lives in the city. They are able to take my son to gosees on some occasions when I cant. So far I use my sick days to take him (usually just 1/2 sick day). Fortunately I work in a school and have summers off. Things pick up in April so I just get creative with each audition or booking he is called for. I spread out my resources.

I do agree with another poster that you should spend your money getting out of your present situation. I dont live far and the costs of gas (sitting in traffic makes this worse), parking and the new $8. toll from NJ can be expensive. I cant imagine how this would be from CT. His gosees many times take no more than 20 min and thats a long one. All of this after an hour drive during rush hour. I do it because it gives me more time with my son and I like others to see what I am so proud of. I went in with no expectations but he has proved to be quite bookable and still I have no expectations.

The money he makes really just a little more than breaks even with what I spend for it all. I could as easily just take the same amount of my money spent and put it into an account. However, his name is on the check. I take nothing back. I got him into this, I support the business of it all. It's exciting when your child is CHOSEN but then we must really think of benefits outweighing costs or vice versa. You and your child' basic needs come first (safe home, food, clothes,) ,extracurriculars (i.e. modeling)come later. Good Luck with your decision.

thank you everyone who had something useful 2 say that will help me.... I think i am just going to play it by ear like TJam and see what happens...... or just might wait in till she gets older

avidactor I never said that she would be the primary anything!!!!!!!!!!
& I APOLOGIZE 4 EVER SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT WHERE U LIVE MY BAD!!!!!!!!!

ok is everyone done ripping me a new one LOL ;~) i have gotten the point in a hard way and I am clear no what i must do or not do.... I just really wanted 2 know how all of this was done.... + she is going 2 be starting school in the fall and I don't know what I will do then because she got into one of the best schools around the way, and as u all know already school is 1st... LOL ;~)

SO PLEASE CAN WE JUST ALL GET ALONG!!!!! LOL ;~)

I thought all Coogan bank account where locked. My daughters says locked trust.

I am not a single mom and every week (or everyday) I end up asking myself, how can I or how did I pull this off. I have other children at home and a fulltime working hisband and its still a struggle everyday with finances to go back and fourth and time spent away from my other children. What works best for me is taking it day by day and not thinking to far into the future aout the whole thing. Take each day as it comes.

Hi, I understand what your looking at when making this decision.
It's a dilemma that alot of parents have to deal with when really going for it. This applies if they are single parents or not. The truth is a parent has to be available to be with the child every step of the way. Be with ...not rely on for support.So if you are supporting financially in CT and she needs to travel to another state to obtain work you may need to use some of her earning to do that.
I'm a bit confused by your question because it seems you live in CT. While you can find work outside of LA / NY it is unlikely it would be such a overwhelming schedule that it would be enough to warrant quitting your job !
Since I'm assuming your doing this Locally ( CT)
Keep in mind you have some options.
In the early stages it is a matter of having a somewhat flex. work schedule or a boss that understands if you need to leave early to take your child to an audition.Most CD's schedule calls and auditions that fit a school schedule, ie: held after school hours. However this doesn't always fit with a parents work schedule.
So, the dilemma begins...Now I have seen where a few Mom's or Dads team up with each other and share taking kids to auditions.As you can imagine this "networking" can have it's pro's and con's.But it seems to work for some. I have seen where someone is hired kinda like a babysitter to bring the child to auditions if it conflicts with a parents work schedule. There are solutions you just need to think outside the box. ( work nights?)
If the child has a call back or they are booked then it becomes a little more complicated. If the work is "local" once again arrangements can be made or time taken off of work for the parent. What about other family members , your a single mom but I'm sure you still have family!?
If a job is Booked,
I highly suggest that you Do NOT Hire someone to be on set with your child. You need to be aware of child labor laws and abide by them. This is still your child...not a mini adult! I don't Care how much x- factor they have ...your first job is to protect them.
In the long run,
It really comes down to what type of work your hoping your child will book,feature films and print ads are miles apart in logistic's for the parent.
You need to EDUCATE yourself about the business completely before stepping on foot out the door!

It looks like you are in CT, I would assume that you would eventually need to be in NY or LA for major work.
Consider these issues :
Does your child have an agent in those markets?
Can you afford to live in either place without your childs extra income?
Can you relocate your work?
Can you afford to fly in to LA during 'Pilot season" and stay for a few months?
Do you know what Pilot season is?
There are alot of things to consider when taking this "leap of faith".
The truth is this is a very unstable business in regards to income. Even if your child is working and you are as well living in LA / NY is expensive! I'm not trying to discourage you, just "enlighten you"...there is no golden ticket.
My advice is stay home in CT,put some cash aside for coming to LA for a short period of time (1-2 months) during pilot season and give it a go.
There are corporate rental apartments where you can rent month to month or sublet situations to be found on the internet.
If you are providing your child with a home in CT and she is working in let's say NY or LA then it is "morally right" to use some of her earnings to support her when away from home.( not to pay your rent /mortgage back home)
In this situation
It would be NO different than if she were an adult that needed to live off her earnings to be available for work (logistically)
When a child is a "working actor", this is a extraordinary situation and it is, "as if" she /he is a mini adult in respect to income - expenses. So a certain amount has to be reinvested into their business.

Take this all in baby steps until you are totally aware of the pitfalls.

Kymimon's post has me a little confused... it may be " 'morally right' to use some of her earnings to support her when away from home' ... but is it legally permissable? It seemed from some of the earlier posts that you cannot touch that money for living expenses.

If, for instance, a child who doesn't live in NYC were to get cast in a broadway show and the family had to become bi-city (i.e. dad living with some kids in family home in another state and mom living with actor kid in NYC), could mom use some of actor kid's salary to rent an apartment in NYC?

~T