So, last week’s column on “Bringing the Kids Along” was met with quite a bit of follow-up email. Here are two items I wanted to share. This first one is from Renee Scott, a wonderful actor who happens to also work in casting.
This is a great topic! As a commercial casting assistant, I can tell you this: Sometimes it’s better to leave the kids outside. I’ve seen a ton of auditions ruined by the split focus or the child’s screaming, throwing things, etc. Also, commercial sessions are FAST!
Having said that, I would rather someone bring in their baby than their DOG. It happens all the time and I think it’s ridiculous. I am actually working back there behind the camera and I don’t have time to watch your dog. No dogs, people. Or lizards. I actually had a twelve-year-old boy bring his lizard to a casting this week. And he refused to give it to his mom. It grossed me out! AND his audition suffered.
Maybe you should do a column about PETS!
Hee! That’s great! I know pets in the casting office have been mentioned as a pet peeve of actors before. Can you imagine what could happen if an actor showed up with a pet for an audition at a casting office that has a pet? We could have some sort of epic battle usually seen only in the animal kingdom. Not a good scene, all the way around! Certainly not a great way to start off an audition experience or make an impression.
Another issue related to the one I wrote about last week popped up at the Showfax message board, where a poster asked about the likelihood of successfully navigating both parenthood and a busy acting career. While the thread is still active (and there have been some really great posts there), I thought it would be a good idea to toss this topic out here for my weekly readers, in case there are even more tips you folks would like to share (either at the message board or via email reply to me for use in a future column, here).
Re: Bonnie’s latest column, “Bringing the Kids Along,” I would love to open up a discussion about how one can successfully juggle an acting career and start a family. I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I feel my biological clock ticking, and my husband is so ready to have a child. While I melt every time I see a baby, I don’t feel ready yet. Why? I’m worried that all the hard work I’ve put into building my acting career will just be lost once I have a baby to care for 24/7. I don’t have the money to afford daycare or a nanny, and I don’t know many people in LA that could baby-sit at a moment’s notice if I got an audition.
I feel very conflicted — as I would love to have a child someday, and be the best mom I could be. I think I would love my child so much that my ambition would slowly evaporate. I have never felt more focused, driven, and empowered about my career. I feel my momentum growing, and it inspires me to keep going after my dreams. It’s really hard to walk away from your passion. Obviously, if you are an established actress, I think you would be able to bounce back into your career pretty easily. But for the rest of us who are still trying to reach that level… what to do? Trying to make it in Hollywood takes 110% effort — so how do other moms put in the time to keep their careers flowing? Is the easy answer: You need a fat bank account in order to do both?
As artists, I’m sure we could find creative solutions. I just thought of an idea. All the actress/moms in LA could start their own group, and be there for one another when an audition or booking comes up. Maybe something like that exists already. That would be very cool!
I’m in my 30s, and feel like I am running out of time to make this important decision. Please share your advice and experiences! I would be most grateful.
So, let’s hear it, folks. What advice do you working parents have? Feel free to email me or post your advice directly on the Showfax message board. Thanks!
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000737.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.