By Joan Garvin
 Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier |
Town Crier Correspondent
Local agency finds everyday kids for model roles
Sara and Matt Bochner
Sara and Matt are the charter clients of the youth talent agency.
Sara has had four auditions and was offered one job on her picture alone. “It (audition) is a really happy time … I get experience … get really happy.”
She is encouraged by the way “It’s kind of happened. I’m a little surprised. I didn’t know if anyone would want me.”
Although Matt takes obvious pride in naming the new venture, he said he had no interest in modeling before the business opened up.
But Matt, too, enjoyed the audition process. “Yeah, I was nervous, because a lot of people were there,” he said. “It’s good to have a chance to be on TV and still have time to do everyday things. It’s better to have the chance than not ever try.”
He liked meeting other kids his age. Matt convinced one boy to sign with Show Off Kids and they are now good friends.
Anna Katherine Norris
Anna Katherine Norris, just a little over 2-years-old, already has a bank account and a license to work. This is not child exploitation but legal requirements in effect because of the famous Jackie Coogan Law specifically to protect children in entertainment. By law, 15 percent of a child’s gross earnings must be deposited into a Minor Block Trust Account.
Anna is oblivious to all this serious discussion as she plays with a princess Barbie from the Show Off Kids! toy basket.
Her parents, Shirley & Chip, signed Anna because “Relatives kept telling us, ’she’s so cute - she should model.’”
“From time to time, I go to The Posh Bagel (behind Show Off Kids on Main),” Chip said. “On my way back to my car, I saw the sign and went in. Nothing was on the wall yet. We were one of the first members.”
They like the agency particularly because “There is no pressure on Anna to be a certain way,” Chip said.
Shirley took Anna to her first job. “Anna was natural and the photo shoot went well. She enjoyed it. They met her at the door, got down on the floor with her, were really good with children,” Shirley said. “I was proud of her. It was a lot of fun.”
Chip said, “If she makes any money, it will be for college expenses … a wonderful bonus … but we’re not looking for that.”
Madeleine, Finn and Max Terry
In the midst of a typical child-filled afternoon at Shoup Park, Pam and Stephen Terry’s three children joined the muddle.
Six-year-old Madeleine, a first-grader at Fairmeadow School, played on the structure and struck up conversations.
Finn, 4, pulled his shoes off as he ran to the slide and was scooping sand within seconds.
Max, a 16-month old tow-head, moved toward the creek with the stumbling gait of the novice walker. He never fell but kept a steady pace with Pam trailing. As he got over the hill to the pebbly shore, Max suddenly accelerated and splashed gleefully into the water. Pam hadn’t expected that, followed into the shallow water and snatched Max and his soggy shoes.
An observer would never pinpoint these children as show biz kids. They look like and act like the “everyday children” Show Off Kids! wants to represent. Yet, this trio have already made professional appearances as “talents.”
The Terry story echoes that of most of the parents who have enrolled their children with Show Off Kids!
“Since Madeleine was born, our family and friends were always saying, ‘She should be in modeling.’”
Madeleine was taking dance classes with Wyman, who mentioned the new agency to Pam. Pam and Stephen decided to “Just try it. (We) don’t know how far it will go.”
Madeleine was enthusiastic about her experience. “It was my first job. The person who chose me … let me sit and watch. I liked it.”
The topic quickly gave way to her own, “Squirrels like to eat these (acorns on ground) - must be lots of squirrels here,” she said as one skipped across the ground and climbed the tree.
Nudged back to her “job,” Madeleine said, “They (the people at Gap Kids) were nice.”
And immediately back to more important things, “I’ve lost eight teeth.
“My Dad took me. I was kind of glad because my Dad’s pretty special, so’s my Mom,” Madeleine said. “Yes, I’d like to go again. It was fun.”
You can see the results after April 29 on GapKids.com.
Finn and Max worked as a team for Leapfrog Toys. Pam admitted that Max was a terror, but they wanted him anyway. The boys played with prototype toys.
Finn said, “Yeah, I liked it. They just took pictures of me playing with Max. When I went with him, they were baby toys; but I went a second time by myself and played with big kid’s toys.”
Finn introduced every subject with a wide-eyed, “Guess what? Warm-blooded animals run faster.
“Guess what? Max wanted to have a toy he already had.
“It’s (audition) not too much trouble. Zero trouble,” Finn said.
“It (the talent agency) is a part of their lives - not life,” Pam said as she scooped Max under her arm and told Madeleine and Finn that they could play longer, releasing them into the park.
Caitlin Looney
Caitlin Looney is a premier tennis player and a senior at Menlo School, who plans to visit college campuses during spring break to determine which to attend in the fall. She is looking for schools strong in English, communications and drama -with a good tennis team. Looney played top rank tennis locally at Egan Intermediate, then Gunn and Menlo high schools. She plans to continue in college.
Caitlin’s involvement with Show Off Kids Teens is self-directed. She learned of the agency from a friend, James, an aspiring actor already enrolled.
“I talked with Erica and Rochelle and loved them,” she said. “They’re great. Because I was 18 in January, I can go on auditions by myself. Last week I had an audition in Southern California. I flew into Burbank Airport and then went to Encino for a hair product audition. I felt like a jet-setter.
“I decided, I’ve come all this way, it’s not the time to be nervous or bashful. You’ve got to have fun. If you’re in it for money, it’ll never happen,” she said.
Caitlin’s parents, Pat and Mike, are fine with her experimenting with the talent agency, but they are glad that she hasn’t put everything into this.
“So far, at least for me, it is not a huge part of my life. I don’t want it to be. If I get something, it’s icing on the cake. In any case, I am getting experience interacting with people - I want to do different things: public relations, speeches,” Looney said.
“You’ve got to really want to do it. Even my first experience - going to L.A. It was a grueling day. Up at 5:30 for an early flight … have to be dressed just right … coming back, flight delayed, canceled, didn’t get back until 10:30.”
But Caitlin had a bonus for her Los Angles trip. Her older brother, Brent, a sophomore at Occidental University, served as her “chauffeur” for the day.
No stage parents
Sara Bochner 8, a third-grader at Pinewood School, started the whole thing, and her brother Matt 10, a fifth-grader, named it - Show Off Kids.
“Actually, when I was little, I always wanted to be an actress; I liked to be on film and on TV,” said Sara. “When I was in kindergarten, I started to dance and get my friends over for shows in my living room.”
Last year, Sara asked her mother Rochelle if she could get an agent. Rochelle, who had modeled as a teen and later a teacher at the Barbizon School in San Francisco, took the request seriously. She discovered that the closest talent agency for children was in San Francisco and she wasn’t prepared to travel that far.
Sara had been taking musical theater at Marti’s Dance Studio with Erica Wyman and Rochelle and Wyman became friends. Wyman responded positively to Bochner’s suggestion of opening a talent agency to fill the gap between Hollywood and San Francisco.
The pair did extensive research before opening Show Off Kids at 335 Plaza Central in November. Talent agencies are tightly regulated by the State of California. The business is licensed by the state labor commissioner and the fee schedule is also regulated by the state. Both women had to post a $10,000 bond and pass background checks.
Bochner and Wyman bring complementary talents to what they claim is the only youth talent agency on the Peninsula. Bochner brings a background of corporate headhunter, mom and non-profit development. Wyman has experience in films, TV, videos and stage productions, most recently 10 years with “Beach Blanket Babylon.” They share an enthusiasm for their new venture.
“We’re having a blast!” Bochner said.
A sampling of the Show Off Kids! ages 16 months to 18, didn’t expose any prima donnas or stereotypical stage parents - just what Bochner and Wyman hope to avoid.
“Here in Silicon Valley, we hope to capture a niche market just as so many of the high-tech corporations do,” Bochner said. “We get calls for fresh, ungroomed children … husky, needy, real kids, not average.”
In a little over four months, Show Off Kids! has signed 85 clients; 70 of those have had at least one audition with major companies such as Gap Kids, Leapfrog Toys, Great America, Horizon Airlines, CocaCola, Best Western, Bounce and Kelloggs, exceeding Bochner and Wyman’s projections. Another unexpected statistic is that boys make up 40 percent of the present clients.
Look for your neighbors - or your own children - in the next commercial, corporate brochure or advertisement.
For information, call 947-1210, erica@showoffkids.com or rochelle@shoffkids.com.
