Transportation Help Sources for a BUSY Young Actor

I was a Theater and Fimmaking major in college. I would NEVER send a child to a call unless I could be there. Especially a special needs child. Kids on the Autisim spectrum do not understand cues from others.

There is a reason why California has such strong child labor laws for the film industry. Remember Vic Morrow and the two small children he died trying to protect, oh they died also. They were filming at 3:30 in the morning and in Arizona to escape the California's laws.

Is he at Stages in Hopkins or downtown somewhere? We we're at Stages this week and in addition to the children in the play they have so many people working the box office , etc.

I'm not into it,but there must be a Facebook page (isn't there one for EVERYTHING?!). That all the actors/people at the location belong to. They usually keep postings private/for members only. Maybe she can see if the theater has something like that and she can post on there that she is looking to carpool or will pay for driver services. who wouldn't like a little extra gas money these days?! Espically of they're headed there anyway. Good luck.

You might need to check out state rules because like Retta said ....here in Texas anyone under 18 has to have an adult with them at all times.

If your SIL is going all out to get him into acting, then they are going to have change some priorities and be there to support him. I don't understand why they would not, as parents, be on set to monitor everything, especially since he has Asperger's. No 11 yr old should be left alone, that's crazy in my book and I have been around sets, strange people, etc. They should re-prioritize.

I'm sure you could hire a college aged driver, or private transportation but then again... if he is under 18 I'd double check some state guidelines because I bet he is also supposed to have a legal adult with him at all times.

My daughter models and the agencies won't do anything if a parent or guardian is not with them the entire time. It is a liabiality issue and quite frankly, protects the minor.

They could hire a private sitter that drives him around, maybe a college student with a good driving record and their own car. I have a good friend with a very demanding job, they have a sitter that picks their DD up from school on a few days a week and drives her to after school activities and then home. They do pay a pretty penny for it(hourly + gas)... but if they can afford it, that would be the way to go.
Good luck.

I am not sure what your sister or her DH's line of work is, or what their income & bills are, but is it possible for one of them to take a break from working, work part time, work an alternate schedule, work from home, or find a more flexible job? Can they pare down their expenses & cut non-necessities out so one of them can be around more? It sounds like this is the best scenario for their son, honestly. Sometimes one has to make sacrifices for the good of their kids. If he's going to do this long term, I think someone's going to have to give up their career.

Reading the responses from those more familiar with Asperger's than I am, it sounds like their son needs more parental involvement/supervision than a typical kid. They know their kid the best, so could they just hire a babysitter for after school, that would transport him to his lessons/calls, etc.? That seems more economical than the other options you mentioned. I am not sure I'd want a car service being responsible for my child.

Could you find someone like a nanny?

Or a retired teacher?

I would post it on Craigslist and start interviewing people.

So many people saying they need a job. I am sure they can find some one..

At 11 years old, especially with Asperger's, he needs a parent there to watch/protect/guide and represent him. If they think that this is his life's passion and they want to make it work, someone needs to take a sabbatical and be his chauffeur. This one show that he's in might be a safe place where he's well treated, but the acting world is tough for children and at the next opportunity, or the one after that, there isn't going to be a responsible adult available to supervise him. That's why a parent needs to attend with him.

ADDED after your SWH and some other responses:
I think a big question here is: Is this professional theatre, which would be subject to state laws and union rules, or is it amateur theatre/kids' theatre which might not be under the same restrictions? If these are shows with lots of kids and the parents do drop them and leave, then for now at least, the issue of state working laws and union laws don't apply, I guess -- but your sister should check, and should be aware that if he moves on into any professional productions/union shows, a parent may indeed have to be around. Something for her to have in her mind if he keeps acting. From what you say, it sounds as if a hired person would help, but if they are striking out with colleges, what have they tried? Did they look at colleges' online job boards (some colleges run these for students), did they advertise in the college newspaper, put up posters on campus bulletin boards, contact the "student life" office? They may have to put out some different kinds of effort to reach college kids. But one thing to remember about them too -- their schedules change each semester or quarter and they may have a tough time finding one student who can do it consistently all year long....it sounds as if your nephew does not have an agent or anything that formal. But if he does, or gets one, the agent could be of help arranging transportation.

I understand the issue -- my daughter dances and many weeks has classes and/or rehearsals four of the weekdays and at least one weekend day, and I know theatre can be even more grueling, with more performance dates involved.

I was going to second the idea of a reliable college-age person until I read the statement that "he has Asperger's and getting him to do anything but act is very trying." It's the latter half of that which really concerns me -- if the Asperger's means he gets fixed on doing something and can't be flexible, then he really does need someone with him, actually at rehearsals and performances, who knows him and how he reacts to things, and -- very importantly -- whom HE knows well enough to listen to. If your sister and her husband hire a car service, there's no adult in the theatre for him; if they use a nanny or college kid, however great they are, those are still relatively strangers to him. Will they be able to calm him if he gets worked up, upset or angry over something a director says to him? Will they be able to tell a director or producer to hold off a minute while they deal with him or will they be afraid to speak up like that to his "boss" on the boss's turf, the theatre?

A lot depends on things we don't know here, such as whether he tends to get angry or upset over things easily, or if his Asperger's is a mild condition where it's not so much of an issue and he's fine left alone for several hours in a rehearsal.

But as another person noted -- if he goes on with acting he needs some adult protection. I think that's true regardless of the Asperger's. One production may be fine and full of family-like atmosphere and good treatment of kids, and it feels just fine to leave him there for hours. But another another production may have a bully of a director or a short-tempered producer or other kids who think they're stars, or be in a theatre in an area that's not as safe. He really needs someone he knows there. I do leave my daughter -- who is his same age, 11 -- alone at rehearsals, but she is with the same adults she sees and takes classes from every single week, several times a week. He would be with changing sets of adults he doesn't know except during that one production.

So I'd advise them to shift schedules, tag team things, sometimes see about trading off "stay for the rehearsal/drive both kids home" with other young actors' parents, IF there are other kids in the show, though that might work out only rarely.

In other words -- I hope they do all they can to make theatre work for him if it's his passion, but Asperger's or no Asperger's, I'd have a parent there for him for at least a while to come.

Eleven is old enough to have found a love of theatre, but not yet old enough to navigate dealing with adults whom he doesn't know very well, and who do not know him very well.

How about car pooling with another Mom?
A Mom of a friend of his that is also in the same acting group? But this is probably not practical either.

Ultimately, is seems that one of his parents... will NEED to be there with him and for him and to drive him and drive him home etc. He is special needs.
It is getting more involved.
And he has Asperger's.
And, what about the child laws in that State per acting and school etc.?
One of the parents, will have to do it for their child.
They have to, re-think their jobs etc. and their son's activities and being he is Asperger's and for the years to come, what will they do? One of them can be a stay home parent etc.
Or... they HAVE to rely on a "stranger" to drive him etc. AND be prepared to pay a pretty sum for driving him.
It cannot... be avoided.

I know in Texas anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian on set with them at all times including auditions.

So, that being said...they may really need to look at their schedules and see if as a family can afford for him to continue the extreme pace. I know moms who's full time occupation is scheduling their kids auditions and rehearsal schedules. (Because you can get a call about an audition within an hour of needing to be prepped and be there...it is an un-planable occupation).

Maybe however they could find an older woman who they could hire to take him to and from auditions and rehearsals, etc. But find out from the agency what notarized documents she needs to be his representation on set. The production company can get in trouble if he is there without a parent.

Good luck!!

Does his agency have any ideas?

We have a service out here called kids-kab. Maybe there is something like that in your area? Or you might want to see if any of the babysitters on care.com or sittercity are interested in driving your nephew. Good luck!

I don't know much about Asperger's, could he take a bus/taxi?
I assume he goes to school during the day, so couldn't a college student be hired to care for/drive him around after school for these jobs?
More info re his abilities (or disability) would be helpful...

With his age and Aspergers one of them really need to be there. Perhaps one of them could look at their income and see if they can temporarily make cuts to be there for him. A leave of absence, a job change, cutting extras like cable TV and fancy cell phone plans, a smaller house, whatever. If they simply cannot make these sacrifices (and there may be good reasons they can't), then he needs to be told he can't do this right now. A sacrifice needs to be made somewhere. The only other option I could possibly see working - and it's far from ideal - is to hire a responsible nanny who's whole job would be to supervise him and advocate for him. It will take a special person to be able to do this-familiar with aspergers and the acting business and willing to do whatever the parents say they want done.

I somehow managed to miss the entire point that he has Asperger's and suggested things that were not acceptable. I'm a bit ashamed of myself for somehow missing this fact. My apologies for my initial suggestions.

I love Jburkhalter's suggestion!

If the nanny they currently have cannot add "chauffeur" to her list of duties, I would think about hiring someone specifically to 1) be a nanny/hours and 2) drive the child to his performances.

Maybe your sister will get lucky and find a stay-at-home mom whose kids are older/out of the house who needs some extra money and wouldn't mind the funny hours. If it seriously is the case where both of the parents need to remain working (meaning one of them is unable to become a stay-at-home parent), then I would seriously consider finding someone who fits their needs. No sure how easy it would be. Maybe there is a retired grandpa or grandma looking for a little extra money who would love to do such a job.

Sending good vibes their way that they find a solution to their problem. It sounds like their son has found something he loves and likes and can do well. They should continue encouraging him all the way.

I've heard of using a taxi to transport children. You can ask for a specific driver that will respond every time. They could do a criminal history check thru the police department.

Later: I high functioning Asperger's child does not need constant supervision. And I don't understand why a parent would always have to be with a child in a children's theater situation. There are plenty of adults in the location. The posts got far afield from the question of how to get this kid to practices.

Have you thought about putting an ad for a on call nanny/driver? That way the person could be trusted w/the boy and hired specifically for his needs and then she could drive him to and from.