Be a Kid Actor

Have you been bitten by the acting bug? Even as a child, it's possible to pursue a career as an actor. However, you do need quite a bit of help along the way. If you truly devote yourself to the craft of acting, though, you'll be ready for the challenges ahead.

Steps

Getting Started

  1. Talk to your parents. If you’re under 18, you won’t be able to work as an actor without your parents’ permission, so it’s important to get them on board with your plans. Explain how much you enjoy acting, so they understand that it’s something you’re extremely passionate about. You may also need to reassure them that you won’t neglect your other responsibilities, such as school and chores, just because you’re pursuing acting.[1]
    • Don’t tell your parents that you want to become an actor just because you want to be famous or rich. Have some good reasons ready, such as you love telling stories or have fun creating characters, so they’ll take you seriously.
  2. Take acting classes. While you may have natural talent, it always helps to hone your skills, so you’re well-prepared when you start to go on auditions. A school drama class is a good place to start, but specialized classes and workshops in specific acting areas, such as commercial acting or acting for the camera, are more impressive to list on your resume.[2]
    • If you don’t have time during the school year to take acting classes, a summer drama camp may be a good alternative.
    • If you want personalized acting instruction, you might talk to your parents about hiring an acting coach who can work with you one-on-one to improve your skills.
  3. Get some experience. While you probably won’t be able to get a professional acting job right out of the gate, you’ll want potential agents and casting directors to know that you have experience performing. Look for local opportunities to act (such as school plays, regional theater, and student films) so you have some roles to put on your resume.[3]
    • Try to play a large variety of types of roles. Doing so will it give you an opportunity to stretch your acting skills and will also showcase your impressive acting range to casting directors.

Making Connections

  1. Get headshots. When you go to meet with potential agents and casting directors, you’ll need to provide a photo. They must be professional photos, though, so you should go to a photographer who specializes in taking photos of children and teens. Make sure to ask for both commercial and theatrical headshots, so you’re ready for both advertising work and film, television, and theater opportunities.[3]
    • It’s important to choose the right photographer for your headshots. Ask for recommendations if you have friends or acquaintances in the acting field. Otherwise, visit websites for photographers in your area, and study their online portfolios to get an idea of the quality of their work.
  2. Find an agent. While you may be able to book some small acting jobs with just your parents’ help, having an agent is crucial if you really want to build a successful acting career. Not only will an agent know the ins and outs of the business so they can guide you in the right direction, they’ll have connections with casting directors and producers that make it easier to get auditions.[3]
    • To find an agent, research the top talent agencies in your area. You want to make sure that you’re working with a reputable agent, who doesn’t ask for any money upfront.
    • Many talent agencies allow you to apply online. However, it’s a good idea to meet with a potential agent in person before you and your parents commit to working with them.
    • If you live in a rural area where it's difficult to find an agent, that doesn't mean you can't act. It just means that you need to look for work through trade publications, such as Backstage, and online casting sites, so you can identify local acting opportunities.
    • In some cases, agents won't take you on as a client until you have some professional acting credits to your name. You may want to find a few jobs on your own (or with your parents' help) before trying to land an agent.
  3. Get a work permit. If you’re under 18, many states require a permit to work in the entertainment industry. For example, California and New York, where many acting opportunities are available, have specific requirements that regulate how child actors may be used. Your agent should know the laws in your state, but you can also visit your state’s labor department website to find out if you need a permit in your state.[4]
    • In most cases, a form is required to get a work permit. You’ll need to provide parental consent, as well as other information depending on the state. Your health and school records are usually required.
  4. Join online casting sites. While your agent will be on the lookout for acting opportunities that fit your skills, you can also do some research yourself. Sites such as Casting Frontier, Actors Access, and L.A. Casting provide casting and audition information for projects that are currently in the process of filling roles. You can usually submit yourself for consideration directly, but it’s a good idea to discuss potential roles with your agent.[3]
    • These sites usually charge a fee, so you’ll need to discuss joining them with your parents.
  5. Create a YouTube account. Whether you have an agent or not, it's important to find as many ways to market yourself as an actor as possible, especially if you don't live in L.A. or New York, where most acting opportunities are. Make videos for YouTube that demonstrate your acting skills -- there's no guarantee casting directors or agents will see your videos, but you never know when one will go viral.
    • Videos of school play and regional theater performances are ideal content for your YouTube channel. Local commercials or TV appearances are also a good idea because agents or casting directors outside your area probably haven't seen them.
    • If you're feeling creative, you can also post original short films that help showcase your acting ability.

Going on Auditions

  1. Prepare a monologue. While most auditions will have a specific scene or group of scenes that you are required to perform, you may sometimes be asked to come up with your own material. That’s why it’s a good idea to work on a monologue or two, so you’ll always be ready when an audition comes up. Make sure to choose a piece that really allows you to showcase your acting skills.[2]
    • If you’re not sure what monologue(s) to prepare, consider some of your favorite movies -- there’s bound to be a piece in one of them that will work.
    • It’s usually best to choose an age-appropriate monologue. If possible, find one that’s delivered by character who’s as close to you in age as possible.
  2. Study the script or sides. In many cases, the casting company will send you a script or “sides,” which are just the portion of the script that pertain to the character that you’re reading for, in advance of the audition. Don’t just glance at your lines a couple of times to try memorize them -- make an effort to understand the character and figure out the best way to play the scene.[5]
    • Many casting directors won’t mind if you hold your script or sides during your audition. However, it’s best if you don’t read directly from it. Instead, just glance at it occasionally to remind yourself of the lines.
  3. Treat it like work. If you really want an acting career, you must take every audition seriously. While you may not have a job yet, you should act like a professional, so the casting director is comfortable working with you. That means being open to any suggestions that he or she might make and being willing to do the scene several times to get it right.[5]
    • Make sure to project confidence during your audition. If you don’t believe that you’re good enough for the part, the casting director probably won’t either.
  4. Don’t get discouraged. Acting is an extremely competitive business, even for children. As a result, you’re probably going to go on many auditions that don’t end in a job -- but that doesn’t mean you should lose faith in your skills as an actor. As with most things, practice makes perfect, so the more you audition, the better you’ll become at impressing casting directors.[5]
    • If you realize at some point that you’re no longer having fun pursuing an acting career, talk to your parents. You shouldn’t keep at it if it only makes you feel bad about yourself.

Tips

  • Remember that acting is just a job. You should still maintain other hobbies and interests outside of your career, and make time for friends and family.
  • Always practice your craft, even if it’s just reciting lines at home in front of family and friends. It will help you be more comfortable and confident at auditions.
  • If you’re having trouble tapping into the emotions of a character that you’re auditioning for, try to remember a time in your life when you felt the same things -- or just put yourself in their place. For example, if you’re playing a character who just lost a dog, imagine how you would feel if you lost your pet.
  • When you go to acting camp, it might be really hard, so you have to put effort into it if you really what to be an actor.
  • Only become an actor if you have a real passion for it, not just because you want to become a star.

Warnings

  • It's important to remember that the entertainment industry is extremely competitive. Many adults and children try to make it as actors, but it doesn't work out as a long-term career for most of them. Pursue acting because you love it, not because you're counting on it to become a star.
  • Acting may seem like a glamorous profession, but it also involves a lot of hard work. Make sure that you’re really ready to commit yourself to the job.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/casting-director-note/right-reasons/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.ace-your-audition.com/become-a-child-actor.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://hollywoodmomblog.com/how-to-become-a-child-actor/
  4. ↑ https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/childentertain.htm
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2008/12/10-audition-tips-for-actors.html
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