Do kids here have this information about getting on the Disney Channel?

Question

I see numerous questions from kids here about how they can get specifically on "Disney Channel". First of all, agents do not simply represent someone to get them on Disney Channel. If all they did was submit you to casting notices (aka breakdowns) for the Disney Channel, you would be extremely lucky to get one audition a year, if even that!!! Unless you are a top name actor, you simply do not get to pick and choose what kind of acting jobs you want to do, no matter what you look like or how talented you are. Hollywood is jam packed with hundreds of thousands of very talented kids. You must take the auditions and jobs that you do get. Agents often will ask a prospective client why they want to act, and what their goals are. If you say "To be on the Disney Channel", they most likely will not be interested.

Disney Channel does have "Talent Searches" such as this one last November:

http://apsc.disney.go.com/disneychannel/talentsearch

I have been a professional working actor and member of SAG and AFTRA for over 20 years, am a member of the SAG Equal Employment Opportunities Committee, and currently work as a Production Manager for a major studio (can you guess which studio?). Here is a sample of a current statistic that ALL aspiring actors should read:


"Some well-known actors—stars—earn well above the minimum; their salaries are many times the figures cited, creating the false impression that all actors are highly paid. For example, of the nearly 100,000 SAG members, only about 50 might be considered stars. The average income that SAG members earn from acting—less than $5,000 a year—is low because employment is sporadic. Therefore, most actors must supplement their incomes by holding jobs in other occupations."

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos093.htm

I am NOT trying to discourage anyone from chasing their dream, just wanted to send out some real information.

____________

To Dr@maqueen

There are no current Disney Channel Talent Searches, and the Disney Talent Search 2007 in the UK is just about wrapped up, but I will post new DC Talent Searches on my Yahoo Answeres Profile "About Me" section as soon as they are available.

Thanks

Answer 1

Oh, and I am a big fan of House. Do you think you can pull some strings and get me on the show. LOL. Oh and I also love Grey's anatomy , but House is my first choice Okay................!!!!!
Thanks So Much..... I will be waiting by the phone........!!!!

It's the show House with Hugh Laurie.................

Answer 2

You obviously know what you are talking about. Believe me, I share your frustrations. Your intentions were great but dollars to donuts tomorrow there will be eleventyseven kids who ask the Disney or agent question. I usually tell them to look up the other answers. Unless it's a JRP question. I know I've saved at least a couple of parents from being robbed. I try to keep the answers very short and to the point. Some of these kids are okay and are just young and don't know any better. A lot of them are just future dumb adults. I agree with marianne. Be polite the first time then once they start posting the same thing over and over all bets are off. I report the ones under 13. These kids spoil the forum for the rest of us, but once in a while you get to really help someone who really appreciates
it and it becomes worthwhile. BTW I think the answer we should give all the Disney/acting agent questions is to look up the answers others got. Thank you for your excellent posting. Now can you tell me where I can find an agent who can get me on "Scrubs?" I really like the show and I have talent. It has been my dream for over a year.

Answer 3

The reason there are so many is because (ok usually) they are all different kids and none of them think to search for similar questions even though the box for that is right there on the page. Sometimes there are a few who insist on asking the exact same thing several times in the same day or over a few days. Oh yes it gets annoying! I do my best the first time to answer. If I see it again I either ignore it or refer them to my original answer and add more insistantly that they need classes, family support, etc. If they get rude or arrogant, then all bets are off.

These kids are naive, which of course we all were at one time or another. I do try to help and many are very grateful as are their parents. I get many nice thank you notes. The ones who ruin it and make me want to forget about helping anyone are the rude little things who know nothing about this business and insist that they know something different after getting incorrect information from someone else or the ones who say something rude or ignorant in their question, get 'corrected' in the answers they receive and then don't like what they are getting back so they take it out on me and maybe others as well.

This is often after a few of us here have given them good information which they refuse to take because it wasn't what they wanted to hear. OK fine, then go spend your parents money at some store front place that's promising you the world! It's all lies and remember that the people here tried to warn you but you wouldn't listen. They choose to listen to the other 12 year olds who think that these pay to play companies are wonderful! After all, they too were discovered in the mall!

In short, many do not get what it really takes to make it. I tell them it takes training, HARD WORK, family support, luck, talent, perserverance, the ability to take rejection (lots of it), stay in school and maintain their grades because acting is a business and you are the product.... I guess for the ones that do get it, it's worth it. I really do wish them all the best. We were all kids with dreams once. The difference is that some of us made them happen.

Answer 4

Thanks! Please tell me if you know of any Talent Searches coming up! I am thankful to know this. If I asked this ?I would vote u best.....Thanks!

Ps. definatley post again if u c any other talent searches