One of the scariest things about going into this industry is finding the right people to be a part of your child’s team. I’ve talked a little bit about finding the right people to represent your child’s career, but just as important, maybe even more important is finding the right people to train and teach them. Today I will discuss how to find the best training for your child actor and red flags for scammy teachers online.
First and foremost, I cannot stress enough how important training is for actors of all levels and experience. Whether you’ve been in countless classes or you are just getting started, the most important thing is that you are in a class.
Recently, I spoke with one of my colleagues who is a manager in the business and they said that they don’t even consider repping a child if they aren’t CURRENTLY in a class. That is not abnormal.
It is a ton of work for managers to pitch young, up and coming talent to casting directors, producers, and networks so for them to know that the actor is also doing their job of continuing their education. And it is exactly that. This is a business and the actor’s job is to make sure they have updated footage and reels and headshots and resumes, but to also be sure they are TAKING CLASSES.
I have worked with child actors for years, and the ones that I see the most success in are the ones who are constantly involved in classes whether that be a training program or workshops or showcases.
Additional benefits to taking classes include:
Confidence building- if you are constantly presenting material in a class setting, you are only going to get better at reading out loud, and making adjustments on the fly.
2. Networking- your teachers are your biggest advocates. That’s why it is so important to find the right ones! I say this over and over that I take great pride in recommending my clients to my colleagues for representation. Your teacher should be well connected and liked in the industry so they can send you lists of agents and managers to reach out to as well as pitch you to them as well.
3. Combating Habits- When you are in consistent training, the teacher will start to get to know you on a deeper level then one off classes or masterclasses. When a teacher sees you over a longer period of time, they are able to catch your habits or tendencies that you fall into. It is so important to have someone look out for those and give you the tools to get rid of them so that you don’t fall into common actor pitfalls in your auditions.
4. Interacting with your peers- As important as it is to network with current industry professionals, it is just as important to network with your peers. I always say, your peers are the ones that are going to cast you in projects in the future. You never know when you are in a class with the next big name in casting, directing, or producing. It is the actor’s job to network throughout the entire industry. In fact, when you meet with agents and managers they will want to know who you are connected with so they will have an easier time pitching you to projects that those people are working on.
5. Class is where you fail. If you never fail, then you are never going to take a risk and then you will never continue to grow. Many people are afraid of failing. I understand that. Class is a safe place to do that. Not in the audition room. Not during performance but in the classroom where you are allowed the space to see what you need to work on and receive feedback.
With all of the information available to us online, it is incredibly easy to find training programs, unfortunately it is also very easy for people to scam you out of a lot of money for advertising to be a training program that they are not. I have seen these countless times, and it is honestly discouraging. But I want to be sure to give you some fail proof ways to distinguish legitimate programs from ones that are not.
Know their credibility. Any teacher that is worth their weight, is going to be connected with reputable industry professionals. Reach out to people you know and see if they have experience working with the teacher in question or if they have heard anything about them.
Research their students. Do they have any students who have worked on any major projects. A teacher’s best resume are their students. If they have students who are working in the business, especially working consistently in the business then they are probably a great resource for your child as well. Talk with other parents and actors in the business as well and see who they recommend. Word of mouth has always been the best form of marketing for people in the entertainment business because it is also the best way to find vetted professionals.
Beware of large promises and dollar signs. Anyone who is guaranteeing you results should be avoided. I see this all of the time. There are so many teachers who promote that if you buy their training guide or sign up for their program that you are guaranteed to sign with representation or booking your first big professional gig. This will never be true. The industry is so finicky that it is absolutely impossible for anyone to guarantee you success.
Know the difference between someone believing in you and guaranteeing success.
Many times, after an initial meeting, a teacher will be able to assess a child’s natural ability or their “it” factor if you will. They will be able to give you an honest assessment of your child’s skills and potentially their current and future marketability in the industry. HOWEVER… if they make grand promises of immediate jobs or success or fame, run! These people are not worth your time OR your money, trust me. They understand the entertainment training market and they understand marketing, beyond that they more than likely don’t understand the first thing about acting. Nobody can be sure how a child or anyone is going to measure up in the industry. Sure, we can have good feelings and assess natural skill, but it is a changing industry where something can be in one day and out the next so being able to guarantee a certain thing is never the case. People who promote that are not worth your time
Beware of over optimism. Look, of course we need positive and resilient influences in children’s lives, but when people hide behind optimistic messaging, it is another sign that this is probably not the right coach for you. Oftentimes these people are more focused on making a quick dollar instead of actually growing your child’s career. Just like the people who promise immediate success, they don’t actually know what they are talking about and instead want to prey on your naivety.
The anonymous teacher. If there is a training program where you are watching a bunch of pre-recorded videos or sessions, this is not real training. Acting training is not like traditional school or classwork, it is very hands-on and involved. If you are watching these videos and never interact with an actual teacher, your child will learn nothing. You want a teacher who is engaged on a zoom call or working with you one on one in the classroom.
The bottom line with finding great training for your child actor is to do your research. If you spend some time online and discussing with other parents or trusted industry professionals in your circle, you will find that it is not as hard as you might have imagined to find great teachers whether that be online or in person
I can’t stress enough that if you pursue acting professionally…it requires constant work and effort. It requires research and due diligence.
Networking and maintaining relationships is perhaps the most important element of this business and that comes more from training and classes then it does from anywhere else. Whether it is a showcase or that the teacher is casting a project that you would be perfect for, you have to be prepared to showcase your best self in class work just as much as auditions.
