How do you tell your parents that you want to be an actor? You may be worried you’re disappointing them because you aren’t going to take over the family business or become the doctor they want you to be. But have some faith. When you’re following a path you’re passionate about, your parents will do anything they can to support you. That said, there are still a few things you can do to alleviate their stress at knowing you want to start an acting career. Here are some tips if you’re wondering how to convince your parents to let you be an actor.
1. Have a family discussion.
Pursuing an acting career is a big commitment and one that parents and children alike need to be 100% committed to. From headshots to auditions and even just providing emotional support, your parents will play a large role in making sure you can effectively navigate the industry. Because of this, it’s important that you give them the time to ask questions and voice their thoughts. Sit them down and take some time without phones or electronics to really connect with them and make sure you’re on the same page. Siblings should be included as well, though it may be helpful to discuss with parents before bringing little ones into the mix. Make sure you give your parents space to give their opinions too, so everyone can embark on this journey as a cohesive unit.
2. Explain the why.
If your reason for pursuing acting is that you want fame and fortune, you may want to rethink your motives. If you use acting as an outlet for your creativity and truly enjoy doing the work to understand a character and pursue a career, let your parents know that. As a mom myself, I know that parents will do anything to support their children when they recognize genuine passion. Explaining why you want to be an actor, rather than what will happen after you’ve become an actor, is a great place to start to show your parents that this won’t be a phase you give up on when you get a PS5.
3. Help them learn about the industry.
Unless you were raised in the entertainment industry, chances are your parents don’t know much about it. They probably have a lot of misconceptions that make them worry about your well being as an actor, like acting will cause you to neglect your education or will irreparably damage your self-esteem. The best thing you can do is answer these questions as they come and do some research ahead of time to show that you understand the serious implications of pursuing an acting career. The truth is that even if you don’t end up acting as an adult, the experience can help build self-esteem, teach you to cope with rejection, learn transferable skills, and even help during the college search process. I’ve had students go on to study at prestigious universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Doing a bit of light reading ahead of time is the best way to guide them into the industry with you.
4. Ask for support.
Your parents are going to be important when you begin navigating this difficult industry. Having a strong support network at home is great for young actors, especially when they begin facing rejection. Make sure your parents understand what you hope to get out of being an actor and ask them if they’re willing to help you along your journey. Whether they’re able to drive you to auditions or just offer emotional support, having them there to back you up will be a great asset along the way.
5. Take action.
After you’ve sat your parents down, it’s good to take action to let them know you’re serious about pursuing acting as a career. Find auditions (Backstage is a great place to start), get in touch with an acting coach, or start finding scenes you like to make a reel. A lot of young actors think that you need an agent or manager to get started in the business but that’s not true. As long as you’re willing to put the work in, there are plenty of opportunities for you to show your passion, and that passion will be infectious. It’s important that you still ask your parents for assistance before you reach out to any contacts, but by finding these opportunities and showing them to your parents, you’re doing the work to assure them that you have what it takes to be an actor.
Talking to your parents about your passion isn’t really that hard once you start. The most difficult part is taking the first step and beginning the conversation. Once you’ve done that, you can bet your parents will do what they can to guide you and become your biggest cheerleader.
