MochaBabyModels

Exclusive MBM Casting: Yellow Dog Productions and Getty Images are looking for you!

In December my family and I were photographed for Getty Images by an awesome production company called Yellow Dog Productions. It was a family shoot featuring me, my son, my husband, my mom, and my dog! It was actually photographed at my house and was a combination of video and stock photography. 

I am happy to announce that I will be working with Yellow Dog Productions on future projects and acting as a talent and location scout. I am currently looking in NY and NJ for African American, Hispanic and Bi-racial submissions of real people, families, kids, old and young, tall and short. You do not have to be a model. You just need to have a positive attitude, be able to take a bit of direction and like to have fun. We want real people just like you!

To be considered please submit a clear close up and full length photos of yourself, your family, friends etc to stockcastings@gmail.com. Be sure to include name, age, email, and relation if submitting more than one person in a photo.

If selected, there is pay and a CD of photos will be provided. This is a great opportunity to get a free photo shoot and have your photos placed at the number one stock photo agency.

I look forward to working with you!

Casting Call: Calling all parents and babies nationwide!

MBM has found a casting for not only your baby, but for you as well! Backstage has posted the following casting for an upcoming coffee table book celebrating the joys of parenthood:

Johnson's is casting for a photo shoot with Michael Franzini, to be used for a coffee table book, TV and print. The project will focus on the "everyday joy" of busy parents. Casting across the U.S.

Seeking—Babies: males & females, 3-36 months; Parents: males & females, 18+.

To apply, email submissions@johnsonsbabybook.com. 

Include several recent photos and a short description of your everyday joy.

There's no pay but it would be a great opportunity and a wonderful memory and experience to have! You can also check the photographers website out for examples of his work. 

For more castings from Backstage - you can pick up a copy of the paper at the newsstand if you are local to NYC. Otherwise you can subscribe online for the paper, or just for the castings. They cater to actors  however there are occasionally modeling and commercial posts as well. You can browse the listings without paying so you can get an idea of what is available.Visit Backstage for more details and read a recent post for information on how to self submit to casting websites.

UPDATE: You can also visit the Johnson Baby Book Page for more information regarding the casting.

Mocha Baby Profile: Laila and Mya...cuteness times two!

Laila and Mya for Carter's 

A couple months ago I took my son to a casting call for Toys R Us. Usually the open calls are a little crazy so I was ready for the crowds, the crying, the madness and the mayhem...but this time it was different. Not only were just a handful of people present at the time we arrived, but I saw another Mocha family - a mom, dad, a boy and twin girls.

One of the little girls walked over and waved at my son, and he quickly waved back. The girls were so personable and cute, it was hard not to notice them. After the casting I ran into the family loading up the car and  decided to introduce myself and find out a little more about their experience in the modeling industry.

Meet the "Momager"

Lisha is a super Mocha mother of 5. She has Breanna -20,  Kyle-16, Timothy 3, and the twins Laila and Mya who are 1 year old.  She is a stay-at-home mother  (SAHM) and is responsible for managing the careers of her budding models. Her son Timothy, who was also at the Toys R Us casting, sometimes tags along for castings but the twins are the breakout stars of the family. 

Lisha, with her husband, the twins and Sherri Sheppard on the set of "Sherri".

The Big Break

So how did the twins get their start in modeling? Fate! Or as Lisha puts it - they "fell" in to the industry. After Lisha joined a mothering group for multiples, a member of the group forwarded a picture of the twins to her sister who happened to be an agent. The chance meeting led to the twins being cast on "Sherri" - the Lifetime show based on the life of comedienne and "The View" co-host Sherri Shepard. 

On set with Gloria Gaynor

Agency Action

After working on the Sherri show, the twins booked a Euflexxa pharmaceutical spot with "I Will Survive" singer Gloria Gaynor. Someone suggested that Lisha submit photos of Mya and Laila to Product Model Management and shortly thereafter they were signed to the agency.

Since then, they have been very busy!  Some of their recent gigs have included jobs for Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Carters and Joe Fresh . They have even caught the attention of the Abrams Artists Agency who is also interested in representing the girls. It seems like they are on a roll!

Mya for Carter's

Getting Gigs

Though the family resides in Connecticut, all of the work the twins have booked has been in NY and NJ. Since Lisha is a SAHM she has a flexible schedule and is able to take the girls to castings and jobs during the day and usually with little notice.

 Laila for Carter's

What's Next?

I asked Lisha what she thought of the industry and she said that she and her girls have really been enjoying themselves. She has met great people and is hoping to get some commercials and movies for the girls as time goes on. 

Lisha's Advice:

• Always be friendly and talk to the directors, producers, and other mothers when you are on set with the kids - you can get valuable information leads, and referrals. 
• A flexible schedule is key. All go-sees are are in the day so someone has to be ready - sometimes at a moments notice - to take your child to be seen. 
• With twins or other multiples - clients often book both kids but sometime they only use one. The good thing is BOTH babies get paid!

Mya for Babies R Us

Thanks to Lisha and her beautiful twins Laila and Mya for their story. I look forward to seeing them in magazines, movies and commercials really soon! Best of luck to you!

Resources: Agency: Product Model Management  Agency: Abrams Artists Agency

 

Know a Mocha baby in the biz that should be featured on Mocha Baby Models? Let me know at MochaBabyModels@gmail.com.

 

Casting Call: The Bump looking for Moms & Babies

 

The Bump is looking for NY-area moms!

They are shooting a video of babies and moms doing a variety of activities that will speak to everything from "discreet nursing" to bottle prep,teething, crying, swaddling, etc.

The shoot would take place next week Monday, 11/22 or Tuesday, 11/23.

Interested?... Email castingcall@theknot.com and echu@theknot.com with "NY Casting Call" as the subject.

Tell them I sent ya!

Your Mocha Baby can be an American Baby model! Enter Now!

 
Think your baby is a cover model? Enter photos of your baby in the American Baby Cover Contest by December 18, 2010.
Five finalists will each receive $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to be photographed for an upcoming issue of American Baby Magazine.

One child will appear on the cover. To enter, your child must be between 3 months and 2 years of age.
See the official rules here.

Getting Started: How to use Casting Sites

 I spend about 1/2 hour every evening checking the casting sites for job listings and auditions for me and my son!

Agencies are the best way to get your child seen by casting directors and clients, however you can also submit your child for auditions and castings via online casting sites. Castings sites differ from agencies, in that you pay for access to the auditions and castings, and if you book the job you keep the money you make.

In an agency while you may pay a marketing fee for comp cards, or for a web profile, you do not pay them to get you a job. Instead they try to find you work and then you pay them 15% to 20% of your earnings. Agencies are also able to negotiate rates and review model releases, contracts, etc. They can also weed out scams, or shady business who don't pay - so make sure when working with the client directly you are mindful about what your rate will be, when to expect payment, and what papers you are asked to sign. For more on finding an agency for your child click here.

Essentially, any of the jobs you book on your own, you book as an independent contractor and are responsible for reporting and payng all taxes related to any income your child makes.The advantages of self-submitting are that you have access to listings that may not go through an agency. Also, many modeling agencies are focused only on print and some commercial work, however you can see listings for theater, industrials, film, tv, etc.

Here's how to get started:

1. Visit the casting site -  (I have some listed at the end of this post)

2. Review the sites submission policies and procedures.  You may have to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee. Some  sites allow you to create a profile and you only pay for the castings you submit to. The cost can be anywhere from $2 a post, to $10 a month. 

3. Create a profile with one or more pics. Pick a recent headsot of your child smiling. For more info on getting the best picture check out this recent post. List physical characteristics like height, weight, hair color, etc.  If your child has done any work - provide a resume. If possible, list activities like ballet or karate or even a second languages.

4. Once your profile is created you can search the casting opportunities that fit your child. You can often search by location, age, union status, and ethnicity.

5. If you find a job posted that fits your child submit asap! You can select the picture you want to send from your profile, and often write a note to the director - like a cover letter, before you submit.

6. If the director likes your submission, someone will contact you via the phone, email, or directly through the casting site so be sure to check your casting inbox frequently.

 

 MBM Insider Tips:

1. Check the casting site (s) at least once a day. If possible check twice - many often have urgent castings that need to be filled the same day, so you don't want to miss out on an opportunity.

2. Submit your profile immediately after seeing a relevant post.The sooner the better! .If you wait you may miss out on an opportunity.

3. Keep your photos fresh. Take pictures of your child every month. If you submit a lot to the same casting directors, they may feel they know your child and overlook your profile completely. If you have updated your profile information the may never see it because they can't get past your child's old photo. 

5. Sometimes it is good to belong to more than one site because different people use different services, however some clients use all of them to cover their bases. Start with one site that you like and then decide later if you want to add the others, the more sites you are on, the more work YOU have to do to make it worth your time and money.

6. Follow the castings sites on Twitter and Facebook for up to the minute postings. Many companie ill als post industry advic, tips, workshops ad more.

7. Give it time and be patient. Getting a job is a numbers game - the more you submit, the more chance you have of landing a gig. With one casting site I have probably submitted to over 300 jobs, got called back for maybe 75 jobs or auditions, and booked about 50 of those. It's not an easy thing to do, and it takes time but I enjoy it, I have made money, and I have added to my portfolio and resume. Also, there are fewer kids jobs available to begin with, so be realistic about your expectations. And if you decide you don't want to be a part of a site, you can stop - there are no contracts to sign, and no commitment with a month to month plan.

Here area few casting sites to consider:

Backstage
Casting Networks
NY Castings
Central Casting
Actors Access

Questions? Comments?? Let me know!

On Trend - Multicultural Babies and Kids

 

Check out this video from Models Club Inc- an agency in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, that features models of all backgrounds and shows that ethnic babies are currently in high demand.

A Star is Born - a NYC Guide to Child Stardom

Pick up the September issue of TimeOut New York Kids for a crash course on breaking your child into showbiz. The article is packed with resources, websites, and details on how to self-submit your kid to agencies and casting directors for auditions, castings, and open calls. 

Whether your child is into modeling, acting, dance or all three - this article is worth a read. Lucky for you, you don't have to buy the mag, this article is featured on its website, along with a host of links to helpful resources. But if i were you I'd get it anyway. I absolutely love this magazine - almost as much as my fashion glossies - because of all the awesome things NY has to offer our little munchkins.

Take Away: If you have the flexibility, the fervor, patience, and thick skin...oh and a child who actually wants to be in the biz...then give it a shot - but don't get carried away. When it stops being fun - find something else do. TimeOut Kids has plenty of suggestions!