A Parent’s Perspective

We attended AMTC twice – first in June/July ’06 and then again in January ’07. Both experiences were phenomenal in terms of the people we met and of the knowledge we gained. The first time we went, we were not prepared for how large the event would be. Contestants came from as far away as Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Scotland. The environment was family-friendly and very welcoming. Groups from different agencies/schools readily sat down to eat together. It was definitely not a competitive, cutthroat environment. The agents/managers/casting directors we spoke with were also very welcoming and happy to sit down and offer advice and answer questions.

The preparation for going to the event was exceptional as my daughter felt very comfortable going on stage and performing in front of several hundred people. We were fortunate to have local expertise as well as outside expertise at the workshops. Barry Shapiro from Herman & Lipson presented a workshop on TV commercials that was phenomenal. Amy Thornburg flew in from Atlanta to give expert advice on acting and singing. She took the time to work individually with each contestant to fine tune their performances. The results were evident in the performances at the AMTC event itself.

At the event, seminars and workshops were offered by top agents and casting directors. Prior to her singing performance, Ivana had the opportunity to attend a workshop with Jaynie Jackson (Chayil Entertainment, LA) and Tootie Debenedetto (Sweetheart Records). They listened to each contestant and offered pointers to each singer. Workshops were offered for dancers as well. The workshops are all conducted by top agents giving the contestant an additional opportunity for interacting with potential representatives. The seminars were top-notch as well affording us the opportunity to learn about the New York and L.A. markets.

So much was gained from this event. Ivana did gain representation from the event, but I would have been thrilled even if she had not. Being able to get up on stage and perform in front of hundreds of people, including top notch agents, inspired her with such confidence that she will retain and continue to build upon. We also made many contacts, which will make pursuing her career in NY and L.A. much less daunting.

Patti Price – Mom of Ivana Klug-Price (9 years old)