5 Warning Signs for Parents of Child/Young Adult Actors

Let’s set the records straight for parents of young, and specifically, young adult actors (~16–24) in the entertainment industry. While there is a lot of content about sexual predators in the Industry, there’s very little about other types of abusive, manipulative and predatory behaviors involving young actors.

In an unnatural arena where profit, investment, careers and social status rely on our kids more than ever, we, as parents, need to remain vigilantly aware that while “magic” exists in entertainment, the industry itself is notoriously one of the worst businesses to be in, largely driven by ulterior motives, inefficient practices, spin and falsified data. Navigating the smoke and mirrors is difficult enough for adults (even with years of experience and a law degree). But, for young, impressionable actors it’s far too easy to fall prey to the sleight of hand.

Here are 5 ways in which a young actor can be manipulated.

Years ago, I had a long meeting with my (then 10-year-old) daughter’s theatrical agent. Somewhere in the conversation, the agent warned me about some of the parental pitfalls that laid ahead, particularly when my…