Thanks to the very knowledgeable Anne Henry and Paula Dorn over at BizParentz.org, we’ve learned the Department of Labor in New York is planning to implement new Rules governing child entertainment work permits and the daily work of child performers.  You will now be required to submit a total of 12 documents to the Department of Labor in order to get a work permit, including 2 required physicals per year.  Other major changes would include work hour restrictions even for non-union work and (the one that really freaks me out!) no parent access to their kids in the school room.

According to BizParentz website, these new rules were developed without the participation of any actual showbiz parents - that means you – the Hollywood Moms and Dads.   None of the entities involved,  including the Department of Labor,  have notified parents or working kids of this situation.  There is a 45 day deadline when the Rules can go into effect with no vote at all, and the 45 days is up on Christmas Day, December, 25, 2010.  The NY Department of Labor is holding a hearing on December 27, 2010.

So, what can you do? Anne Henry and Paula Dorn suggest the taking the following steps:

• Read up on the issues at Child Performers Coalition, http://childperformerscoalition.org/  Be sure to review the “Briefs” section on each subject–it will help you find which issues are most important to your family.
• Sign the Petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/childperformerscoalition/  You can do this even if you are not in NYC!
• Write to the Department of Labor NOW and ask them to table the Rules. It appears that the DOL could implement these new Rules without the public hearing, so please make your opinions known before that time. Short and sweet is best, and make sure to portray the knowlegable, caring parent that you are. Remember–many of these Rules were designed to protect our children from their own parents. We need to show them that we have it under control.
• The DOL contact is Jeffrey Shapiro: email: jeffrey.shapiro@labor.ny.gov
• Attend the Public Hearing: 10:00 a.m., December 27, 2010 at 75 Varick Street, 7th Floor, NYC, New York
• Share this information with every child performer, agent, manager, and producer you know.

For more information please visit BizParentz.org, ChildPerformersCoalition.org, and http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/childperformerscoalition/

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A few weeks ago as I was schlepping (*happily*) to yet another audition, I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could clone myself?  One of me could be going to this audition with Jo and the other one of me could be doing everything else it takes to keep our household and businesses together.  That’s when I learned about Ready…Go…Set! a unique service which provides the ultimate in audition preparation, coaching, transportation to and from and chaperoning of young actors on set.  That’s right Hollywood Moms, you no longer have an excuse not to get it all done.

Ready…Go…Set! (RGS) is the brainchild of acting coaches Katie Von Till, Joanna Brooks, and Lisa N. Lennox, who collectively have national commercials, TV programs, broadcast news, films, video games, Broadway tours and regional theatre productions to their credit.  The coaches each have degrees in Theatre with extensive training in acting, improv and directing.  Some of their client’s recent bookings include “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” and the series finale of  “ER.” Clients have been called back to producer/director sessions for TV shows and movies including: FRED (the motion picture), “Eastwick,” “Oldyweds,” “Roommates,” “The United States of Tara,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Mackenzie Blue,” “The Good Wife,” “Make It or Break It,” “Parenthood,” and more.

The ladies work with a core group of professional young talent on an ongoing basis but always love adding more kids to the group. But please note that this is for really serious pro kids only – kids in the mix – READY GO SET is not a taxi service per se but an all inclusive coaching and chaperone service as well. If you just need to get your kid dropped off from point A to point B, or if your child is new to the business this may not be the service for you.

Some of the services RGS provides:

• RGS can pick up your child from school or home and drive him/her to an audition.
• Busy schedule preventing you from getting your child to appointments?  RGS can coach your child at their place or yours or via SKYPE.
• RGS will coach your child on his/her audition material so that he/she has a strong “take” and approach to the scene and to the character.
• RGS will prepare your child so he/she knows what to do upon entering the room and meeting the producers and casting directors. As working actors, as well as coaches, they understand the process and know how important it is to feel comfortable throughout the audition.
• RGS’ goal is to assist your child with the choices he/she makes about the audition material so that he/she feels confident about his/her talent, comfortable in the audition and hopefully books the job!
• When your child has booked the job, RGS can serve as temporary guardians for the day, as on-set chaperones, when you can’t get off work to be with him/her as the law requires.  The coaches stay as long as your child is needed on set and then drive your child home at the end of the work day.

So how much will this god send of a service set you back?  One hour of coaching runs $65/hour with $50 for each additional hour.  All other service time including driving is $25.00 per hour, with a $5 discount after 3 hours. Please inquire for weekly or monthly discounted rates for on-going coaching.  Extra fees may apply for overnight shoots and driving distances exceeding 20 miles.  Call Katie at (213) 924-3989 or Email her at: katie@readygoset.net for more information.

From Left: Lisa, Joanna and Katie

As RGS is not a partnership, each coach is hired on an individual basis. Find individual contact information and complimentary parent endorsements & testimonials on www.ReadyGoSet.net

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Yesterday, Jordan worked  on an episode of Comedy Centrals’, “RENO 911!” As a background job, we’d normally pass; however, I Love RENO 911! I’m not proud of this.  It’s a guilty pleasure and I admit it.  My “rational mom reasoning” for submitting my daughter Jordan for this was threefold: (1) the scene only involved a few kids and the lead actor so it would be a “featured” bg role; 2) it’s a television show and my newbie kid had never worked television and 3) it was a short day of shooting, close to home.

I was warned beforehand that the actor’s language might be a little salty. No big deal, I said. Nothing my kid hasn’t heard me scream while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the 101.

Now, here are the things I didn’t know when I submitted her for the job: (1)There would be a deafening tire blowout on (2) a moving vehicle from (3) a gunshot blast.  Now for the biggy: my child would be (4) closely chasing the moving vehicle as the gun was (5) drawn, (6) fired and the (7) tire explodes.

But you know what? It was fine. Seriously. The crew was professional, the first AD thoroughly rehearsed with the kids prior to filming, an efficient prop crew provided children and parents both with protective ear plugs for the ear-popping blow-out , no one was injured, the scene was hilarious (can’t give the details yet!) and most importantly, as noted by my fellow momagers and popagers, the caterer was Fabulous.

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Jordan’s second favorite part of any shooting day is the time she spends in the hair and make-up trailer being pampered and styled.  Her favorite activity, need I say it, is being on camera.

The hair and make-up team on the Todd Phillip’s Warner Brothers comedy, ”The Hangover,” were fantastic to work with and very patient apparently, as my mother (who was Jordan’s set guardian for the week) snapped photos of them “on the job.”  Can’t say I’d be as laid back if someone were documenting my work day for prosperity.

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