ABOUT
South Coast Kidz was founded in May 2018. We are one of the UK’s Leading Sole Representation agencies. We represent a diverse mix of children & young performers between the ages of 0-16 years from all over the UK.
Within our ‘Model Division’ we work with lots of amazing clients, including: Baby Dior, Burberry, Stella McCartney, Zara, H&M, Next, Monsoon, JD Sports, Matalan, Primark, Mothercare, John Lewis, M&S, Ted Baker, M&Co, Clarks, Nike, Adidas, ASDA, F&F, Nutmeg, The White Company, Mini Boden + many more!
We are also a Spotlight registered agency, Representing Children & Young Performers, Specialising in Television, Commercials & Musical Theatre. You can find our Spotlight listing here. Casting professionals choose spotlight to cast their projects as the talent listed on spotlight are recognised as the industry’s best!
The SCK team is made up of: Daisy, Ellen & Emma. We manage the Models/ Talent on a day to day basis, a few of our roles include:
★ Scouting New Faces & Organising agency visits.
★ Submitting Models/ Talent for everything they fit the brief for.
★ Organising and sending Talent to photoshoots, auditions, workshops & castings.
★ Researching and sourcing new clients on a day to day basis.
★ Invoicing clients, taking payments & paying talent when due.
★ Answering any questions & offering advice to parents + much more.
If you would like your child to become part of the SCK Family, please visit our ‘HOW TO APPLY‘ page for more information.
*Please note, our books are not open all year round.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHO ARE WE?
We are South Coast Kidz Ltd, one of the UK’s Leading Children’s Model & Talent agencies, representing a diverse mix of children from ages 0-16 years from all over the U.K.
HOW DO I APPLY?
You can apply online completing the ‘APPLICATION FORM’ under the ‘HOW TO APPLY’ section on our website. Once you’ve submitted the application form, you need to send your application images (MUST be following our ‘APPLICATION PHOTO GUIDELINES’) to applications@southcoastkidzltd.com via WeTransfer (more info here: ‘HOW TO SEND VIA WETRANSFER’).
Unfortunately we will NOT consider any applications with the incorrect style of image/ if the images are not sent the correct way.
*Please note, these pages are password protected when our books are closed, which means we are not accepting applications at this moment in time. Please do not request the password. When our books are OPEN, you will not need to enter a password to apply.
HOW DO I FIND OUT IF MY CHILD HAS BEEN ACCEPTED?
For successful applicants: We will contact the Parent named on application via the email which was provided in the application form within 7 days of applying.
For unsuccessful applicants: Unfortunately due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to get in touch. If you do not hear from us within 7 days, sadly this does mean that we are not able to offer your child representation at this moment in time, but would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to apply.
*We do NOT offer any feedback on applications. Please do not phone the office to check the status of your applications. ALL successful applicants would hear back within 7 days.
WHY WASN’T MY CHILD ACCEPTED?
There are many factors we take into consideration before offering representation to a child here at South Coast Kidz. It could be that your child is in a ‘quiet’ height brief, or that we already represent a child of a similar look in the same height bracket. If your child is not accepted, you may re-apply at the next opening as our circumstances may have changed.
DOES MY CHILD NEED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS TO APPLY?
NO. We require ALL applicants to send through natural snaps taken on a mobile phone camera, following our ‘APPLICATION PHOTO GUIDELINES’. We do NOT consider any applications who provide the incorrect type of images.
IF your child is accepted into the agency and they are age 4+, depending on the quality of the mobile snaps provided upon applying, we may recommended that you book your child in for a ‘New Faces’ session with one of our suggested photographers. Children who are accepted into our on the Talent division & are registered on Spotlight will need headshots taken by a spotlight approved headshot photographer.
ARE THERE ANY FEES TO JOIN SCK?
We do NOT charge any fee’s.
All jobs booked via SCK are subject to standard commission rates (as stated in the contract between South Coast Kidz Ltd & the child).
HOW LONG ARE THE CONTRACTS?
We initially offer a 12 month contract (from date of signing). We review all contracts before they’re due to expire & get in touch with Parent’s if we wish to extend/ terminate.
CAN YOU GUARANTEE MY CHILD WILL BOOK WORK?
NO. No agency can guarantee that any child will work. As an agency, we are sent specific briefs from clients, and our job is to present the client with a model package of children who fit the brief. It is then down to the client/ casting director to decide if they would like to availability check, option, or confirm any of the Models/ Talent.
We do not have any say in which children are booked, but we can proudly say that ALL children at South Coast Kidz are submitted for anything & everything that they fit the brief for. Please do not be disheartened if your child isn’t booking work, as the in demand looks from clients vary throughout the year.
WHAT IS A SELF TAPE?
In some cases, specifically within the ‘Talent Division’ client’s may ask for a ‘Self Tape’ rather than inviting child to attending a live casting. A Self Tape is a short video of the child introducing themselves & usually talking about their likes & dislikes, age, agency and so on.
There are many factors technically that can improve your self tape, please see below:
Always film landscape - It’s ok to use a smart phone, make sure you have sufficient lightning as we need to be able to see your child well. It can be difficult if filming at night, but make sure you have plenty of lights around to brighten up the room.
Your background should always be a plain wall – white or cream are best, If you don’t have that, then just a block colour is the next best choice, but not too bright and not too busy / patterned.
A head and shoulders shot is required (unless the brief states otherwise) - The camera should be close enough to see the facial expressions, also ensure you hold the camera as still as possible.Make sure we can hear clearly and don’t have your hand over the microphone when you film or it’s a muffled sound. Also, no background noise, as we don’t want to hear siblings playing or television on etc.
Always ensure the child introduces themselves at the start of any self tape, so giving their full name & name of their Agent (South Coast Kidz). You may also be asked to give profiles/idents (which is turning slowly to show each side of face).
If the self tape has script work & someone is reading the other lines, have them read off camera, as we want to see the star not the person reading lines for them. Always be ‘off book’ where possible, this means you MUST be familiar with all the lines before you record. Also – read the whole script first to get a feel for the scene and the character.
Look just off camera rather than directly at it (unless the brief tells you otherwise). Don’t look left or right, we want your face straight forward, but your eyes talking to a person as if they were just at the side of the camera. It’s important to show personality. If you were at a casting you would show your personality a little, but this is more difficult to get across if you’re not in the room with the Casting Director.
Make sure your clothing is appropriate for the character (if applicable). Your self-tape should be filmed in one take and not lots of little ‘scenes’ cut together – unless of course, there is more than one scene.
Send your self-tape via WeTransfer to South Coast Kidz and NEVER directly to the Casting Director. Don’t just do one take. Do a few and pick which is best!
IS TRAVEL COVERED BY CLIENTS?
This depends on the client your child is working for. 80% of work takes place in London/ surrounding areas. If you are not based in London/ Surrounding areas, please be aware that clients may not cover travel, so please only apply IF you’re able & willing to travel.
If the job is outside of London / an unreasonable travel distance from the Childs home address, we will always push the client to cover travel. If your child was booked on a 2+ day shooy, the client would usually cover accommodation & travel expenses. If your Child books an overseas job, all expenses are usually paid for the child + 1 Parent/Chaperone. Rest & work days are also covered & depending on the nature of the job.
WILL MY CHILD HAVE TO MISS SCHOOL?
The majority of modelling work does take place during term time. If/ when a child books a job, the SCK team will contact the child’s school & Local Education Authority to apply for a ‘Child Performance Licence’. Please note, ALL jobs that take place during term time would require the child’s Headteacher so sign a ‘Absence Authorisation Letter’ (this is a supporting document for the CPL application).
Castings & auditions are usually held on the weekends, or after school (between 3:30-7:00 PM for school age children, and during the day for those who do not attend school). Castings usually take place in London. If you are not based in London/ surrounding areas, please do NOT apply if you’re not willing to travel for castings.
For permanent roles in TV, Film / Theatre or Touring work, private education is ALWAYS provided.
WHAT IS A CHILD PERFORMANCE LICENCE?
The law in relation to children in entertainment and performance licences applies to all children from birth until they reach compulsory school leaving age. In England, this is the last Friday in June of the school year when the child reaches the age of 16 and finishes Year 11 at school. In Scotland this depends if the child turns 16 between 1st March and 30th September they can leave school after 31st May of that year and if they turn 16 between 1st October and the end of February they can leave at the start of the Christmas holidays in that school year.
The application has to be made to the Local Education Authority where the child lives, not where the performance is taking place. Daisy, Olivia & Emma handle all license applications on behalf of the child (if and when the occasion arises) and will be in contact directly with the Parent/ Guardian with further info.
If your LEA refuses to grant the Child Performance Licence, unfortunately the child will NOT be entitled to participate in the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Unfortunately we do not consider any incomplete applications. We can currently only consider children who are permanent U.K. residents. We are proud to say we welcome children into our agency who are living with a disability, SEN or ‘Difference’, please state in application if this applies to your child.
Thank you!