i posted this in the agents/manager forum by mistake. today we received a call to go on an audition later this afternoon and when the agent told us it was for a commercial airing only in europe i thought about the craziness of making arrangements for my other kids w/in four hours and i turned down the audition. do you think it is a black mark against us to turn down anything being that we have only been with the agency for about 3 months?

Well let's put it this way....turning down auditions is not something I would get into the habit of doing regularly. You may soon find your phone stops ringing in favor of a kid & parent who are willing to drop everything for such an audition.
Try to remember that to your agent this is a business . They don't really care whether you have childcare for your other 3 kids or not.... and unless your child is Dakota Fanning, they also aren't going to like you thinking you can pick and choose your auditions according to who here at home is going to see your child on TV. They care about getting bookable bodies to that audition and are not here to support anyone's acting hobby. They will not think twice about replacing your kid with another kid & parent who are more business minded.

Also, what difference does it make if the commercial is only airing in Europe? If a kid likes to act, they normally don't care where it airs...as long as they get to act.

I agree, you want to be as flexble as you can for auditions, even last minute ones if possible, because they do happen. The agent, for example, may have slots for 3 kids to go on this commercial audition and your daughter is perfect for the breakdown, they call you, and you say no...Okay maybe it was last minute and your babysitter wasn't available. So they give it to the next child on their list. Then they call for another one with a days notice but you can't again so they call the same child as before and yep...they can go...guess who they're going to start calling first?

Now things happen...to everyone...you just don't want to make it a habit. I have 4 children and I have a babysitter, backup babysitter, backupbackup babysitter, then 2 more family members "on call" that way we're covered.

One reason to pass:I will not take my child to an audition sick, I've seen parents do it and it drives me crazy because that's how others get sick! Our manager knows that about me and if anyone is sick I will tell her right away and let her know when they're not contagious anymore, that to me is a "legitimate" miss because we are not exposing anyone elses children.

Ok it's late and I think I'm rambling

I myself have 4 children and run into babysitting issues as well. I have been lucky thus far but will not always happen, what if I have to take 2 other kids with me besides the one auditioning. Ive read mixed things some people say its an absulote nono and others tell me they do it all the time.

If you absolutely have to take them with you then make sure you sit them in a quiet corner and that they are on their best behavior. Clients will and DO call agents if some wild kid comes into their office that won't behave or is disruptive. A client may also tell your agent, "never send that kid to me again" if there is a big problem. Then some places like Don Case have the sign right on their door "One child, ONE parent". Walking in with 3 kids is not going to make Don a happy camper. I see parents with 2 kids all the time showing up at auditions and for the most part, I think it is overlooked. But I rarely see parents with 3 and even rarer with 4. I dont know, I imagine the logistics of having 4 kids can be very tough. If I had 4 I would see if the others wanted to be in the business too because if you have to come into the city for one kid, you may as well quadruple your chances of booking great jobs by letting all 4 audition for stuff.

Some advance planning might help avoid some stress. I wake up every morning as if we will have an audition. I think about what i would do if I get a last minute call. If i am working that day or out, i carry audition clothes, headshots, etc in the car. My dd's teacher is aware that she may have to be picked up early and my dd knows to get homework before she leaves.

I don't know how those who have more than one kid, especially little ones, do it. Hats off to you!

actorsmommy is right (great posts!!) as is momto2b2g. I have never turned down an audition unless a child was ill.