AHHHH! Huge News (for me)!!

[ree-Xi]

Alphafrog - What BeeBee is saying is pretty accurate. I don't think that she is trying to be a buzzkill at all.

If this competition is a way for you to showcase your talents, it might be worth it to you, However, you don't have to (or shouldn't have to) pay an agency until they actually find you paying work. I don't know the legitemacy of this competition (and again, exposure is exposure), but there are a lot of scammy places (John Robert Powers is one, so is Barbizon, John Casablancas, and the one that has the setup at the mall - begins with an I).

These places will charge you (they tend to target kids) and you pay all this money for headshots/comp cards you don't need (kids change so quickly, it's a waste for a 4-year old. A lot of younger kids get cast based on snapshots, to tell you the truth), classes (which end up being etiquette classes and little to no instruction in your talent), etc.

ETA - does your agent (legally) subscribe to Breakdown Services? That's the major difference in finding the higher-profile auditions (commercials, television, film, industrials). Of course, non-union has its benefits - more projects mean more chances to actually have a speaking role, exposure in film festivals, and the chance to work with people who are doing it purely out of love of the craft, but many are also low-non paying, have no craft service, poor conditions, etc. Of course, you need to pay your dues. You don't want to join a Union until you are ready.