PARENT FAQ'S
Why apply to Spotted?
Spotted is an exclusive agency. We keep the numbers of children on our books low in order to provide a personalised service to them. This means we aim to ensure we have a diverse range of talent in each division and in each age range. We like to get to know all our children so that we can submit them for the right jobs.
We aim to nurture all our talent. We are a talent agency primarily and submit our talent for model work too. You are welcome to apply without training or experience and if you only require model work the agency will need to pass your application to our model department for assessment, so please state this in the messages section of your application.
If you are not selected, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are not talented, it just may mean we may have too many children with your look or ability currently in the agency and so we, therefore, cannot faithfully represent you.
What ages do we represent?
We only represent children from the ages of 4 years and upwards. Once a child reaches the age of 16, out of licence, they transfer to our adults division.
Sole representation
Spotted is a sole agency. This means you can not be registered with any other agencies for work.
North and South
We have children’s divisions in London/Manchester/Bristol and Glasgow so we can take applications from anyone living within 1 hour of these cities.
How does the agency earn its money?
The agency earns a commission on work secured and this is deducted from the child’s earnings.
How do I apply to join Spotted?
The Spotted books only open three times a year for children in January, April and August.
To join you will need to submit an application form, found on the ‘Apply to Join’ page of the website when the books open.
Sadly, we do not accept postal or email applications. Should your application be successful, one of our team will contact you via email, or phone, usually within 14 days.
If you are unsuccessful then you are more than welcome to apply the next time the books are open.
What are the costs to join Spotted?
There are no fees to be represented by our agency. We do however ask our artists cover the cost of their own website where clients can view and select children for work.
All children: £40 for website set up hosting, administration and app download and covers the ongoing spotted connection sessions.
Siblings: If siblings apply together the cost will be £70 for the two and £99 for three.
Family: Should a family wish to apply with group photographs at least one child or adult already accepted into the agency there will be an additional £20 to be added for an additional searchable section of the website. This fee is only payable if the family secure a job with us and will be deducted from their earnings.
If you would prefer your child to just be submitted for TV commercials and stills/modelling, subject to acceptance by the agency, the website fee will be taken from your child's first earnings. You will be notified in writing of this.
We work with some of the biggest names in the industry, an industry which is highly competitive. We, therefore, must insist our artists have only images of the highest quality on their webpage to offer to our clients.
Every year you are invited to attend the agency offices and have head shots taken with our agency photographer to ensure that our Spotted website stays uniform and up to the same standard to allow clients to easily compare artists. It is also a further opportunity for us to reassess your child’s profile for our agency work.
Do I need formal training to join?
In short, no, as we are looking for dedicated and passionate individuals who may not necessarily have had the opportunity to train before.
We are an acting agency primarily but since many commercials need great actors we submit our actors for model work too.
You are welcome to apply without training or experience, however we do ask that you continue to train in acting classes once you have joined and we can guide you in those choices.
Do you only accept applications from certain areas?
Most auditions or castings are held in London or Manchester. Typically, we say only apply if you are within 1 hour’s commute of these two centres as most of the castings are at short notice.
However, we will accept applications from further afield, but you may need to attend for castings at your own cost.
More and more castings are now being requested via a self-tape. A self-tape is where an individual videos themselves, often reading a script, and submits this to the agency from home. This means that there is less of a requirement to come to the casting centres for the initial casting but there may be a requirement to travel if the artist is recalled to meet the director.
Assessment day
If selected once you apply, all children will be invited for an assessment afternoon with us be that online or in person.
We encourage all children who are accepted onto our books to train in the dramatic arts and through the launch of the Spotted Academy we provide casting advice and guidance for adults children and parents in the industry.
Photography
It's important to show the children to their best potential and our photographers ensure that the style of photography on our website stays uniform and to a high standard. If selected, children are invited to a photographic session which costs approximately £70 whereby they obtain at least 5 digital images for their portfolio.
Do you take on extras?
An extra is someone who may just want a walk on or non-speaking part. We do take on children to be extras.
Does Spotted accept all applicants?
Sadly not, we will only take on applicants that we feel best suit our client requirements.
Equal opportunities
We welcome applications from all children regardless of age, gender, race or ability.
What happens to my details if I am unsuccessful in the application?
Under GDPR legislation we do not retain any information concerning adults or children who are unsuccessful in their application and their information is deleted. We take privacy and personal information very seriously. Please see the privacy policy on the website.
Will you guarantee me work?
No agency can guarantee you work since the amount of work a child is booked for depends on many factors. It is important to understand that it is the client and not the agency who chooses the models and talent for all their campaigns. The agency will submit you for all jobs that you are suitable and available for.
We receive many casting requests a day. It is important that you have up to date headshots and sizes on your profiles so you can be put forward and be seen by our clients.
Will my child’s picture be visible on your website?
In short, no. Pages of our children and family section are all password protected. Clients who would like to view children’s portfolios need to request access and background checks are done on the clients first before passwords are released to them.
What is Spotlight and do I need to join?
A condition of joining the agency is that where you are eligible you are required to join Spotlight. Spotlight is a company that "connects performers to roles in theatre, television and film productions". Spotted is a Spotlight approved agent. Spotlight Children and Young Performers directory is the UK’s definitive database of performers aged 4 – 25. Children can join any time after their 4th birthday. Only children who are represented by an agent or drama school are eligible for Spotlight membership, which is why they are the casting community's most trusted database of young performers.
There is an annual fee of approx. £108 which is payable directly to Spotlight.
Please note that Spotted Talent does not charge any administration fees associated with this registration. Access to Spotlight's online database is only available to vetted industry professionals.
Auditions and Your Commitment
The agency and their clients need to get school permission for shoots held during school hours. Most schools are aware of how the industry works and a performers license is obtained from your local education department which works with your school.
Unless you land a role in a feature film, TV show, or stage production, you will most likely need time off for at most 5 days across the whole year but equally it could be as little as an afternoon but it is very difficult to be specific.
For touring roles private education and chaperones are provided. Our agency staff handle all licensing on your behalf with the client when the occasion arises.
Most auditions or castings are received with very short notice, usually the next day. Being available to attend will obviously increase a child’s chance of success with us.
Most auditions are between 4-7pm for school age children and during the day for those who are younger and are usually held in London and Manchester. So, accessibility to these centres is key. Whilst it is desirable to live within 1 hour’s commute to London, Manchester and Glasgow and Bristol we will accept applications from further afield who are ready to commit to the industry. Please note that casting fees are sometimes not offered by production or typically do not cover you and your child’s travel costs and should be born in mind when applying to the agency.
The agency will always advise you at the time of booking in for the casting whether travel expenses will be payable by the client.
We would love it if you can make every audition, but we understand that parents have work and other commitments of their own.
We provide a calendar for you to inform us of holiday dates, or other general unavailability.
As non-attendance at a casting after acceptance can seriously affect the reputation of the agency, this factor will be taken into account at the agency renewal date.
Who can attend castings?
Any responsible adult can take your child to attend castings and auditions including grandparents, brothers/sisters provided you have given permission for them to do so.
However, only a parent/legal guardian or a registered chaperone can accompany your child to a shoot/model assignment/TV/film production due to licensing restrictions. Please bear this in mind when applying to the agency for child representation as you may need time off work as a parent to fulfil the obligations of the work.
If the role requires a longer commitment, then the production company may supply a registered chaperone.
Is this right for my child?
Only you can determine whether this is right for your child and we can help determine this at the assessment day. This is a very competitive industry, but it can also be a highly rewarding one for your child particularly when your child sees themselves in magazines in TV commercials or in a film
Equally, the industry is not right for every child. If a child does not land a role or is not recalled for a role, then it can knock their confidence and sometimes very young children may find this difficult to understand.
As an agency we may not hear about the casting results for several days or weeks and generally we will not receive specific feedback on your child’s performance in the casting.
It is important as a parent that you make the whole process fun, and in this highly competitive industry even attendance at castings are viewed as a huge success and an opportunity to improve a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
Does my child need their own bank account?
The short answer is yes. Any payment we receive from assignments will need to be paid into their account and on successful application you will need to provide us with these details.
When does my child get paid?
The agency pays your child as soon as the production company pays the agency. Please note that this sometimes can be at least 60 days following the assignment.
Further help and advice
If you need further advice, please do not hesitate to contact agency@spottedtalent.com