Want to line your pockets with a little extra green?  Why not try Market Research?  Yes, there are companies out there who will pay you for your opinion!  This is not one of those Internet scams where they ask you for money up front to provide you with a list of Market Research companies.  These are legitimate companies that I am registered with who call me occasionally to participate in focus groups.  There is no fee to sign up with them.  I am generally paid somewhere between $50 and $75 for about an hour of my time (I was once offered $500 to participate in a very specific focus group).  You certainly won't get rich quick doing this, but it's easy, gives you a little break from the kids, and can be fun (once you have kids your idea of fun really changes, doesn't it?)!

Here are the companies I am registered with and their websites:

                                                     Plaza Research
                                                     (near LAX)
                                                     6053 West Century Blvd, Suite 100
                                                     Los Angeles CA 90045

                                                     Phone: (310) 645-1700
 
                                                     http://www.iopinion.com/add.ws4d
 

                                                     Trotta Associates
                                                     13160 Mindanao Way, Suite 100
                                                     Marina del Rey, CA 90292 
                                                         
                                                      Phone: (310) 306-6866 

                                                      http://www.trotta.net/join.htm

                                                      Adler-Weiner Research Company
                                                      10990 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
                                                      Los Angeles, CA 90024
                    
                                                      Phone:  (310) 440-2330

                                                      http://www.awr-la.com/consumers.asp

                                                      Savitz Field and Focus
                                                      5757 W. Century Blvd., Suite 360
                                                      Los Angeles, CA  90045
         
                                                      Phone: (310) 642-4799
                                                      
                                                      http://www.savitzpanel.com/


Parents, can't muster up the energy to go to work yourself?  Who can blame you!  I have just the answer for you...PUT THE KIDS TO WORK!!!  After all, they're just frittering their days away playing and napping,  why can't they earn a bit of the bacon, right?  Well, here's one idea of what they can do:  Background work for t.v., movies, commercials, and ads.  All joking aside, this is definitely not a get-rich quick scheme and it also is not a scam where you are asked to buy expensive photos or take expensive acting/modeling classes.  I signed my daughter up for background work about four years ago and she has earned approximately $1,000 thus far.  It is very occasional work and we have turned down numerous jobs as I do not really like to take her out of school to do this.  Your child will be paid varying amounts, the average being about $110/day.  Commercials pay much better than film (my daughter earned approximately $375 for one day's work).  Also, if your child is really serious about getting into acting this might be a good starting point as it allows them the opportunity to get a few jobs under their belt and on their resume.  The downfall is that we are in the South Bay and much of the work is in the Los Angeles area.  There is an initial registration fee (I don't remember how much, but it was not pricey).  Also, they charge an $18 renewal fee every 6 months, but you can call them and ask them to subtract the fee from your child's next pay check.  This is the company my daughter is registered with is:

                                                            KIDS! Background Talent
                                                            207 S. Flower St.
                                                            Burbank, CA  91502
                                                             
                                                            Phone (661) 244-4621

You need to call to schedule an appointment to register...this is the only time you will have to go down to their office.  Here is the link to their website:

                                                              Kids! Background

Interested in more substantial acting/modeling work for your kids, but don't want to dole out the dinero for expensive portfolios and acting classes?   I know of two agencies you might be interested in.  The first is The Osbrink Agency.  I have visited their website and it appears all they request is a snapshot of your child, a cover letter, and a resume (if you have one).   Here is a link to their website:

                                                               Osbrink Agency Submissions

The other agency is LL Talent!  The application process is so simple, you can do it online.  Here is a link to their site:

                                                                LLTalent.com


Readers:  Please let me know if you have any clever money making ideas for families. 

Written by: South Bay Mom