For more than 30 years, I’ve worked with young actors and found that many of them fall victim to the same simple mistakes. Talented children are regularly passed over in auditions because of bad habits that parents sometimes don’t even notice. I think we have already established that the business of show business is hard. There are so many factors that already have to line up in order to book a job. Don’t let anything that is perfectly avoidable be the reason that your child isn’t able to get cast.
A lot of times people are so focused on the end goal of being on Disney or Nickelodeon or Broadway that they forget all of the steps that go into making that happen. Like I have said before, this is a job, that is if you’re going to pursue it professionally. It is not something that happens overnight or is just luck. You have to work hard at it and you have to be smart about how you work at it. So I am going to lay out some of the small mistakes that often happen with young actors or actors who are just starting out.
If you’re on the lookout for these common mistakes and can fix them, you might find your child getting more attention in the audition room. Here are seven mistakes you can help your kid avoid.
1. Not memorizing the script.
One big mistake I see is kids keeping their faces buried in their scripts, which makes it impossible to make a connection with their scene partner or audience. We want to listen to actors because of the human connection they create. I mean after all, that’s exactly what theatre and film is about, the way we interact with other people- recreating stories and life on stage or in tv and film. When lines are memorized and young actors don’t have to think about what line comes next, they can really listen and develop connections.
If casting directors, producers, and the creative team are distracted by all of the paper that your child is holding and they don’t even get the opportunity to see how talented your child is, you unfortunately leave them with no choice but to pass over your child and go another direction.
Especially with very young actors, reading can be a challenge that gets in the way of authentic performances. If they memorize the lines beforehand, they can focus more on the scene than on pronouncing the words. Plus, during TV and film auditions, casting directors expect actors to have the scripts memorized so that they can look directly into the camera instead of at a piece of paper. I know this seems like a lot of work, especially when you are first starting out, but the good news is that it only gets easier. This has to be the number one mistake I see-- don’t let it happen to you!
2. Asking how to say a line.
No line readings! If you’ve heard of the great acting teacher Sanford Meisner, then you know that his definition of acting is “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” A child actor can only give a genuine performance when they know what a character wants and what motivates them to achieve that desire. Casting directors want to see children being themselves. When we tell them how to say a line, we aren’t letting them find their truth and create a compelling audition. That goes for parents as well! When you are coaching and filming auditions with your kids, be careful to not give them examples of “the right way” or “how a line should be read.”
Your child actor is talented, that’s why you started doing this to begin with right? Trust them and their instincts. You have to allow them to fail in order for them to grow.
The more the do it, the more understanding they will have in how to understand a scene along with a natural cadence for how things should be read. But let them develop their artistry, don’t stifle it because of how YOU interpret the scene, they are the ones on camera, so let them be the ones make the creative decisions.
Now, don’t confuse what I am saying with helping provide support and advice during an audition. A lot of times actors will be coached during auditions, and this is different than a line reading. Asking questions about intention and different elements of the scene such as objective is instrumental to a good tape. These are things that your child should already be thinking about before putting something on tape, but if you see them struggling, ask questions about why the character is responding a certain way or what their relationship is with the other people in the scene. Fleshing out the given circumstances and what the character wants in a scene will be far more useful not only to the individual audition but to your child’s growth as an actor as well!
3. Not making a choice.
Watching an actor stand and recite lines is boring and ineffective. The difference between a mediocre scene and a standout audition isthe intention your child puts behind the lines. What do they want to achieve in this moment? Why are they saying this line now? When they can make choices, they will be able to commit to making the scene their own. Understanding the character’s point of view will help them to make their scene specific, not general.
On this same note, don’t let your child just stand there and recite lines into the camera. First of all, unless given strict direction, your child should never look directly into the camera, it should always be just slightly off to either side. Acting imitates life and there should always be a life and movement to your auditions as well.
Challenging your young actor to make choices that encourage them to move will help loosen them up and make the scene better overall. Don’t let the fact that it is an “audition” or you are in front of a camera distract you from being natural and genuine. If your character starts off camera, walk into frame at the top of the scene. If they exit in the middle of the scene and come back, do that. If they’re reaching off camera for something, set it up so your child is able to do that. Very rarely should your self tape consist of you standing there and reciting lines. Do something. Anything that opens up your character and gets your young actor into their character instead of their head.
4. Second guessing themselves.
Your child should trust themselves enough to make choices. Some actors get very nervous and question everything while they’re performing, including if they’re moving right, speaking correctly, are entertaining or boring, or if they’re even worthy of the part. All of this mind chatter will prevent them from listening to their partner or reader. When they second guess themselves and their talent, the noise in their head gets in the way of connecting with character and desire.
Help your child build confidence so that their talent can shine through! Something I hear over and over again from my colleagues is that more than anything, they just want to see the uniqueness that is your child. They are enough.
They shouldn’t be worried about trying to be who they thing the casting director or production team wants them to be… in fact it will prevent them from getting more jobs than not. Many times, casting directors can see right through a “put on” personality and that will never be someone they can hire for a project. They want you. You are enough, and the earlier young actors trust that, the more projects they will end up booking.
Nobody wants to watch a character be “the way they should be played,” they want to see a human being reacting and existing and the only way for an actor to do that is to be completely and 100% their unique and genuine self. You can encourage your actor to do this by not giving them line readings or telling them exactly what to do during an audition, but instead asking them questions that provoke a conversation about their character to get their creative juices flowing. The more understanding an actor has of their character, the more informed their choices are going to be surrounding that character and the less concerned they are going to be with portraying something “the right” way.
5. Showing up late.
A child may be young, but they should still be professional. Remember, they’re working in an industry and they need to be respectful of other people’s time. Punctuality demonstrates that they can handle the responsibilities of a working environment and will reflect well on them with casting and others. Make sure your child understands the importance of showing up on time and being prepared. As the saying games, early is on time and on time is late and late is unacceptable. This is an industry with tight deadlines and every minute counts. You don’t want to be known as the person that hold up production or rehearsals because you are always running five minutes late. This will be a hard roadblock to overcome if that becomes your repudiation. Time is money in this industry and producers will not want to hire someone who wastes theirs. This is perhaps one of the easiest things to prevent so make sure you are setting yourself up for success. Always arrive at least fifteen minutes early. Even with 15 minutes you will have time to compose yourself and gather your thoughts prior to the audition instead of running in by the seat of your pants being unfocused and scattered.
6. Bringing the whole family to auditions.
Nothing spells unprofessional like every sibling, uncle, and cousin showing up to an audition. It can make a child nervous before they audition, it makes the waiting room crowded, and it can be a nightmare for the creative team running the audition. Young actors show maturity and perform best when they don’t have an entourage. We know you are proud of your young actor or maybe even curious about what the audition is like, but remain professional. Just like a normal job interview, an audition is an interview, you would never bring a whole gaggle of people to a job interview so show the same amount of respect for your child’s audition. Additionally, many times the studios that auditions are held in are very very small and can’t accommodate additional people into the room. It also goes without saying that if you are able, you can always ask to be in the room with your child if that makes them more comfortable or you are concerned about their safety, but it really should just be one person and definitely not a group or anyone who is going to be distracting during an audition such as a friend or a sibling.
7. Skimping on training.
Even if a young actor has a great look and a great personality, they require training to succeed. Just like with sports or music, acting involves skill. Instruction in voice, speech, movement, technique, and even business savvy will not only improve an actors’ skills, but give them the confidence needed to get hired and give an excellent performance.
Be on the lookout for these mistakes so that you can help your child develop their skills, confidence, and attitude. A few simple tweaks can make the difference between getting passed over and winning roles. If you have learned one thing from my podcast, it is how instrumental good training is for an actor’s career. Nothing can replace it and nothing will service an actor more. Find good coaches that you trust and who come highly recommended and never stop taking lessons or masterclasses or classes from them. This is probably the most important thing you can do as a young actor. Rely on the work and expertise of experts. When you want to become a doctor, you aren’t just thrown into a patient's room and expected to know how to do everything, you learn from and observe great teachers and professors who teach you how to be a fantastic doctor, it is the same with acting, learn from and observe great professionals to become a great actor.
This business is all about learning. Learning the skills to become better at your job, learning your process, and learning how to interact with the other people in the industry, but everything we talked about today is a great starting place. If you can tackle some of these hurdles at the beginning of a child’s career, you are going to be way ahead of the game!
