# Would you let your child appear in this commercial? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714 "2003-06-27T06:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/1 "2003-06-27T06:35:15Z")
I was watching TV the other day and I saw a commerical that was filmed in a ‘testimonial’ manner. The gist of the commercial was this: A close up shot of a boy, I am guessing around age 7-8, who was talking about the problems he had with bed wetting. Now I realize that this child is probably an actor and probably doesn’t have problems wetting the bed. Just the same, I don’t think I would be too happy having a child of mine do this. It seems like he would get never-ending hassles from kids at school. It just seems mean, to me. If you had a child, would you let them appear in a similar commerical? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/2 "2003-06-27T06:47:29Z")
Depends on how much I hated the kid. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/3 "2003-06-27T06:53:31Z")
I’d let the hypothetical child make up their own mind, but I’d make sure they knew they might be teased for it. That being said, it’s a cinch that anyone with a kid that’s auditioning for commercials has already put them through modelling school, where they learn to accept [situations like this](http://216.232.71.251/~larry/photos/model_speedo.jpg) as perfectly normal. Capacity for embarrassment goes _waaaay_ down. (Yes, that’s me, since you ask. I was surrounded by cute girls all the time-- I wasn’t complaining.) ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/4 "2003-06-27T07:01:59Z")
Well, their could be a small chance that it wouldn’t be run locally, and if so chances are people wouldn’t recognize him. I imagine doing ads like that wouldn’t be so bad if you weren’t planning on using them as a springboard for your serious acting career. Imagine having that clip run when you appear on Letterman. :o Besides, it’s not like the kid is doing it for free or something. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/5 "2003-06-27T12:41:24Z")
I’ll bet the teasing stops when they find out how much money the kid is raking in, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/6 "2003-06-27T14:42:50Z")
Somehow, by the looks of this commercial, I doubt the kid made a lot of money. What is the average someone makes for acting in a commercial anyway? ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/7 "2003-06-27T14:49:40Z")
It’s a freaky commercial anyway. I mean what, parents who have kids with this problem don’t know about these products? ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/8 "2003-06-27T19:39:28Z")
We saw this commercial for the first time last week. LilMiss said there was NO WAY she could be paid enough to do that commercial. She also vented about mean parents who send tapes to America’s Funniest Home Videos. So, the answer, at least in the Miss home is NOPE. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/9 "2003-06-27T19:46:50Z")
Definitely not. Of course, I’d be reluctant to let my kid appear in any kind of commercial. Appearing as an extra in community theater, that’s one thing, but I wouldn’t my kids dealing with the stress of being professional actors. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/10 "2003-06-27T20:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\* > > What is the average someone makes for acting in a commercial anyway? \*\* Depends on a few things. First, was it a union commercial (SAG) or not? Union commercials pay much better. Union members are not allowed to do non-union commercials. Second, and most important, is how many times the commercial runs. You get paid each time, and for each market the commercial runs in, with different rates depending on if it runs on network or cable, etc. etc. This is a major part of the SAG contract. If it runs over and over, you could make $50k - 100k. You get paid an hourly rate for when the commercial shoots also, but that isn't much. This goes on forever - my daughter did a show 10 years ago, and she's still getting residual checks. Not much, but it's not bad for doing nothing. She did an extra role on a soap once, and got an .87 cent check for when it ran in Italy. I don’t think this kid will get hassled at all. When my daughter was doing commercials, not much older than this kid, the other kids either never saw it or were impressed. Answer to the OP - when my daughter was acting, sure I would have let her take this role. The only time I would interfere if she were asked to do something dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/11 "2003-06-27T20:12:38Z")
I thought the same thing when I saw the commercial for the first time. Poor kid, doesn’t stand a chance on the schoolyard. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/12 "2003-06-27T21:42:31Z")
Hell yes! (I didn’t even watch the commercial!) Time for the boy to earn his keep! 😃 Seriously, why not? Its just “acting” and could be the start of something big. Remember, there is no “bad publicity” and to get yer kid’s face seen is important if he/she plans on pursueing that career later, and if not, a quick shot of capitol could buy him a motorcycle or something. Why the heck would he be auditioning for a commercial in the first place if he didn’t want to become an actor later? My kid is going to be homeschooled anyway. Kids get picked on in the schoolyard NO MATTER WHAT they do, anyway. * * * Email: Obfuscating communication for nearly a decade! ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/13 "2003-06-27T22:07:55Z")
How would you feel being the the “herpes” rep? Try explaining _that_ to your adult friends. 🙂 Everybodys a whore for the money, so if I had kids, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/14 "2003-06-27T22:26:56Z")
I don’t want my kids near show buisness. They wouldn’t appear in only commercials at all no matter what they’re for. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/15 "2003-06-27T23:01:31Z")
Yeah, when it came down to it, I think I would let my child make the choice, etc. But, there’s just something about this commercial that is simply awful, almost glurgey! However, I think I am safe, if the kid turns out like me. There’s no way the kid could say something like: I made peepee in my pants without busting up laughing! ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/16 "2003-06-27T23:51:15Z")
My uncle was in a print ad for a sexual dysfunction clinic. For about a year the ad was run in various newpapers in the Seattle area. He still gets razzed about it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/17 "2003-06-28T00:39:53Z")
Well, don’t a lot of children in the acting/modeling business go to special schools for show biz kids? At least some do, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/18 "2003-06-28T05:37:55Z")
If my daughter wanted to do it, sure I’d let her. If she didn’t, I wouldn’t make her but I’d point out “Hey, you’re the one that wants to be a doctor someday …” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/19 "2003-06-28T06:13:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Roadwalker \* > \*\*I don’t want my kids near show buisness. They wouldn’t appear in only commercials at all no matter what they’re for. \*\* Why not? And would you let your kids in commercials or not - it kind of came out garbled. (Commercials actually pay better than legit for less work - assuming you get a good one.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714/20 "2003-06-28T07:14:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Well, don’t a lot of children in the acting/modeling business go to special schools for show biz kids? At least some do, I believe. \*\* When a kid has a long term committment, the producer must have a tutor on the set. You don’t need one for a commercial, which typically shoots in a day or two at most. A friend of mine went to the High School of Music and Art, but she was a musician. The problem is that anyone acting gets called at odd times, so can’t be at a school and at a set at the same time. The on-set tutor works around the production schedule. Most of the kid actors I knew were fairly smart, since their parents typcially wouldn’t let them act unless their grades were decent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-let-your-child-appear-in-this-commercial/184714.md?page=2)