Over the last two weeks, I saw over 200 kids auditioning for my new show and/or agent representation. Of the 177 resumes, I have from these aspiring performers, only 11 are done correctly. It left a horrible impression with me, the producers and the agents involved.

I couldn’t figure out why people didn’t just search the internet to find out how to create a propper professional actor’s resume and then I did a search myself. I couldn’t believe it! Many of the websites teaching how to do a professional actor’s resume were inaccurate as well.

Most of the websites were simply outdated. The format and categories of an actor’s resume have gone through some transformations as the use of actors in media such as video games and webisodes has become more prevalent.

The other websites were simply wrong. I went to a few sites that said to have an OBJECTIVE category. There has never been an OBJECTIVE category for an actor’s resume. None of the websites even bothered to mention that an actor’s resume is 8”x10”.

I have created a Microsoft Word template for an actor’s resume. It can be downloaded on my website for free. It is on the “SHAUN-ISMS” page.
My new book GET YOUR KIDZ in the BIZ takes you step by step through how to create the perfect resume if you need more help. It is going through final edits and will be available for download soon.

-Shaun

     I couldn’t help it, Tuesday morning, I found myself at the Beverly Hills Courthouse watching Lindsay Lohan, dressed in a black suit, go to her court hearing. I felt so badly for her. How could such a lovable child get so misguided? Being a teacher of young people in show business for the last 20 years has brought about some insight into why “child stars go bad.”

     Show business is a tough business and when you’re a child you are not fully equipped to deal with the pressures of the industry. Here are a few things parents can do to help shield their young stars from taking the wrong path.

1. Keep your child’s show business persona separate from her real life persona. Awesome clothes, make-up and productions assistants might
be the norm when she’s on set. But at home, it’s jeans, a clean face and taking out the trash. Let your child know that when she gets home from work, she’s just another member of the family.

2. Understand the physical and mental capacity of the child’s mind. Children are not able to make adult decisions or understand the complex workings of the real world. They take things at face value. If someone says they’re great. They believe them. If 1,000 people tell them they’re great, they believe them. What happens when they have a million fans telling them how wonderful they are? And how about all the adults whose lively hood are dependent on your child’s performance? You’ve got to shelter your child. Do not expose them to all the hype and keep the fake “yes” people away. The sharks will vie for your parental position and try to get your child to trust them instead of you. When the parent loses control that’s when thing go downhill. I’ve seen it hundreds of times.

3. Realize Performing is a drug. When someone performs, walks the red carpet or is adored by fans, the body produces chemicals called endorphins that produce feelings of well-being, excitement and pleasure. When someone is exposed to these feeling often, they begin to look for ways to create these feelings in their daily lives. This is when alcohol and drug usage occurs. Parents can combat this first by making sure the child has many different types of activities and experience besides the performing ones that make the child happy. Also, parent’s need to monitor who the young person sees and communicates with. In my experience most child stars get their first exposure to drugs and alcohol from someone who is older and many times an adult.

4. CHILDREN can have privacy when they are adults. Keep tabs on them. Check email, texts, Facebook pages, bedroom drawers, etc. Now that doesn’t mean to spy. It means to be concerned—real concerned. It only takes a split second to make a wrong decision and your role as a parent is to help your child stay on track and make the right ones. It’s a fine line. Don’t be overzealous and make your child feel like they are a prisoner in their own home. Children need to learn how to feel independent. They also need to learn to be trustworthy. It’s important that they understand that you love and trust them. But you are their parent first and your job is to love and protect them.

5. Remember you’re the Boss! This is hard to do especially when your child becomes the major breadwinner in the house. Make sure that you are saving the child earnings in a Coogan account. If you’re the manager or have debt that has incurred from helping your child’s career, make sure you get the expenses and commissions paid back to you. That is different that living of your child’s earnings. Don’t let your child’s work be the reason for your family’s elevated living status. It sets up a dynamic that is never healthy and will cause resentment. When the child begins to support the family, it shifts the paradigm and the family structure gets warped. If you raise your child right and manage their money correctly, they’ll be grateful when their older and will want you to share in their good fortune.

     Being a parent is tough. Being a parent of a talented or gifted child is tougher. Being a parent of a talented or gifted child who makes a lot of money is probably the most difficult job ever. But, if the parent is aware of the dangers and stays on top of things, having a child in show business can be a wonderful experience for the whole family. For more information on getting children into show business and other valuable resources, check out my website www.shaunroyer.com.