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Many parents hoping to help their kids break into the competitive acting and modeling industries end up being “momagers,” playing a role in their child’s life akin to a business manager beyond their duties as a mother. Turner Talent co-founder Kelli Turner was once a “momager” for her daughter, Erica — who she now works with as the co-founder of her talent development and coaching company. She says the experience of being a “momager” can be rewarding, but there is also a delicate balance that must be struck, or else it could have consequences for a child’s career.
For many parents, their foremost concerns about getting their kids into the talent industry are cost and safety. Many parents are willing to do whatever it takes to help their child achieve their dreams. Unfortunately, the industry knows this, and the result has been the formation of “glam scams” that take advantage of parents’ willingness to pay for their child’s success. Still, parents should know that there is a way to help their kids become an actor or model without costing them an arm and a leg.
The challenges of navigating the talent industry
In an industry not known for its transparency, it can be difficult for parents to tell what opportunities are legitimate and which are not. Glam scams make big (and often convincing) promises that rope parents into paying thousands of dollars for an experience that won't benefit their child. Having a talent development coach like Turner Talent on their side can help parents navigate the complex world of the talent industry.
Getting a foot in the door in the acting or modeling industry is a giant learning process, but the unfortunate truth is that many people in the industry don’t have the time — or desire — to help newcomers learn. Kelli cautions against asking too many questions to the wrong person, because that can come across as unprofessional. “Many newcomers are tempted to ask their questions to the first person they meet, which can often be their agent,” she adds. “Agents primarily want to work with talent who knows what they’re doing. Asking too many questions can lead an agent to not prioritize you and your child — or worse yet — drop you.”
Many parents frequently ask what should (and shouldn’t) cost money for their children to enter the industry. “Of course, there will be some things you have to pay for to get started,” says Kelli. “If you want high-quality headshots, those will cost a few hundred dollars, and if you want to invest in acting classes or a talent coaching program, you’ll have to pay for that too. Other things — such as an agent’s services — should be based on commission. Be wary of any agents who charge money or attempt to sell photo packages or additional services like that. Those agents likely aren’t focusing on booking your child jobs.”
What a parent must do to make their child successful in the talent industry
One of the biggest mistakes a parent can make is not understanding their own role in their child’s success. “Of course, parents financially support their children as they get started in the industry, and are responsible for providing the encouragement they need to stay motivated,” Kelli adds. “However, many parents don’t recognize that they can also be a negative influence on their child’s career if they are not careful.”
Oftentimes, parents need just as much coaching on how to interact with agents as their children. “Since the parent deals with most of the business side of acting and modeling work, agents and parents must have a mutualistic relationship to help them work in the best interests of the young talent,” Kelli explains. “In many cases, the parent is the first impression an agent gets of an aspiring young actor or model. This impression can make or break whether an actor signs their child. Parents must learn how to properly interact with agents for the sake of their children.”
It can be tricky for parents to navigate the complex talent industry — especially when they have their own lives to take care of. Enlisting the help of a talent development coaching program, such as Turner Talent, can help provide them and their child the guidance and connections they need to realize their dreams of becoming an actor or model, without falling victim to any glam scams that simply want to take their money.
With 68 years of combined experience, Kelli and her daughter Erica can guide aspiring actors and models (and their parents) through the industry the right way. “We have experience both in front of the camera and behind the scenes,” Kelli asserts. “We know how this industry works inside and out, and we are happy to share that knowledge with parents and their children hoping to enter the talent industry safely and affordably.”
