Want to get your kid into acting or modeling? Here are 5 basic first steps.
If your child has expressed interest in acting and modeling, there are a few avenues you can pursue to get you started!
Before you dive in, it’s good to be clear on your intentions and to manage your expectations.
Has your child been asking you about it, and you figure, hey, why not try it out? Are you hoping it would be a great way to boost their confidence and self-esteem?
Does your child have a sparkling personality and sense of humor and you think acting could be a great way to channel their natural awesomeness? Does everyone tell you they’re just so dang cute they should get into modeling?
Was it something you always desired and never got a chance to pursue and you’d love to give that opportunity to your kid? Do you think it would be a great hobby? Or make a wonderful potential future career?
Get clear on why you’re interested in investing your time, money, and energy in this potential hobby or career path.
In regards to managing expectations, if you’re hoping to pursue the entertainment industry as a career path, know that patience and persistence are key.
It can take time to get awesome marketing materials, find good representation, network with casting directors, and book jobs on a consistent basis. If you’re in for the long haul, be patient with your child. Every class they go to, every audition they show up for, every job they book, they’ll keep growing as a performer and professional.
Have persistence through the rejection, because it’s evident and will happen.
When I was 11 years old, I booked the first commercial audition I ever went out on and then didn’t book another job for almost a year. In the meantime, I starred in plays, was writing my own scripts in my bedroom, read every play I could, and was taking classes pretty much every weekend.
Expect consistent bookings and success to take some time. Expect there to be a monetary investment, as well as an investment of your time. Expect there to be rejection and success, sometimes within the same day. And expect to have a ton of dang fun. This is an industry built on storytelling, and there’s nothing more fun than getting to be a part of the story.
1.) Get them into classes and start training
There are tons of great online acting and modeling classes that are accessible to you no matter where you live. Even if you live in a small suburb or rural town, you’d be surprised at the accessibility to decent in-person training your kids can receive.
Getting your children involved in classes as the first step you take is good for a few reasons:
-It gives them valuable experience and training
-It will boost their confidence and get them out of their shell
-It’ll be a quick indicator if your child likes acting or modeling, or if it doesn’t tickle their fancy.
Continued training is the key to forming a career, and maintaining it once you’re established it. If you do choose to pursue this as a career, it’s unlikely you’ll be auditioning or on-set every day, or maybe not on a weekly basis. Classes are a way to sharpen your skills and constantly be adding to your toolbox.
2.) Sign up to participate in local theater
Local theater is a great addition to classes to gain stage presence and experience. Not to mention, you get to work with a bunch of other amazing kids who are interested in the same thing your kid is! It’s also something you can add to your child’s resume once they need one.
From here, if your child loves the classes they’re taking and are excited to show up, work on their material, and are showing a genuine interest in continuing to learn and grow as a performer – you can start pursuing professional options to get them involved in the entrainment industry.
If your child does not like the classes they are taking and are showing up to please you or because you’re insisting, they will not be able to make the transition to working as a professional. It’s obvious to casting directors, producers, and directors if a child is not interested. It will radiate out of them and affect how they are showing up to work.
Even if your child books a few jobs without being fully interested, it will not be sustainable and will be a costly endeavor. So if your child is still on the fence, either keep them in classes and see if they develop a love for it, or pause and evaluate if you should continue investing. Also, if they change their mind (because they’re kids and they tend to do that sometimes), the entertainment industry isn’t going anywhere and you can always pursue it at a later date.
3.) Get marketing materials
****Side-Note: Some representation doesn’t require you to send professional marketing materials when you submit to them, however, your marketing materials act as your business card. They are your pitching materials to casting directors. They are what gets you in the door to audition. They could make or break if you even get an opportunity to be considered for the job. It’s up to you if you would like to start submitting to representation with or without professional pictures if they allow it and before you make the investment to get headshots. But know, whether you get marketing materials now or later, they are a necessary investment that you’ll need to make.
In most cities, you can find at least a few decent photographers. For actors, you will need a great headshot. And models, you will need a stellar comp card. If you live in a smaller regional market, they tend to have a lot of commercial and commercial print work, so getting both commercial print shots that can be used on a comp card and an actor’s headshot might be something to think about.
It’s important when selecting a photographer to not just pick anyone who has a professional camera and likes to take pictures… the photographer you select should specifically be doing business as a headshot or commercial print photographer and have a deep understanding of what is required of those types of photoshoots.
Below are a few examples of the caliber of photographers you should be looking for in your regional area. I am not recommending or suggesting you go to these photographers, I’m simply using them as an example.
4.) Submit to regional representation
If you live within a few hours of a major city with a regional market, you can submit to agencies and get representation for your child. Your child’s agent will work on their behalf to submit their marketing materials on different job breakdowns if they fit what’s being cast.
I created five different resource books cornering different regions of the country to help ease your process of submitting to representation in regional markets.
When submitting to representation, it’s important to follow the guidelines listed in my book, or on their website, closely. Your submission to them is their first impression of you. They want to make sure you can follow simple directions, considering if they sign you, they will be getting you auditions and work, which will require you to show up on time and prepared. It’s their first test to see if they can trust your ability to take directions moving forward.
5.) Set up profiles on casting sites like Actors Access and Backstage
If you end up signing with representation, they’ll most likely have you get an Actors Access, Casting Frontier, or Casting Networks account, but you can sign up for one even without having representation and start submitting yourself to different castings. It’s a necessary resource to try to get your own auditions, which means creating your networking opportunities and ability to get work.
***There is a cost to joining any of these casting websites. If you want to sign up for Actors Access, get the Actors Access Plus option It’s a yearly fee that allows you to submit to as many projects as you want throughout the year.
Backstage is another great resource for new actors or models starting out. They not only have casting opportunities but a ton of great articles and resources that offer guidance.
These are the first basic steps to take to get your child integrated into acting and modeling and to introduce them into the professional marketplace.
Being a young actor, or the parent of a young actor can be exciting and challenging! Not knowing where to invest your time, money, and resources or what the next best step is. If you could use some help creating a roadmap of next steps and one-on-one advice, book an online strategy session with me. In just one session you’ll leave with more clarity and confidence.
Not sure if a strategy session is right for you? Book your free 30-minute consultation call. I’d love to chat about where you’re currently at, where you’re looking to go next in your journey, and how I could help you in the process.
