Be Honest
Every parent is probably a little biased about their own child’s talents and looks, but let’s be honest: showbiz isn’t for everyone. Finding out if your child truly has what it takes is possible if you’re ready to honestly assess his/her talents and skills. By completing this questionnaire (assessment quiz) you should be able to get an indication of your child’s marketability.
For the following questions, give yourself 1 point each time you answer "yes" to a question.
1. Is your child:
- Bright
- Energetic
- Confident
- Outgoing
- Patient
- Creative
2. Can your child:
- Maintain focus
- Memorize dialogue
- Memorize movement
- Make a commitment
- Sing
- Dance
3. Does your child:
- Follow directions
- Show a desire to work
- Have a twin
- Have a special talent or unique trait
For the following questions, pick the answer that best applies to your child and add the points in ( ) to your total score from above.
4. When on a play date, my child is
- a loner, taking time before befriending the other children (1 pt)
- a leader, suggesting games or toys for play (2 pts)
- an agitator, struggling to share or play fairly (0 pts)
5. When encouraged to play alone, my child
- is comfortable being his own playmate and sometimes talks to himself or makes up games (2 pts)
- gets bored quickly and cries or complains that there isn’t anything to do (0 pts)
- is quiet and calm, but doesn’t get involved in her own thing (1 pt)
6. When experiencing something new, my child
- seems scared, upset or angry. He often cries, hides or runs away (0 pts)
- is timid, but with a little encouragement becomes open and interested (1 pt)
- is excited and jumps right in to discover something different (2 pts)
7. If another adult (teacher, relative, family friend) instructs or disciplines my child, he
- does not respond well. He’s better when his father/mother and I instruct him (0 pts)
- generally listens well, but occasionally tries to push the boundaries (1 pt)
- listens better than he does to me! (2 pts)
8. My child enjoys being the center of attention
- and cries or yells if she doesn’t get her way (1 pts)
- and laughs, giggles or clowns around to get reactions (2 pts)
- only occasionally and generally would rather be entertained by someone/something else (0 pts)
Count 1 point for each yes, 0 for each no and add to the above scores
Does your child enjoy reading out loud?
Does your child mimic other people in a fun way or play “copy-cat”?
Does your child carry out conversations with adults well?
Does your child have a good attention span?
Does your child say hello when introduced to someone new?
SCORES:
21-31 points
Your child is a natural performer who communicates well with adults and other children. She generally enjoys attention and loves to be creative. Your child seems to be confident, inquisitive and bright. These qualities along with her ability to read out loud, memorize lines or repeat tasks are excellent signs that she has great star-potential. The most important thing to consider, however, is your child’s willingness and desire to perform. While some children may show great potential, they must want it for themselves and casting directors can tell if they don’t. Make sure to explain to your child what it means to be an actor and find out if this is something she wants.
11-20 points
While children who are kind, well mannered and intelligent may do well in entertainment, it is also important that they are energetic, outgoing and can communicate with and take direction from others. Your child shows some signs of potential, but may need some help in other areas. It is important to assess whether or not he truly wants this as his willingness and desire are the most important things to consider. If he has a strong desire, but needs to improve on skills like memorization or communication with others, there are steps you can take to help him reach his goals.
0-10 points
Not all children are alike and not everyone is cut out for showbiz. A casting director’s first job is to eliminate children who aren’t right for the business or don’t show a willingness and a desire to perform. Perhaps your energetic child would rather participate in sports or your cautious child would prefer developing an individual skill like art. If you still believe entertainment is the best route for your child’s talents, start by developing individual socialization and communication skills and then move on to tasks like memorization and creative thinking.
Do the right thing!
Not all kids are cut out for show biz. Managing a child’s career in entertainment is serious business. Do your homework and be prepared to say “no.”
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