Does Your Baby Have Star Potential?

We all think our baby is the cutest baby that ever cooed on the face of this earth but is our baby cute enough to be in pictures? You may think so but if you are continuously told by others that your baby should be in commercials or on TV, you might be thinking about taking the plunge.

We know that many stars and starlets started when they were in diapers. The Olson twins are a shining example of the money that can be made from babyhood into adulthood. Brooke Shields’ Gerber baby face is still on jars today and there are many other examples of famous people who made their start in commercials and catalogue modeling as babies and young children.
How can you tell if your child has what agents and casting directors are looking for?

You can’t be sure what the magical ‘It’ factor is and it’s a combination of different elements that need to work together to help you hit the “big time”. You might be sure that your child is destined for greatness and fame but:

1. it is hard work
2. patience is required
3. and you need to develop a bit of a thick skin in this competitive industry

In terms of baby modeling, you may have a gorgeous baby but can your baby sit for hours on end happily or are they extremely fussy? Temperament is a big factor in baby modeling.  Many baby models don’t continue on to be child actors either. Beyond being cute, there has to be a certain level of talent as well for casting directors and agents to continue to show interest in your child once they’re out of diapers.

Dollars and Sense

Above and beyond seeing your baby's face on the screen or their name in credits, money can be an attractor to this type of industry. Residuals can build up and create a really nice nest egg and college fund for your baby.  Many baby models turned child actors have been discussed openly in the media regarding their income levels. If you look at child stars like Raven Simone who played as a toddler on The Cosby Show (and is still being paid today for reruns) and who now has quite a few roles and a nice career, it can be tempting to count on future earnings. If you are thinking your twin girls will be the next Olsen twins or your son the next McCauley Culkin you may be right but you may be setting yourself up for disappointment if you don’t think about it realistically.

Superstars do happen but the rich and famous are a select few. The truth is that according to the US Dept. of Labor, a working actor makes quite average salaries when compared to the rest of the population. There’s a large sliding scale but the vast majority were not millionaires. That said, expecting to become wealthy based on managing your baby's modeling career is unrealistic.

Should you give it a shot?

Absolutely, throw your hat in the ring and give it a whirl. If you see something in your baby that tells you it’s worthwhile to give modeling a try and see what happens, you should look for an agent. They can help you get auditions.

Commercials, catalogues and other roles for babies do exist and an abundance of jobs come up regularly for print advertisements. Average pay for print ads ranges in the $75 to $125 per hour range but pay averages about two hours per gig due to the age of the child.  If you have twins or triplets, you can often do better financially.

The best advice for parents is to learn about the industry and give it a try to see if it fits your needs and your baby’s personality. Regardless of whether your baby has star potential in the eyes of the industry or not, you can earn some money, learn about the industry and you never know, your baby might very well be discovered.