6 Things Every Child Actor Needs to Begin a Career, According to an Acting Coach

Your child has a burning passion for acting and performance, and you have taken the leap into the wonderful world of show business. Congratulations! This is an exciting time for you and your child, as well as a busy one. There are many things you can do to help your child prepare for a professional acting career. As a young performer’s manager and acting coach for over 30 years, here are my recommendations of six things you need to get started.

Headshots
Good headshots are essential for your child’s career. A headshot is your child’s business card. It is a casting director’s first impression and a way for your performer to get his or her foot in the door. Initially, parents need not spend money on headshots for children. A good candid photo will be sufficient for an initial interview. However, once your child progresses in his or her career, a professional headshot is essential. Headshots should be a natural representation of your child—a picture that shows their personality. Be sure to find a photographer who has worked with children and photographs in an environment that is compatible with what you want.

Résumé
A résumé provides casting directors with your child’s range of experience. It can be an indicator of your child’s type, which can help him or her land jobs. A résumé is not just a list of acting credits, it is also a place for your child to highlight special skills such as dance, dialects, and sports, as well as acting training. The résumé should be laid out simply in columns, making it easy to read. Do not include your home phone number or an address; instead, provide a cellphone contact. There is also no need to mention your child’s age or age range, as this is limiting.

Demo Reel
While this isn’t essential for a beginning acting career, it can help. A demo reel provides an image of your child’s presence, how they look on film, and his or her acting ability. It is a bonus for casting directors, as they can gain a sense of your child’s personality.

Audition Materials
Just as headshots are your child’s business cards, audition materials such as monologues and songs are the portfolio. Your child should have two short, contrasting monologues memorized that he or she feels comfortable performing in auditions or interviews. If your child sings, they should also have 16 bars of a song performance-ready. A personal connection to the monologue and song is an opportunity to show authenticity and skills, as well as a range of diversity.

Training
Training is an essential element to your child’s acting career. This is a competitive business where luck, talent, and opportunity meet. Having the right look for a role is key, but talent is what wins out. In my professional opinion, a combination of weekly group classes, workshops, and private coaching is the best training regimen for your child’s artistic growth.

Supportive Family
All of the elements I have discussed are important to your child’s acting career, but none so much as having familial support. Professional acting is a full-time job and it requires support and encouragement from everyone. Rejection is a large part of the entertainment industry; with every success your child experiences, multiple failures precede it. Acting takes a remarkable amount of courage and determination. It’s an industry in which you need to believe wholeheartedly in your abilities as a performer. In order for your child to succeed, you must take a leap of faith as a family and encourage each other on this fantastic journey.

Be a Mentor (Not a Coach) for Your Young Performer

In my years as a talent manager and acting coach for young performers, the one thing I have seen all too many times is the parent-coach. The parent-coach, sometimes known as the “stage mom,” is an all too common occurrence in the world of young performers. Instead of leaving the lessons to the professionals, the parent-coach takes on the role of acting, voice, and dance teacher all in one stroke, and usually with no formal training. The entertainment industry is a tough one, especially for a child. As a parent, you want to support your child, not lead them astray. Instead of being a parent-coach, think about becoming a parent-mentor instead.

Beware the over-coached child. I have seen countless young performers come to lessons with me already having “learned” their scene. They’ve practiced it with their parent beforehand who has given them direction. Oftentimes parent-coaches instruct their child to practice in front of the mirror. The results are disastrous. How can a child explore her emotional connection to her scene partner? How can he stay focused on being in the moment when he is distracted by his reflection? When I see this, I usually have to spend hours deconstructing a child’s bad habits, enabling them to get to the “truth” of their scene. This is not unique to my coaching sessions. The over-coached child is a casting director’s worst nightmare. Casting professionals can spot it in a second, and it usually ends with your child’s résumé in the “no” pile. They are looking for children who are unique, who have passions, who are real kids. Don’t hinder your child’s abilities by espousing your own ideas. Instead, help your child by entrusting them in the care of a skilled professional.

Keep calm in the waiting room. Everybody knows that the waiting room can be one of the most stressful parts of an audition. There you two are, sitting with your child’s competition. It’s this stressful situation that many times sparks the inner parent-coach to life. Shoving last-minute tips and tricks down your child’s throat, telling them to remember to smile and sit up straight, to not forget that line, or to look sad at the end of the scene—these are all typical instances of the audition advice. While they are well-intentioned, it is usually a recipe for an over-coached and stressed out child. Instead of reminding them about all the little things, talk to them about their day, put their mind at ease, support them by reaffirming their abilities, and tell them to have fun. That’s why they’re doing this! Remind them of that passion while giving them confidence in their strengths.

Become a mentor. An acting coach’s job is to instruct young performers. They divulge a curriculum and work with students to gain a new understanding through practice and performance. They take their students on a journey of self-discovery. As tempting as it can be to jump in with extra help, leave this to the professionals. Personally, I have not studied auto mechanics, so when my daughter’s car breaks down, I don’t try and fix it myself. I go to a skilled professional. If you, as a parent, do not have a performance background, leave the training to the professionals. Instead, be your child’s mentor. Find her the right teachers; drive him to his rehearsals; support him through his struggles; and celebrate her successes. You are your child’s biggest advocate. Use your power as a parent to help her grow and flourish in what can be a wonderful but also ruthless industry. You will cherish new aspects of your relationship with your child and you will be surprised what you learn about yourself in the process.

4 Tips to Determine If Your Child Is Ready for Pilot Season

Just two months ’til Christmas—Santa, bring me just a little part on Nick, please? If this is your young actor, you may be starting to wonder if this is the year to venture out to L.A. for pilot season. 

A pilot season article in October may seem premature, but it is most definitely not when you are talking about young actors. The decision to embark is immensely disruptive and should not be taken lightly. Parents pull their kids out of school, put their personal and marital lives on hold, interrupt their careers, and put an enormous strain on family finances. 

It is in childhood where the cold reality of show business often stings the most. The fact is that young actors between the ages of 7 and 12 are at their peak of marketability. Teen actors often find their professional careers squeezed by 18 year olds who can play younger. With the clock ticking and a commitment to supporting their child’s dream, many parents embark before their young actor is ready. 

Here are some tips to see if your child is ready for the bright lights of Hollywood.

1. Desire. A prerequisite to all other factors is the child’s desire and determination to pursue acting above attending school, birthday parties, other extracurricular activities, and the security of daily family life. Give strong consideration to any sign that this is not the case. 

2. Experience. Adult actors often perform best when they are living a full life, have been training for years, and are financially stable. It is much different for young actors. Casting directors want unpretentious, real, down to earth kids that can also deal with the very adult demands of film and television production. National tours and years of experience are not necessary; however, some perspective on the business is. If your child has had few professional auditions or local acting opportunities, it is not the year to go. 

3. Second opinion. There is often a fine line between encouraging your child to take risks and setting them up for failure. Pilot season is one of those times where this maxim is true. If this is the year you might take the leap, leap first in these autumn months to New York or LA and speak to an unbiased advisor for advice and guidance. Readiness is about more than talent. It is also about the child’s marketability, maturity, and disposition, as well as the parent’s readiness. An advisor who has experience with the business of show business for young actors as well as the experience to assess talent in young actors will provide you with an invaluable perspective. 

4. Representation. Pilot season is about getting face time with casting directors for opportunities you might not get elsewhere. Representation is a must because unsigned actors rarely get enough opportunities alone or find an agent that will sign them during the busy months of pilot season. If your child is ready in all other respects, look for an agent or manager now who will promote you when you get to the West Coast—even if it means passing on pilot season for this year. 

Here is the fine print: Many young actors make the pilgrimage, but for reasons that are often completely unrelated to talent, few get substantial roles. With that in mind, I recommend that you focus on your child’s readiness and not the tick-tock of the clock. Young actors who are truly ready can deal with the ups and downs of the business and still come out of pilot season with the same enthusiasm as when they entered it—regardless of the number of jobs booked. I would love to start a conversation and hear about your pilot season experiences so please leave a comment and share!

Gaining Industry Attention for Your Child

Parents write to me all the time asking advice on how their child can get noticed in the business. One mom writes, “I have sent my child’s photos around and have gotten no response.” Another asks, “How do I get an audition for my child if he has no representation?” Much has been written on this subject, and after many years in the business working with child performers and their families, I am happy to weigh in with my six tips on increasing your child’s chances of getting representation and auditions.

1. A great headshot. This is an actor’s calling card and may be the single most important tool in your young performer’s kit. Unless you or grandma can take a really great snapshot, spend a little money on a professional headshot. Even if a rep has a lot of clients, a great headshot will win attention. Be sure to read my article on how to choose a photographer for some additional tips.

1. Mailings. Send your child’s fabulous photo to agents and managers who represent children and teens. If you subscribe to Backstage, you can access a full list of agents and managers on Backstage.com. Put together a simple resume with pertinent info such as height, weight, and hair/eye color. List any experience, training, and special skills such as a language, instrument or sport your child plays or excels in. For an example of a good resume format, visit my website. Don’t forget to attach a short, simple cover letter with your contact information asking for an opportunity to set up a meeting.

2. Demo reel. Did you remember to get a copy of the commercial your child shot? How about the film footage the student director promised you? Now is a good time to put a short (2-3 minute) reel together. There are professional companies that specialize in this, or you can save a few bucks by asking a savvy teenager. Since he probably gets a lot of practice making and uploading YouTube videos, you may be pleasantly surprised at the results. A demo reel is a great way for a potential rep to see what your child looks like on film.

3. Hire a coach or consultant. You think your child has talent but don’t know what to do next. How do you know if you are targeting the best manager or agent for your child? Hiring a professional industry coach or consultant to assess your child’s talent and readiness can offer a lot of advantages. A good coach or consultant has spent years in the business and knows exactly what industry reps are looking for. He or she can point you in the right direction and may really help open doors for you.

4. Workshops. Casting directors, agents, and managers are always teaching and attending workshops. Not only will your young performer benefit from the teaching, but he also will have the opportunity to be seen where he can show off his talent and personality.

5. Networking. My best business connections have come from people I talk to. Be sure to connect with other actors and parents of kids in the biz. Most folks are happy to share their contacts with you. Consider getting involved with networking groups like STAR Parent Network. They share audition notices and information, organize workshops, pursue opportunities for education and performing for all ages and abilities and it is completely free to join.

Following these six steps can really give your child a boost when it comes to getting attention in this business. Even if you have already done some of these things, go back over them from time to time, refresh and update things as needed, and keep putting the effort in.

7 Tips For Parents of Young Performers

WANTED: Parent of working child actor. Must be on call 24/7, be willing to commute four hours a day or rent an apartment costing $2500-$5000 per month, parent other children from a distance and teach spouse how to do laundry and cook while you are away.

Did you mean to apply for this job? Despite all the ways a parent supports a young actor’s dream, few parents are actually prepared for the enormous commitment of a tour, Broadway show, film, or television series. The experience often comes with many delightful and difficult moments. It can be a wonderful investment of time, but financially draining. It is exhilarating to see a child blossom, but isolating to be apart from family and friends. It may create a lifetime of precious memories, but leave a parent physically exhausted.

The key to success for both the parent and young actor is to prepare for the challenges, remain flexible and creative when solving problems, and stay organized. Here are some tips to make your experience as the parent of a working child actor a happy and successful one.

1. Do your research. Know what you are getting into by speaking to the parents of other child actors in the show. Every production has its unique challenges. For example, some production companies provide tutoring while others don’t. Make of list of all the organizational, financial, and emotional challenges you are likely to encounter. This includes issues around marriage, raising other children, finances, housing, and employment to name a few. For example, one parent I know copes with the close quarters of hotel rooms by booking suites. Another parent negotiated tutoring for her other child whom she also takes on the road.

2. Family conference. The life of a working child actor will affect every member of the family. Have a family discussion before accepting any offer. It is likely that siblings will have to be more independent, spouses will work harder and endure loneliness, and details of home life may go unattended. Be specific with new responsibilities. Make sure everyone is on the same page and willing to accept the changes that go along with supporting a working actor.

3. Be realistic. Once on the road or in a production, be flexible. You can’t plan for everything. Some things will cost more, take more time, or go undone. An extra plane ticket for a sibling who misses an on-the-road parent is often the cost of supporting a young actor’s work.

4. Be organized. Driving long hours, eating on the run, and sleep deprivation are often part of the job. Your daily routine of staying healthy—including cooking healthful meals and exercising—will now be compromised unless you are organized. Keep a daily schedule to ensure you remain focused. Do research to plan for the next stop on a tour. Knowing that the grocery store is only a block from your hotel can make all the difference when you are checking-in late and have to prepare for the next day.

5. Keep your marriage healthy. Nothing beats sitting with your spouse and watching your child happily perform on stage. However, there will be times when you and your partner will be separated for long periods. Make your marriage a priority. Be prepared for unanticipated stresses that come from employment, child rearing, and separation. It is often very helpful to have a trusted family member take over the chaperoning duties for a bit while parents get together to recharge their relationship.

6. Early empty nest syndrome. Closed rehearsals are one of the hardest parts of parenting a working child actor. It’s a bit like the first day of kindergarten. Children leave for work early in the day and don’t return home until quite late in the evening. There is generally no parental involvement during this time even with regard to schooling. It’s important to listen carefully to your child for signs of stress and develop a trusting relationship with key members of the production such as the child wrangler and tutors. The parents of other child actors are also a good resource to help chart these difficult waters.

7. Watch your pocket book. Your child is now working in the business world! Be prepared to learn about the tax implications of that and the record keeping required to track expenses. Also, manage your per diem payment for expenses wisely. With proper planning, many families are able to cover unanticipated costs like travel.

Parenting a working child actor is tough and yet, most parents would agree that the performing experience is the single best thing they ever did for both their child and themselves. As one mother of a young Broadway starlet put it, “Despite all the downfalls, the joy of seeing my child on stage makes it all worth it. It is a once in a lifetime experience I would never trade.”

Formula for a Healthy Acting Career

I’m not much of a gardener, although I would love to grow beautiful flowers. Something I hear myself say over and over is, “I don’t have a green thumb.” The truth is, if I turned that thought around and put my attention on watering and feeding my plants, the result would be a flourishing garden.

If you truly believe something will not happen, chances are it’s not going to happen. Why? Because the choices you are making are not supporting your goal. A student came in for her lesson a few weeks ago disheartened after her audition. She didn’t hit the notes in her song, wasn’t clear on her choices, forgot the words, and basically fell apart. When we looked at what led up to the audition, she shared she had not done her acting or voice homework. She had also convinced herself the note was a reach for her. The next week, she met with her voice teacher, was in a positive state of mind, told the story beautifully and – no surprise – hit the note! If you open yourself up to the possibility that what you want could really happen, there is a much more likely chance you will get what it is you are hoping for. Want some food for thought? Here are three reasons you may be struggling to reach your goals in your acting career.

1. You are not preparing for success. How many times have you heard yourself say, “I’ll never get the part,” “She’s prettier than I am,” or “Why did I even bother going to that audition?” How about turning those thoughts around? If you don’t have 100 percent proof that what you are thinking will actually manifest, you may as well think a thought that’s more helpful and will support you in getting the results you want. We make up most of what we think anyway, so feel free to rewrite your “script” so that it works for you. What will life be like if you don’t have these negative thoughts but positive ones instead? You very likely will have positive outcomes!

2. You may be giving up too early. A parent of a young student of mine called the other day wondering why she was still bothering to take her daughter on auditions. She was getting a lot of callbacks but hadn’t booked a job in the two years she has been auditioning. Not staying the course will never get you the job. Callbacks are a sure sign you are on the right track. As long as you are doing what it is you are supposed to be doing – studying, keeping your marketing materials up to date, staying physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy – you are setting yourself up to succeed. It may not be in the time frame you would like, so allow yourself to enjoy the process in the meantime. Make sure you have other things in your life that bring you joy while waiting for the gold nugget in your acting career.

3. You are hitting a slump. We all get overwhelmed and have setbacks at times. Life ebbs and flows. Take a look at the three As: Awareness, Acceptance, and Action. Be aware of what is happening. Accept that you are doing the best you can at this moment, and if you are not, take some action. If you are telling yourself a negative story, ask yourself how that benefits you. It’s a simple concept but not easy – change your thoughts. Act as if what you desire is already yours. Fake it till you make it. Affirm what it is you want in a positive way as if it is already happening.

As an actor, you already know that when you are playing a role, you must make your performance real and believable. I invite you to take the same approach when it comes to your mental preparation for your acting career. Connect with the genuine emotion and truth of what you want – then make yourself believe it.

7 Signs of a Casting Scam

Acting has been your dream from the time you saw “Annie” when you were five years old. You know you would be great in a sitcom, if only someone would give you the chance! Now you get your big break. This morning, you spoke with a representative from the website of a casting agency who scheduled you for an audition this afternoon.

Wait just a minute, movie star. Scammers are waiting behind the cover of some very legitimate looking advertisements, web pages, business cards, and flyers. Don’t fall prey to these unscrupulous hucksters. Be suspicious when an advertisement, webpage, or person claiming to represent a casting agency uses one of these telltale strategies to lure you in and take your money.

1. I can make you a star. Legitimate agencies see promise and potential in their clients, but do not make grand promises of stardom, especially on the first or second meeting. Their websites also do not glamorize the life of an actor. Real agencies know that acting is a tough business. There are no guarantees, even when the actor is talented and has great looks.

2. Earn up to $300 per day as an extra, no experience necessary. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Promises of high pay are another red flag. According to the Screen Actors Guild Digest on Background Actors—also known as “extras”—the SAG rate for extras in Los Angeles County is $174 per day. That’s the rate for dues paying members of SAG. Non-union jobs typically pay much less.

3. Don’t stop believing. Chase your dreams, follow your heart, and other inspirational messages are meant to lure in people who are desperate for success and have little experience in the acting industry. Legitimate agencies look for confident, successful, and poised talent. Sure, they want actors with big dreams, but they don’t specifically advertise for actors who are down and out.

4. Rush casting calls and immediate auditions. Representatives that are in a rush are often trying to close the deal. They know that people tend to make poor decisions under pressure and are more likely to make a payment for some legitimate sounding purpose. Legitimate agencies occasionally cast last minute; however, they generally require you to submit a headshot and resume well before they invite you to an interview or audition.

5. Casting call ads on Craigslist. A recent Craigslist advertisement in the New York City area displayed the NBC logo and claimed to be casting for extras on a new TV series. Don’t believe it! Established production companies in urban areas use established casting agencies to provide extras for their upcoming shows. Those agencies do not advertise on Craigslist, in classified ads, or through representatives stopping people in a shopping mall.

6. All types, ages, and ethnicities wanted. Specific roles generally require a specific look, age, ethnicity, or type. Be suspicious when almost anyone could fit into the advertised opportunity.

7. Major casting agency accepting calls until 10:00 PM. If that’s all you know, let it go! Major casting agencies never hide their identities. Neither do they have operators standing by to take your call late into the night. Sketchy and suspect contact information is a big tip-off to a scam. Do not call agencies that provide a telephone number with no other identifying information.

What’s a new actor to do and who should they trust? Before plunking down your hard-earned cash, follow the tips above and do a little research. Legitimate agencies have legitimate websites. Try entering the website address at whoishostingthis.com. You’ll be able to see when, where, and by whom the site was created. Search the individuals listed. If they are a successful casting agency, you will not have any trouble linking the people behind the website to real people in the industry. Don’t stop there. Search the company name for complaints with reputable reporting agencies such as the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org and your state’s division of consumer affairs. Be wary of comments on commercial websites, either positive or negative. Those comments, while sometimes helpful, are generally unverifiable and often misleading.

There are plenty of reputable agencies working with real directors on exciting projects. Reputable casting agencies accept new talent every day—often through websites—for a wide variety of projects. Continue to develop your acting skills and post your resume, headshot and audition reel with a legitimate agency, and you could soon find yourself in the movies.

How Your Child Actor Can Benefit From Intensive Summer Training

Summer is coming, and it’s the perfect time for young actors to improve their skills. My favorite acting mantra is “talent and passion are essential elements in an actor’s life. Training is the glue that holds them all together.” Yet, it can be challenging for child actors to find time for intensive training during the school year. Now that summer is approaching, it’s time to talk with your child about training opportunities.

It’s not difficult for kids to understand the importance of continually increasing their acting skills. They can easily realize that acting is similar to athletics. Both require practice and improvement. If they’re genuinely passionate about acting, you won’t need to convince them to attend an acting class, work with a coach, or attend theater camp. They’ll be begging you for the chance to learn more.

In my experience with private one-on-one sessions, weekly group classes, and one-day master classes, I find students make the most significant gains in group classes or camps that last for at least a week. That makes summer the perfect time for such training. Besides being a fun place to make friends, on-going classes reinforce acting basics such as listening and reacting. Students learn to trust each other and can tackle difficult material in a safe setting. Young actors often discover life-long friends during classes and camps. They also learn to encourage each other and celebrate each other’s progress. These social skills help to balance some of the competitive nature of auditions.

When your child participates in an intensive summer training experience, he or she will gain the following:

Mastery
Just like a sports drill or playing the musical scales, repetition is an essential component of skill development. Working on acting exercises and daily rehearsing allows a student to learn new skills quickly.

Confidence
Confidence comes from competence. Once young actors observe their growth and progress over the training experience, they gain more trust in their abilities. That confidence can carry over into every part of their lives.

Success. 
Ask any young working actor about their secret to success and they’ll talk about hard work. My most successful clients don’t skimp on training. Instead, they are committed to getting as much training as they possibly can.

Robert Greene examined the lives of some of our most accomplished historical figures in his book “Mastery.” He writes, “When it comes to mastering a skill, time is the magic ingredient. Assuming your practice proceeds at a steady level, over days and weeks, certain elements of the skill become hardwired. Slowly, the entire skill becomes internalized, part of your nervous system.”

There are many opportunities for intensive summer training so choose wisely. First, speak with your child and discuss what they’d like to work on during the summer. Perhaps it’s time to master a new skill set. For example, if your child has only trained for musical theater, try an on-camera training class.

Next, research training programs. Look at reviews on the internet, talk to other parents, and trust your gut. Speak with the instructor or camp director and determine the number of students, the background and experience of the instructor, their philosophy and approach, and if they offer a final performance or film footage which can be included in a demo reel.

If you travel to New York or Los Angeles for intensive summer training, you’ll need to factor in costs for housing. If you’re in New York, consider treating your young actor to theater tickets to round out their experience. You can check websites like Club Free Time, StageLight Magazine, and Arts Connection’s teen programs for discount tickets, though there are fees involved with these. You can also visit sites like TodayTix and Broadway Box or head over in person to the TKTS booths in Times Square, Lincoln Center, or South Street Seaport, where there are much shorter lines.

Summer is an excellent time for consistent training, but it’s also a time for fun. Look for classes and experiences that excite your child and will make their summer one they’ll never forget.

4 Steps To Choosing an Arts Camp for Your Child

As a former child actor, all I wanted to do was eat, breathe, and live theater. For me, that meant spending my summer doing show after show after show. I wanted to be with kids who “got” me. I didn’t hang around with the popular crowd or the intellectuals. Socially, my comfort zone was with the theater geeks. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend eight weeks of my summer than fitting in and doing what I loved. As an adult, I also spent my summers at theater camps directing and teaching so I have some experience with these programs that might be of interest to you.

1. Does your child want an overnight or day camp? I was only seven years old when I went to a sleep-away camp for eight full weeks. I was very independent and loved a sleepover every night of the week. This may or may not work for your child. Today there are lots of available options ranging from two to eight weeks of overnight camp. If your child does not like to be away from you and may get homesick, then choosing a day camp may be the perfect solution for now. Either type of theater camp program will offer the same kinds of activities with classes in acting, voice, dance, and rehearsing and putting on a show. I think the main difference is that the overnight camp experience will teach your child independence and responsibility while fostering close-knit, lifelong relationships with other young performers.

2. Does your child want only theater or an all around camp experience? Overnight camps, such as Stagedoor Manor, focus only on theatre arts. Although there is an outside pool, there are no sports or fine arts programs. Their goal is education, performance, and community. They validate kids’ passions and encourage them to build relationships with other kids like themselves doing what they love – theater! Agents, managers, and casting directors love to visit this camp in the summer to scout new talent. There are also options such as Frenchwoods Festival of the Performing Arts. This is another wonderful sleep-away camp, which places a strong emphasis on the performing arts. However, they also offer a wide variety of programs in everything from a circus to art to cooking. Industry pros also visit this camp in hopes of discovering the next big star. Another option is a camp like Long Lake Camp for the Arts in the Adirondacks. This unbeatable, spectacular mountain setting offers a non-competitive, full-camp experience in addition to the performing arts. This camp has a different vibe in that campers can choose daily what they would like to do.

3. What size camp is right for your child? Again, there are many options when it comes to camp size. With about 290 campers, the staff at Stagedoor knows everyone by name. Even smaller, Long Lake has 250 campers per session with a staff of 160. Frenchwoods can have upwards of 800 campers. When you are interviewing camps, ask the question, “How many campers do you have, and how many are in a bunk?” Only you know if your child will do better in a smaller or larger camp community.

4. How much will it cost? Sleep-away camp used to be affordable. At today’s price tag of $3000-$5000 for a three-and-a-half-week session, some camps have become cost prohibitive for many people. Here’s the truth – they are all expensive! Here’s a secret tip – everything is negotiable. Ask about scholarships. I know that some camps want and need boys, so they may offer a discount or even a free ride in some cases. If you don’t ask, you will never know what might be available.

As we all know, the school year can be stressful on kids, especially young working actors who carry the burden of both work and school. Summer camp should be fun!

Keep this in mind as you choose the best summer camp experience for your young performer.

Ask Denise: How do I Find a Good Photographer?

Q: There are so many photographers out there. Which one will portray my child best?

B It’s all in the research, really. Do keep in mind that initially parents need not spend any money on headshots for their children. A good candid shot of your child will be sufficient for an initial interview; however, if you want to go with a photographer, here are some pointers and some photographer recommendations:

• Find out if the photographer has worked with children.

• Look at his or her book before making the decision to hire.

• Make sure the work environment is compatible with what you want. For instance, does the photographer work in the studio or in natural light?

• Get prices. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. About $300 for a sitting is reasonable, especially since children grow quickly and these shots must be re-done again and again.