Bookings
BOOKINGS
Bookings
Understanding the difference between a check, a hold, and a confirmed booking.
How the booking process works.
A booking goes through several stages before it's confirmed. Understanding each stage helps you stay prepared and avoid conflicts. Here's what each term means and what's expected of you at each step.
Availability Check
A client is interested in you for a project and wants to know if you're free on a specific date. This is not a booking — it's a question. Respond quickly and honestly. If you're available, say yes. If you have a conflict, say so. Do not hold the date yet.
Hold
A client has placed you on hold for a date. This means they're seriously considering you but haven't confirmed yet. You should treat a hold as a near-booking — do not schedule anything else on that date without checking with Sprout first. Holds can be released or confirmed, sometimes with very little notice.
Booking
You're confirmed for the job. This is a professional commitment. Once you're booked, the date is locked. Canceling a confirmed booking is serious and should only happen in a genuine emergency. Always communicate with Sprout immediately if something comes up.
Fitting
A fitting is a separate appointment before the shoot where wardrobe is selected and sized. Fittings are part of the job — they are not optional. Arrive on time, bring the same undergarments or shoes you'd wear on set, and be cooperative with the stylist.
Shoot Date
The actual day of the job. Arrive on time — or early. Come prepared with your call time, location, and any instructions Sprout has shared. Be professional, flexible, and easy to work with. Sets run on tight schedules.
Local Hire
A local hire booking means the client expects you to provide your own transportation to the location. No travel expenses are covered. These are typically jobs within a reasonable distance of your home market.
Travel
Some bookings require travel. When travel is involved, the client typically covers transportation and accommodations. Sprout will share all travel details in advance. Travel bookings often come with additional paperwork and logistics — stay responsive and organized.
Fittings Before Confirmation
Some clients request a fitting before they confirm bookings. If you're invited to a fitting in this situation, it means your child is being seriously considered, but it is not a confirmed booking. Attending a fitting does not guarantee your child will be booked for the shoot. Treat the fitting date as a real commitment, and wait for written confirmation from Sprout before considering the job booked.
Released
If a client decides not to move forward after placing your child on hold, we'll let you know they've been 'released.' The date is yours again and you're free to book elsewhere. Releases are a normal, frequent part of this industry — they are not a reflection of your child.
When in doubt, ask.
If you're unsure whether a date is held, confirmed, or released — ask Sprout before making other plans. It's always better to check than to create a conflict.