Raising a Star: The Parent's Guide to Helping Kids Break into Theater, Film, Television, or Music

While the fact of Nancy Carson being an absolute expert in the industry, with Jacqueline Shannon giving a hand, a parent of a "future star" needs this book. [...] The information contained in the book has a lot of information necessary to read BEFORE you groom your child and take her halfway across the state to an audition that is a scam. Speaking from experience? You bet'cha!An example in the book is how auditioning companies say they are free of charge and only rely on the 15% commission. When the excited parent and child arrive, dreams in hand, the salesperson (cleverly disguised as an agent) tells you how the photos you've brought aren't quite what they're looking for, but they have a great photographer who will only cost between $300 and $500, willing to do payments. This is AFTER they've seen numerous photos, interviewed the child and had her sing, but won't know if they want to hire her before their photographer takes pictures. Nancy tells you how the real game is played and that interested agencies will want one clean, face-front, photo without props or clutter in the background. AFTER they sign your child, they will discuss classes, photos, etc. This is simply one of the facets talked about in this book. They talk about voice, music, modeling, and other areas of entertainment.When you are serious about getting your child into show business, as more than an expensive hobby, you'll want this book to read first!

Although I read the book for background research, and am not the intended audience, I thought the author did a good job of giving details about what goes into getting a child noticed by an agent. The insights on the parent's sacrifice of time during the audition process, as well as after a child is selected, was especially helpful.

I loved it it was great. I learned a ton from this book. It's inspiring. My daughters an actress she loves it

This book is an okay read---not a lot of helpful info---mostly stuff you probably already know about the biz. I would not trust the mailing lists for agents, agencies---double-check the info on the internet or other resources, especially to see if they accept unsolicited submissions. Geared toward acting, not that much regarding modeling/print ads.

Outstanding book! We have a daughter who believes this is her calling and I feel better prepared to support her upon reading this book.

It was somewhat interesting but seemed rather outdated. I didn't find it that helpful ' Sorry.

Great book filled with great information.

I was trying to help some neighborhood children break into the world of stardom, for they are the most talented kids I've spotted in a lifetime. A friend who knows of my interest in these youngsters' careers recommended I take a look at RAISING A STAR by Nancy Carson, as told to Jacqueline Shannon. For, she said, it is one thing to think, that baby is so adorable they should have him in TV commercials, and another to be a stage mother (or father, like the man who pushed little Macaulay Culkin into a career he didn't really want).If you're serious, and want to take the time, RAISING A STAR is the book for you. Learn valuable tips on how to find out about auditions, how to groom your children so they don't look overly "perfect," how to avoid the crushing disappointments that come along with a showbiz career, and most of all, how to let natural, if somewhat untrained, talent speak for itself like a microphone turned on and left on a podium unattended. Carson knows whereof she speaks, and her record speaks for itself. She's been discovering, promoting, pampering and revivifying child stars from the 1970s right through the modern period of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and EVERYBODY LOVES CHRIS.It seems like, no matter what the era, some things are basic. What happens, she asks, when your child (or, say, the neighbor child) is asked to "perform songs or make statements that don't reflect her own values?" Say your child was cast in a production of OLIVER, and yet you had raised him not to steal things from others, and yet there he was, playing a child thief in Fagin's ring while singing, "Consider Yourself (One of Us)." It's a dilemma not every handbook tells you, but Carson gives good sound advice, Or, "how do you make children understand their legal responsibilities in show business?" It's a tale that's been told a million times before, but as we all know, those of us who work with kids, sometimes they don't understand business, and they just want to have a milkshake and play with their X box, instead of fulfilling contractual obligations.Nancy Carson's known Britney Spears so long that she remembers when the extroverted subdeb used to perform big Broadway classics like "Tomorrow" and "Tonight." It took hard coaching from pop Svengalis to give her the "breathy" voice she developed during the Mickey Mouse Club years. She gives advice about how (and whether) to find a publicist for your child. Or the children across the alley in whom you've developed an avuncular interest in their careers. And she gives definitions of showbiz terms that seem basic, in a way, but kids don't know them. Like "ratings," which she defines as "A complex survey system that measures the popularity of TV shows." Good reading.