It is our pleasure to introduce our newest contributing editor, LisaMarie Follmer, president and founder of StarKids Consulting. We wanted to get to know LisaMarie and her company so we invited her to introduce herself. We also asked her to share her responses to some of the frequently asked questions she receives as the mother of a top model.

---

Hi!  My name is LisaMarie Follmer, I am the president and founder of StarKids Consulting (SKC), which I started in 2010 in response to years of other mothers asking “How did you get your daughter started in modeling?” 

StarKids Consulting services offer parents the important information they need to help their children get started in the exciting field of modeling.  Drawing upon my knowledge and resources that I have developed through years of frontline experience, I now am able to offer parents valuable information about the industry and what will be expected of young, professional, working models and their parents. My clients also receive insider tips and, perhaps most importantly, the benefit of my personal experiences.

In my resource guide, How to Get Started in Modeling, I share “Three Key Factors” that parents should seriously consider before pursuing the dream of having their child embark upon a professional modeling career: 1) Time Commitment; 2) Resource Availability; and, 3) Financial Commitment.

1. Time Commitment: Be prepared to spend a tremendous amount of time supporting this journey. Between balancing school, homework, lessons, auditions, and, in some cases, siblings, parents of young professional models must be masters at organization if this is going to work. At this point, you also have to ask yourself, “Do I have the time to devote to this now or in the future?” 
2. Resource Availability: Does your child have access to dance lessons, music, singing, acting lessons or musical theatre camps, and/or modeling contests? These and many other activities present excellent opportunities for children to build self-confidence and gain the necessary experiences that will prepare them for working in the industry. Remember, you are building your child’s self-confidence – and confidence shows in photos!
3. Financial Commitment: Are you prepared to make the financial commitment to invest in your child’s modeling career? While it is true that legitimate agencies never charge parents to sign their children, there are other costs associated with getting started in modeling. As parents, you will be expected to pay for professional photos of your child as well as cover all of the costs associated with pursuing and maintaining your child in the industry.

In addition to the “Three Key Factors” I have just shared, there are my “Three P’s for Success” that I feel are as equally important for parents who are just starting out. We’ll learn more about these Three P’s for Success in a future article in CMM so stay tuned!  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my answers to the Top 5 “Frequently Asked Questions” I receive from parents about getting their child started in modeling.

Q. How soon will my child get an agent?
A. The answer depends on many factors. How are you contacting the agencies? Via email? Regular mail? Did you follow the agency’s submission protocol? Are the agencies you are contacting considering new talent right now? Are you using the StarKids Consulting targeted list of youth talent agencies?

Q. Can my child have more than one agent?
A. Yes. A child can have one agent for Print work, one agent for Commercials, one agent for TV/Theatrical work. However, it is standard industry practice to have one agent represent your child “across the board” for all mediums, although there are times when the Print work might be handled by a separate agency.

Q.  What if I live in another state other than Los Angeles or New York?  Can my child still make it in modeling?
A. I am often asked this question and here is the bottom line: The calls for auditions come in the day before, typically, or sometimes the morning of, and you are expected to be there, on time, as scheduled. If you are anywhere outside of the surrounding Los Angeles or New York areas, it might be very difficult for you and your child to get there on time. Therefore, I suggest that you invest in your child where you live right now. Get your child enrolled in theatre classes, dance/music lessons, and other activities designed to build your child’s self-confidence, regardless of where you live. Then begin seeking modeling opportunities for your child in the nearest metropolitan city. This is not to say that agents will not sign a child who lives out-of-state, because they will; however that is topic I address at length in my presentation materials on that subject.

Q. Who reimburses me for all of my expenses?
A. No one. As I mentioned previously, legitimate agencies will NEVER ask for money upfront, so do not pay it! The best agents work on commission, meaning that when their clients work, they get paid. Having established that, parents should be aware they will be required to pay for headshots and portfolios, depending on the age of the child. Photos can range in price anywhere from $200 and up. There are also costs associated with what is called “Webcasting.” Theses are casting sites the casting directors use when selecting talent for auditions. All costs associated with pursuing and maintaining your child in the industry will be your responsibility.

Q. Does my daughter look like a model to you?
A. I always tell clients – it doesn’t matter what I think, all that matters is whether the agent see’s your child as a model – and it just takes one good agent to see it. At times, agents are looking past the beautiful, pretty or gorgeous child. For example an agent that month might be recruiting for kids who are more wholesome or kids with freckles. Agents have to see the bigger picture because they are in the business of meeting their clients’ needs which many times call for children outside of the “traditional pretty look.”

These Top 5 frequently asked questions you’ve just read are just a few of the many questions I can answer for you as you explore the world of professional modeling with your child. Visit the next few pages of Child Model Magazine and enjoy a real life behind the scenes photo shoot, and see our special holiday give away from StarKids Consulting and Studio OC! 

LisaMarie Follmer welcomes your comments and questions.  She may be contacted at: StarKidsConsulting@yahoo.com