BizParentz Foundation

A cottage industry has developed in Los Angeles in the last 10 years or so, an industry that exists to serve something called “pilot season”.  But in the last two years, pilot season has changed drastically.  So what’s the real skinny?  Is it real?  Is it worth it? We’re here to tell you the cold hard truth.  But before we begin, a couple of disclaimers:

1. This information is likely to be different than the advice you are getting from your hometown agent/manager/teacher/fellow parents.  Like all information you get on the internet, we encourage you to scrutinize and weigh the source carefully.  Keep in mind that people back home may have ulterior motives.  It may be money, or it may be just as simple as saving face in regard to their own pilot season experience.  In contrast, we have nothing to lose by being honest with you, but we also have no specific knowledge of your personal situation.
2. There is an exception to every rule.  Yes, it happens that lightening strikes and a kid comes to pilot season without an agent and gets “discovered”.  Hollywood is crazy that way.  BUT we say what we do because we are aiming this advice toward MOST people who are considering a pilot season trip.  Not the day lightening strikes (that would happen without our advice).
3. Please read the whole article.  It will start out a tad scary, and more than a little negative.   Please know that we DO believe in supporting kids dreams.  We are not against people coming to Los Angeles for pilot season! We just want them to have the greatest chance of success.   So please continue on to the end of the article, where we offer you some tips for success if you decide to brave the odds.

THE BASICS OF THE BUSINESS

What is pilot season?

Traditional “pilot season” is the period of time between January and April (give or take) when the studios create samples of new shows.   A “pilot” is one episode of a show that is ordered by the network as a test.  They will cast it, produce it, test it with audiences and studio executives and decide whether to “pick it up” as a regular series.  That series will be shown in the fall.  Casting for the test episodes used to be done in a frenzy during “pilot season”.

Why during spring?  

Pilot season used to exist on this timeline because it was built around advertising schedules.  A little Hollywood Television 101:  television shows only exist to draw advertisers.  Those commercials you see between shows are the bread and butter of the entertainment industry.  Each show is competing for the advertiser’s money.  Advertisers buy time on each show and that is what keeps the show (and the network) afloat.

Traditionally, the networks hold an event in New York in May called the “upfronts”. Upfronts are basically big parties where each network announces their fall lineup on primetime and gives the advertisers (the party guests) a taste of the new shows, hoping to get them to buy ad time in the fall.

The pilot season schedule is built around the deadline of “upfronts” in mid-May. Traditionally, pilot season is planned to conceive, cast, produce the test episode (pilot), and make program decisions by May.  

Why do you keep saying “traditionally” and “used to be”?  Does pilot season really exist any more?  

We say “traditionally” because pilot season has changed.   Many say it doesn’t really exist at all anymore, and we tend to agree.  Here’s why: Pay cable channels (ie. Disney, Nickelodeon, HBO, Showtime, etc)  were never really on the traditional pilot season schedule since they aren’t dependent on advertising.  They now produce the lion’s share of new shows.  Fox, a network, has also announced in 2005 that they have moved to a year round pilot schedule.  The other networks have moved increasingly toward using “mid-season replacements” which are new series that are put into the TV schedule in January, when their first team of series fails.  These mid-season replacements are often on alternative schedules as well.   See how the calendar is getting a little murky?

Add to that, events such as the 2007-8 labor negotiations, which forced an early pilot season because studios were stockpiling pilots and series in anticipation of labor strikes by the WGA (writers), DGA (directors) and SAG (actors).   Variety, Hollywood Reporter and more than a few other industry sources, report that the strike may prove to be the death knell for traditional Jan-April pilot season: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ida2e9d7e0740c3cfb01ae6656f69a3c1

So the answer is…pilot season sure isn’t what it used to be.  And it is surely going the way of the dinosaur.   That doesn’t necessarily mean it is a bad time to come to LA, but those investing significant time and money should know that it is no longer the be-all-end -all it once was.    

THE ODDS

How many pilots are made?

About 100 pilots are made each year.  In 2007, the number was approximately 140, including reality shows, talk shows and all of cable.  Scripted shows were still about 100.   But you must remember: a pilot is only a test.   Most never see the light of your television screen.

Of the 100 pilots made last year, only about 25 had roles for actors under the age of 18. Most of those did not get picked up as a series. Of the total amount of pilots produced in 2007, only about 25 made it to the fall schedule, including some of the new kid shows such as Wizards of Waverly Place and iCarly.  In other words, only 25 series produced real ongoing jobs, only a few of those have children in them, and some of those will get cancelled.  

What are the odds of a NEW kid getting cast as a series regular in a pilot?

Almost zip.  By fall 2006, only 10 new series had a series regular who was a child.  That’s a total of 11 kids who got new series regular roles.  With the exception of one young actor, the kids all had significant credits and many years in the business prior to booking the pilot.  That has been the case for the last few years.

By our estimate, about 95% of kids coming for pilot season go home empty handed.  They don’t book anything while they are in Los Angeles.  The other 5% book something, but it is usually a commercial, a student film or a low-budget independent film.  They should consider this a great success, but it won’t be enough to pay for their trip.  And it won’t be the star in a new television series.

How many kids are in LA for pilot season?

Here are some stats: The state of California Department of Labor says that they issue approximately 50,000 entertainment work permits in California each year, and the majority are working in the Los Angeles area.

According to LA Casting, the commercial casting service used by Los Angeles Agents, there are more than 20,000 kids under 18, with agents, auditioning in LA year round.  In 2007, the number swelled to 21,360 during pilot season, adding 320 more boys and 800 more girls. That means approximately 1000 other children will join you in the pilgrimage to Hollywood this year.

In general, you can assume there are about 1,500 children in your child’s age range (ex. Boys 8-10 years old) that you will be competing against every day.

Your agent?  There are about 40 agents in Los Angeles who handle children.  The biggest ones have over 1,000 children on their roster.  So even within your agency it is not unusual to be competing with 5-12 kids who are the same age and ethnicity as your child. It’s always good to ask how many kids are in your child’s “category” in the agencies’ roster before you sign. 

THE CASTING PROCESS ONCE YOU ARE HERE

But those 1,000 competitors aren’t showing up to every audition, right?

Right.  Here’s the 411 on casting:  All those kids are submitted by their agents electronically for a role.  Of the 1000 kids (or more!) submitted for each role in a show, the casting director will choose a much smaller number to come to a first audition.  For a television show, they may only see 20 children.  For a commercial, they will typically audition 100 at a first audition.  Films and pilots have a longer time frame to cast, so they will often see 50-100 for each role.  Of those only a few will get a “callback”.  Only one will get the job.  As you can see, it is quite an accomplishment just to get an audition! 

Is there other stuff going on during pilot season?

Of course!  Hollywood is made up of more than pilots, and realistically, your odds are better elsewhere anyway.  Commercials shoot year round, the episodics (television series that are already on TV) are still shooting episodes, and feature films tend to cast in the spring for shoots in the summer.  So there are still lots of opportunities.  

SO IF THE ODDS ARE SO DISMAL, WHY...

Why are all those people flocking to LA from out of state?

Because someone back home told them it was a good idea to come to California.  It’s kinda like the gold rush…everyone wants to take a chance at stardom.  It’s the great American lottery.   And every scammer wants to make a buck while they can.

An entire cottage industry has now been built around kids and pilot season.  Short term apartment complexes such as Oakwood advertise “child actor programs”.  Acting teachers offer “boot camps” and “pilot season intensives”.  Competitions such as iPop and IMTA time their events so that kids might be “found” by an agent, and then encouraged to come to Los Angeles immediately for pilot season.  Out of town agents arrange kick-backs with Los Angeles agents if they will represent their client for just a few months.   It seems every cockroach comes out of the woodwork during pilot season.   For a look at that, see this article by Bonnie Gillespie: Scam Season

Lots of people have hidden agendas when they encourage kids to come to pilot season. That said, it IS true that there are usually more auditions available during pilot season. So that is a good reason to come to LA in that time period.  It’s just that you have to consider that there are also many more kids competing for that audition, so your odds aren’t so great.   And in 2008, the WGA strike brings a totally unknown factor into play. It could be a really bad year.  

Why would my agent take us on for pilot season if they already have so many kids?

Please be aware that many (if not most) agents will not sign kids just for a few months. They just don’t play this pilot season game because they realize that it takes time to get a new face out there, and they have plenty of qualified clients already.  It is not “normal” for agents to take kids on just for pilot season.  Still, there are a few possible reasons why a reputable agent may choose to represent a child from out of town for the pilot season:

1. Why not?  With electronic casting, the agents do not have to invest a lot of time or money in new clients.  They aren’t paying out a lot, so if you are willing to take the financial risk to come here, why not take you on?  It’s really no skin off their nose, no money out of their pocket.  YOU are taking all the risk.
2. They truly believe in your child’s talent and think they can be successful.
3. They have a hole in their roster than your child can fill. Every agent wants to have a wide variety of kids available for the roles that might come up (and no one really knows what those might be).  For instance, in the 10-12 yr old boy category, an agent may want to have 5 Caucasian boys (a couple of hero boys, a character kid or two, etc),  2-3 African American boys, 2 Asian boys, 2 Hispanic boys, a couple of mixed ethnicity kids, one Middle Eastern boy.    If they are missing that Middle Eastern boy, and your child just happens to look like he could play that…you’re in.   

But I thought my child was special!  Are you telling me they are just a dime a dozen? 

No…your child IS special.  But the competition is insanely stiff in Los Angeles. There are lots of really incredible kids.   It doesn’t mean you should stay home, but it DOES mean you should adjust your expectations for your own sanity. 

DECISION MAKING

How do I know my child is ready?

We advise young actors to “bloom where you are planted”.  In other words, take classes locally, get some local jobs, exhaust all the opportunities where you live. Get a local agent.  Try to become SAG eligible since California is a union state (the importance of this varies by age).

Basically, if your child has a healthy resume and is consistently booking in a smaller market, you MAY be ready for a trip to Los Angeles.  To see if your instincts are right, we suggest taking a vacation to California to test the waters.  Come for a well planned week:  see if you can meet agents and managers, check out housing options, take a class or two, get L.A. style headshots taken.    Most importantly, get an evaluation or two from respected L.A. acting coaches who can assess your child’s readiness to compete in the L.A. market.  Then go to Disneyland!   Making a pre-pilot season trip can be the key to a successful pilot season later!

How much local experience is “enough” to make the trip?

That’s a toughie, and it depends on your child’s age and type.  In general, the older the child, the more professional experience you must have to compete.  In Los Angeles, we do not put commercials, extra work, or print work on professional acting resumes.  Take that off, and what do you have?  Ideally, kids over the age of 8 should have some theatre, a film credit or two (even if it is a student film), good training, and at least one RECOGNIZABLE credit—a film shown in theatres or television show that can be seen nationwide.

It also helps if they are SAG eligible.  It helps if they have something really unique to offer—an unusual look or ethnicity, or a level of skill that is uncommon (a martial arts champion for example).   It is true that everybody starts somewhere.  But kids starting out with nothing on the resume will have a tough time competing in Los Angeles.  It is not unusual for a 10 year old here to already have a series regular, a couple of major feature films, and 5 or 6 guest star roles on their resume.  That is your competition.

Does age/size matter?

Yes.  The labor laws in California dictate some optimal ages for working in the industry. Kids can work longer hours at certain ages:  6, 9, 16, and 18.  A different set of rules exist for those who have graduated high school or have taken a high school proficiency test (such as the CHSPE test).   Here is a grid of the work hours in California.

Size is an issue as well…or rather the appearance of looking younger.  Kids who are short, and appear younger have a great advantage.  The kids you see playing teens on television rarely are teens (consider that Jason Earles was in his late 20s when he worked as Hannah Montana’s brother, and most of the cast of The O.C. were in their mid 20s playing teenagers).  The period of time between 14 and 18 is affectionately known as the “Dead Zone” to moms in the industry since there is very little work that isn’t snatched up by adults who can play younger.

Even kids as young as 6 can “cheat” younger if they are small and still have baby teeth. Since they can often read and have longer attention spans, producers will hire them over a true 4 or 5 year old.

What does this meant to you?  It means that Hollywood producers will hire a child who is 6 years old but is small and looks 4.  It is simply a business decision for them—they get more work hours and time is money.  You increase your odds greatly if you plan your pilot season trip at the right age.  Wrong age?  It may not be a deal breaker, but you might want to consider waiting a year.  If you have a teenager, encourage them to work ahead in high school so that they can graduate and work as an adult.

FINANCES—CAN YOU AFFORD THIS TRIP?

How much Does Pilot Season Cost?

This can vary widely, especially considering housing arrangements have a big variance, the need to rent a car, etc.  But generally, you can probably plan to spend about $5,000 a month if you are being conservative.  Your budget should include housing, car (you can’t do LA without a car!), food, acting classes, clothing for auditions, etc.  There are several apartment complexes that cater to short term renters for pilot season, but many parents have reported better living conditions, less expense, and more sanity when renting a house (sometimes with another pilot season family). Here’s an article about actor expenses in general: http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000440.html

My agent back home says that just one commercial will pay for my trip—true?

False.  Sorry, but the average UNION commercial (and you will have to compete with thousands of young union actors to get it) pays approximately $6,000.   The days of the $50,000 national commercial are gone, and they have been gone since the SAG commercial strike in 2000.  

What CAN I expect my child to make if they are lucky enough to book a job?

Most child actors get union scale for the work they do.  Just to give you an idea,SAG union minimums are:

Commercials: $567.10/day plus residuals.
Day Player on a Movie or network TV show: $759/day or $2,634/week
Average kid series regular on a network one hour TV show:
avg. $20,000 for the pilot, $10,000 a week if it gets picked up to series.
Many films are classified as low-budget, and make $100 day or even less.

That Disney or Nickelodeon series your child is dying to get on?  Be careful…many of these are AFTRA shows (the other actor’s union) and their pay is minimal.  Sometimes as little as $341 for two days work for a speaking role!  Many of these contracts effectively do not pay residuals.   Don’t assume you will be cashing in…make sure to ASK your agent what the pay rate is!

Keep in mind that out of that gross amount the following percentages are deducted before you ever see a paycheck:

15% Coogan withholding
10% agent
15% manager (if you have one)
2% union dues
30% state and federal taxes
72% GONE

We are thinking we can take a second mortgage/line of credit/credit cards/using their college fund to pay for the trip.  Then my child can pay it back later when they make money.  What’s wrong with that?

We strongly advise against this.  Why?

• Because the odds are that your child WON’T be able to pay it back. 
• Because it creates an unbalanced, pressure filled environment for your child.  IF they know the family made significant sacrifices, and they fail in LA (no fault of their own), they may have serious psychological issues later.
• If you are successful (say they book a feature film), things don’t get easier, money-wise.  It gets far more complicated, and bills increase.
• Your child’s odds of being successful with a college education (which they will still need if they are a professional actor, btw), are FAR, FAR better than any success in Hollywood. Is dipping into the college fund worth it?
• Hollywood is a business.  Every business needs capital to begin operations.  There is nothing wrong with investing in your child’s business (giving them the capital to get started) but it should be money you can afford to give.  If you can’t afford it without borrowing, consider waiting a year so that your child’s business can be on solid financial footing.   

BENEFITS of COMING TO PILOT SEASON

“But”, you say, “this isn’t all about money!”. 

We know.  There are other great benefits to coming to pilot season, aside of money or even getting a real job.  The trick is to choose to seek them out.  Los Angeles offers:

• the opportunity for real auditions in a competitive market
• assessment of your child’s ability to play with the big dogs, and get opinions from the actual people who cast feature films and network television.
• quality training you can’t get elsewhere
• bonding.  You can instill in your child that you will support their dreams. Not a willy nilly “we-always-love-you-no-matter-what” statement, but a tangible lesson in helping them set goals, and make a plans to reach them.
• exposure to high level casting directors, producers and directors that you might never meet in your home town.
• skills increased so that when you return to your home market, you can be MORE successful than you were when you left.
  

TIMING

How Long Should I Stay?

This varies from year to year, depending on how casting is going. The best idea is to ask your agent, but in general, it isn’t worth it come for less than 8 weeks.  It takes a couple of weeks just to get your child’s pictures and resumes in to the online casting systems, have agents submit and get the first auditions.

Keep in mind though…a showbiz career is a marathon, not a sprint.  One pilot season probably isn’t enough.  Many families have told us that while they saw some success (a booking or two) their first pilot seasons, it took 3 years to really feel like they were competing in this market and booking fairly often.

Casting Director Mark Sikes says it takes 5 years of full time living in LA to really understand the town, long time kid’s agent Judy Savage says it often takes 7 pilot seasons for kids to book a pilot. 

BEWARE  (The “Don’t” List) 

As we stated earlier, there is an industry that has built itself around the concept of “pilot season”.  Those involved in this sub-culture of Hollywood range from the regularbusiness who just knows an opportunity when they see one, to the lowest level scammer in town.  Here are some tips to help you steer clear of the bad experiences:

1. Do not send your kid alone.  Do not send them to any manager that offers to house them.Kids need their parents in this tough industry.  The number one rule (and actually a law in California on sets) is to always be within sight and sound of your child.   It is not the time to farm them out to a so-called “expert”.  Trust us, no high quality manager houses their clients. 
2. Beware of Advance Fee Talent Services.  Legit agents and managers get paid a percentage when your child works.  Legit acting coaches and photographers get paid a flat fee for the actual serves performed.  Do not mix them.  There were so many scams in this area that the State of California passed a law called the Advanced Fee Talent Service Law (AFTS).  Bottom line: avoid people who claim to be multi-hyphenates, and want to charge you money before your child works.
3. Don’t get sucked into Ugly Stagemomland.  You’ve probably heard about it…evil stagemothers who spend every waking moment looking for auditions for Baby June.  Sadly, it does exist, but it is by FAR the minority—most stagemoms are helpful, kind, and friendly. More experienced, knowledgeable moms don’t engage in gossip or even discussions about auditions—they’ve outgrown it.    The bad apples are easy to avoid.  Choose your friends carefully, don’t trust online personas, and stay away from social areas at the kid actor apartment complexes.
4. Don’t market so aggressively that you compromise your child’s safety.  Be very careful about personal websites, the use of myspace, working with unknown “producers”, etc.  Child predators abound in Hollywood and being a pilot season newbie practically puts a scarlet letter on your forehead.   Please read every article on this page: http://www.bizparentz.org/gettingstarted/childsafety.html
5. Don’t sacrifice your family.  Divorce is very common in pilot season families!  Around half of the marriages in the United States fail, and in the entertainment industry the percentage is far higher.  Add in the separation, the financial pressure, the balancing of two households, the “single” parenting required since you are separated, and you have a recipe for potential disaster.  Really consider whether a shot at this lottery is worth your marriage and the stability of your home.   Make sure that both spouses support this idea. Make sure you have an exit plan where you define when you are coming home and under what circumstances you will stay or return.  Consider when your family will be reunited (will dad get a job transfer and join you if Suzie is successful?).
6. Finances can get ugly.  Many parents run out of money and have to return home before they are ready. In California, ALL the money your child makes (not just the Coogan 15%) belongs to the child.  It is not yours.  It is not supposed to be used for basic living expenses—that is your job.   As a parent, you must still provide housing, food and education for your child.  Make sure that when you come for pilot season, you have enough “capital” to run your child’s business—enough cash to stay here short term.  Then consider what job YOU will have to support your child if they are successful and need to stay longer.   Most showbiz moms with working kids DO have their own job.  Certain occupations are more conducive to showbiz because they are more flexible (nurses, kindergarten teachers, lawyers, internet businesses, accounting, medical transcription, writers, etc).
   

TIPS for SUCCESS (the “Do” List)

If you have read up to this point and you are still thinking you want to brave the odds and make a trip for pilot season, there are ways to increase your odds of having a GREAT experience, and being successful:

1. Define success for your family.  Will you feel good about the trip if they get a few auditions and take some great classes?  Or will you only be satisfied if they book a job (any job)?  Or do you need to make this trip financially break even?  Is this just a really big adventure and you can deal with WHATEVER comes of it (even if it is nothing)? Having no goal in mind is a recipe for hurt feelings, lost dreams, and a lifetime of regret.
2. Consider making a pre-pilot season trip to LA for planning (see below).
3. Set up agent/manager ahead of time.
4. Get headshots ahead of time.
5. Take good classes…improvisation, scene study, character development, dance, etc.  Try the stuff you can’t get at home!  Consider taking casting director workshops (where working casting directors offer feedback on mock auditions).
6. Plan School and make a regular time each day to accomplish that.
7. Get legal and get organized.  This might have been a hobby before, but in L.A. it is a business.   Get your paperwork (Coogan accounts, work permits, etc) together and set up a filing system for jobs, audition information, etc.  Keep logs of all your expenses and travel details (for tax deductions later).  Consider getting a planner or software made for actors, such as The Holdon Log.
8. “DO” Los Angeles.  Go to museums, beaches, Disneyland, the Disney Concert Hall, and Universal Studios Themepark.  Take a studio backlot tour (Warner Brothers and Paramount offer them), see art house films and learn about the history of Hollywood.  Go to free tapings of television shows, and if you are SAG take advantage of the screenings and classes at the SAG Foundation (www.sagfoundation.org). 
9. Spend time with your child sans video games.
10. Plan for success.   Be careful of your child’s safety and guard their privacy.  If they become famous, they will thank you.
11. Do build a relationship with your child’s agent, even if you have a manager.
12. Think about the future, and about making this a marathon, not a sprint.  In other words, you will probably have to come back again, so pace your emotions for the long haul.
13. Consider the end:  what happens AFTER pilot season is over?  When you go back home, how will life be?  Can you child jump right back into school?  If they don’t book, like MOST people, will they be able to face friends and family?    Talk about this out loud. Think about what you say to friends and family.

MAKING A PRE-SEASON TRIP

Is there some strategy to planning our pilot season?

YES!  Planning is everything!  Time is money, but sitting around can also do damage to a kids’ motivation and self-esteem.  For this reason, you want to be as efficient as possible. Here are some things to take care of BEFORE you arrive in L.A.:

First, become familiar with labor laws in California because they dictate what age children will be likely to work.  For example, a five year old won’t work much in California because the labor laws allow a six year old (who looks 4 or 5) to work an hour longer.  So if you have a five year old, you might be wise to postpone your trip until they are six.  Your odds will be better next year!  Same idea goes for teenagers who are not high school graduates.  WHEN you choose to come may be key.

Do NOT ever come to pilot season without securing agency representation first.  Legally, you cannot procure work in California without a licensed talent agent.  Not to mention, it just isn’t done.  You really do need an agent.  And the reputable ones are too busy once pilot season starts to interview new clients.

Get L.A. style headshots before coming here.  Photographers are booked several weeks ahead of time, and by the time you take pictures, get the proofs back, have your agent and manager look at them, and spend two weeks at the printer,   you have wasted more than a month of your trip.  Do this in advance!  This is a perfect task for the pre-trip—then do your reproductions via mail order from home.

Get work permits and Coogan accounts in advance.  California is very strict about the work permits and you simply will not be allowed to work without one.  Currently, the wait time is more than a month to get one, so start now!

Plan your schooling.  It is illegal in California to simply “be on vacation” during pilot season, regardless of what your school back home tells you. If you want to work here, you must go to school here in some manner.  Check out the Education section of our website for lots of resources.

For more planning tips, here is an expert from Bonnie Gillespie’s book, Casting Qs.  She asks 15 casting directors “What’s the First Thing An Actor Should Do Upon Arrival in Los Angeles?” http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000738.html

ALTERNATIVES TO COMING FOR PILOT SEASON

There is no magic formula for success in Hollywood.  There is no one “right” way.  Pilot season is no exception—it is not the silver bullet that will make you a star, nor is it even the normal path.    But if you live outside of Los Angeles, it may feel like a pilgrimage to Hollywood is the only way to make it.  It isn’t!  Lots of successful families have found alternatives to pilot season.  They suggest:

• Come for episodic season instead.  This period of time is generally August through early December, when the regular television series are casting, and when holiday commercials are casting.  A bit more opportunity, a little less competition, and a less frenzied schedule.
• Get a local agent who will submit on LA jobs.  Many smaller market agents get Los Angeles breakdowns and can submit and send taped auditions to LA casting directors.  You’ll miss the rush castings, the commercials and the smaller TV roles, but you will still get opportunities on pilots, major features and other “big stuff” that has more time to cast.
• Ask your local agent to make an LA connection if you are willing to fly on a dime.  Many local agents are “friends” with Los Angeles agents.  With a referral, an LA agent may consider repping you WITHOUT a move to LA, if you can jump on a plane and be in Los Angeles within 24 hours or so.  This works for families with tons of frequent flyer miles, and airline connection or some other way to drop everything and go.  It is often FAR less expensive than moving to Los Angeles for a few months.
• Wait till next year, and get your ducks in a row. Get a few local jobs and save the money for the pilot season trip and/or take on a part-time to save.  Build the resume locally. Take more classes.  Do some theater.  Work on academics.  Be ready so you can hit the ground running next year.
• Consider obtaining representation in a bigger market, but not as big as L.A.  Consider Miami, NY, Chicago, or Dallas.  Many successful kids we know moved to a medium sized market first and worked there before coming to Los Angeles a year or two later.   They gained recognizable credits, bi-coastal agents and big-market audition experience. 

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Great article about pilot season stories:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/51/pilot_season_a_cast_of_characters.html

http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4370726-1.html

From Casting Qs by Bonnie Gillespie:

http://home.earthlink.net/~bonnieathene/newbsw.htm#pilotseasonsucksrocks

Pilot Season’s Real Opportunities

http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000666.html

Ready for Take-off By Mark Sikes

http://more.showfax.com/columns/corner/archives/2005_02_07.html#000518

Predicting which pilots will make it

http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000383.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002315613

Great first hand experiences from pilot season parents:

http://forums.delphiforums.proactors

If you are successful, Life as a Series Regular by Bonnie Gillespie:

http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000780.html

Premature Moves

http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000181.html