Does anyone have any experience -- good or bad -- with Sam's Kids Talent Management in Marlton, NJ? Thanks!

Here is an old post about them:
"My younger sister has been with them for about 3 years and only booked one job with McGraw Hill (for a textbook). I know each year they ask that you get new photos with Paul Sirochman and pay the money to place your child's photo in the yearbook.

From my experience, children of that age do not need new headshots each year, nor do they need them at all. I believe the standard at least in Philadelphia is a snapshot when you're under 16.

They do accept adults as well and my boyfriend as well as myself have been clients for a few years but have never heard anything from them.

Hope this helps! "

Read the kids getting started thread, and remember you do not pay for anything from them! Not to be in their book not to get headshots etc.

Hello TheDriver!
Did you go to Sam's Kids?
We have appointment with them to go.
I wonder ...
The same time we need agent badly!!!!!!
My daughter did not book because she did not have an agent and producer wants kids with one.

You don't need an agent to book work--who told you that? You also don't need to pay for headshots for kids from an agency, and you also don't need to pay to be in their "book."

Let's put it this way... if they ask you for any money for anything, they're a scam. If they insist you use "their" photographer for photos, they're a scam. If they insist you be in their "book" for a fee, they're a scam.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: DO NOT LAY OUT A PENNY FOR ANYTHING. IF THEY ASK FOR MONEY THEY ARE A SCAM OPERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

listen to dianenyc--she speaks words of wisdom. . . . . .

I hear that they want money up front to get in the yearbook. I know someone who was with them a while back and chose not pay for the yearbook. Who knows if the kid was in or out of the book, because she never saw it. The kid booked one job but wasn't worth the effort or money. She did get pics through Paul Schirochman. The only good thing about Sam's is that you get the pics cheaper than going to Shirochman yourself. He does do a great job.
From what I heard, I would not go with Sam's. There is a three year contract, and anything you get on your own, you have to give them a percentage.
Try Lois Miller. She's not an agent but a manager, and does get her kid's auditions.

I am completely confused.
When you are talking about booking jobs without agent...
Are you talking about paying jobs or independent projects?
We do not have agent and my daughter was booking small jobs on her own. I thought it's time for her to go bigger - try more serious works. How would you get access to those jobs if she has no agent to send her to? Those jobs are not on the backstage or any other free webpages. We went to one open call in New York by ourself..... What a crazy experience?! 500 kids in line..... I feel so sorry for casting directors - I am not sure they would remember anybody out of that crowd?! Most of kids were not professional - they did not have headshots and any experience. My daughter felt out of line over there.

I am talking about paying jobs. There are plenty of them out there. And I've been to those open calls too--among the 100s, the majority had representation.

If they ask you for any money up front, they are not legitimate--they will not get you acting work. This is a hard business--you and 50000 other kid actors are trying to get work in the city. You should see the kids I've seen at an NYU unpaid, student film audition--most of them had real theatre experience, and years of working behind them!

Scilvera,
I did not know too much before we started this summer.
But I used a common sense.
I do work outside the house.
When I look for work I send my resume before I am invited to interview (or audition for actors). In my kind of work I do not need headshots. My resume shows my qualities in addition to my experience.
For acting jobs your qualities are your face and your experience. So it does make BIG sense to me for my daughter to have resume and headshots.
Acting is not hobby! It's profession! //at least if what my daughter wants.
It should be treated the right way.
That's my feeling. I could be wrong.

I was suggested to give them call by one of the people in the business.
On the phone they said that they want 30 dollars to be paid for at the time of the interview. As soon as I mentioned the person I was sent by they waived the fee. I have no idea what is a book you are talking about. I would not like my daughter to be there. I am looking for agent or who ever supposed to have access to current casting calls and submit my daughter's resume and headshots to it.
I am sure you, all, have better understanding of the bussiness.
Sam's kids asked us to bring 10-15 headshots, prepare monoloque, and perform cold-read, that's all.

Does manager just manage your child money and takes 20-25% of it? I can do it myself.....
There are all kinds of good financial software to do it.
We NEED access to casting calls!

Nobody asked us for money so far. I am constantly looking on casting calls. Not too many for my daughter's age range.... I do send her resume and headshots when I see something matching. Most of the time it's independent films.

Kids do not need headshots until they are more established. CDs, agents will work with a snapshot. Period. If they are telling you they do, they are scamming you. You might want an agent; you do not need one, and you certainly don't need one who is going to take your money and not get you work. Did you read the kids getting started thread?



Managers manage an actor's career, and take a percentage out of ALL work you book whether or not they helped you get it.



This person is not legitimate agent if he asked you for money. Did you do a mailing to legitimate agents from Ross Reports?



Hmm, does anyone else smell Asian Brad Pitt?

Sam's Kids Talent Management is on the list.
My question is what do you do when you need to submit your child to casting call? What do you send if you have no headshot?