Arrange for a headshot. A headshot does not have to be a professional photograph, especially for children, but it should be a clear photo of mainly your face and upper body that shows your best attributes. If you are a child who likes to laugh a lot and tends to be very active, consider having your parents or guardians take a picture of you smiling. If you are more serious and would like to audition for more dramatic roles, have a picture taken where you are more serious. If you would rather pay for professional headshots, wait until you have an agent and ask what photographer she would recommend.
Assemble a resume. As a kid, you may not have an extensive resume, but you might have a few school plays or recitals to put down on your resume. Your resume should include your height, age and weight; your hair and eye color; where you go to school; any experience you may have with acting; any classes you may have taken in acting, singing or dancing; and any special skills you have, such as riding a bike, juggling or horseback riding.
Ask your parents to subscribe to a trade magazine, such as "Backstage." If you are located near Los Angeles or New York City, you will have the opportunity to get the most auditions because most movies cast out of these locations. "Backstage" lists all auditions for theater, independent films and feature films that are open to the public. This means you do not need an agent to go to these auditions. For an open-call audition, you can just show up. Otherwise, you will be asked to audition by appointment, and most casting directors require you to submit a headshot and resume before they will give you an appointment to audition.
Obtain an agent. Although it is not mandatory to obtain an agent before going on movie auditions (see Step 3), getting an agent is a great way for a young actor between the ages of 8 and 12 to be seen for primarily her type and get submitted for a wider variety of more select auditions. Most agents publish their contact information in the "Ross Reports," which is a yearly publication that contains a directory of most reputable and approved agents in Los Angeles and New York. The "Ross Reports" has a special section for agents who work with children and can be purchased online or at select bookstores in Los Angeles and New York, including New York City's Drama Bookshop and Shakespeare & Company.
Be prompt and bring everything you need for your audition. Once you have scored an audition, it is important for your parent or guardian to ask your agent or the casting director what you will need to bring for the audition. Sometimes, you will need to bring a monologue, which is a short passage of text from a play or movie that you will read aloud. Other times, you will be sent a portion of a script called a "side" that you will need to be familiar with before your audition. Even though the casting director probably already has your headshot and resume, bring an extra one and present it to her when you enter the audition room.