Everyone from industry insiders to well-meaning friends and relatives will tell you that the child modeling and acting world is very competitive. This is true. BUT, there are absolutely things that you can do to give your child the edge and open the door for them to an exciting and hopefully lucrative new world.

And here's one of the key things you should know...

Children with great parents are at a real advantage!

The truth is, a parent can enhance or ruin a child's chances to break into modeling and acting.

So what makes a great industry parent?

• An easy-going but focused personality

• Lots of patience

• Good organizational skills

• The ability to get along well with lots of different types of people

• A mind open to suggestions and able to be objective about their child

• An involved, loving, positive attitude

• A watchful and calm presence who can stay firmly in the background

Usually a full-time parent at home works best. If that isn't an option, there must be a reliable adult who is ready and able to ferry the child to auditions and bookings on very short notice.

Stage parents ar a huge red flag to agents and clients. If agents get any sense when interviewing a new child that the parent will be overbearing, they won't sign the child no matter how wonderful she is.

If your a parent's personality tends to be on the controlling, helicopter-parent side, try to incorporate a more positive, less off-putting attitude. Once you find trustworthy professionals to work with (And you'll know how to find them after this course!) you need to step back and let them do your job.