6 Tips For Auditioning With a Dialect

“The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain,” Eliza Doolittle famously says in "My Fair Lady." By the way, she wasn’t the only one who struggled with her accent! Dialects don’t come easy to everyone. Auditioning with an unfamiliar dialect can really get in your way of landing the role. When learning a new dialect, here are some tips to keep in mind to help you have a successful audition.

1. Play the action, not the accent. 
Don’t let the dialect own the scene. Pay attention to the character’s social class, age, upbringing, objective, and obstacle. I have worked with actors who are so focused on the accent that they are not even listening to the reader. If you are not that skilled, perhaps a hint of the dialect is the way to go. Keep it simple and do what you are trained to do. Let your skill as an actor help you land the job, not a contrived accent.

2. Don’t watch “Harry Potter.” 
Just as you wouldn’t expect a southern belle to sound like a Texas Ranger, you can’t expect Mary Poppins to sound like Bert. The dialects in most countries are as diverse as they are in America. For example, the three largest recognizable dialects in England are Southern English, Midland English, and Northern English. Within those are Cockney, Geordie—as spoken in Billy Elliot, among many, many others. Do your research. Find out what type of accent is needed before settling on a generic one.

3. Listen to the casting director’s instructions. 
If you are adept with the dialect, by all means, go for it. However, there are times when the casting director does not want you to use a dialect at all in the audition. Can you imagine listening to botched accents all day long? Always check with your agent or manager. When all else fails, don’t be afraid to ask the casting director before you begin.

READ: Are You Having Trouble Landing an Accent?

4. Work with a coach. 
Whether you work with an acting coach or speech and dialect coach, getting help from someone trained in this area can make all the difference in your audition. Dialects are not only about pronunciation but also about cadence, phrasing, inflection, and pitch. Sometimes in comedy, the words are not funny until the dialect is in place. Be careful of over-coaching, however. When in doubt re-read tip number one!

5. Don’t wing it. 
Dialects are part of the basic training of every good actor. Just like your monologues and songs, have your dialects in your repertoire ready to go at any moment. Take the time well before opportunity knocks to learn a few of the more popular dialects such as Standard British, Cockney, Irish, Australian, Southern, and Brooklyn. Practice on trains, planes, and automobiles. Just think how much fun you can have while working on your craft.

6. Other good resources. 
There are many books and CDs available to help you learn dialects on your own. Some authors to research are Edda Sharpe, Jan Haydn Rowles, Robert Blumenfeld, Paul Meier, and Jerry Blunt. Other great resources are VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association) and IDEA Dialects (International Dialects of English Archive) where you can find a real person speaking with the dialect or accent you are looking for.

For some added inspiration, check out Meryl Streep’s many accomplished accents: British in “The French Lieutenant’s Woman," Polish in “Sophie’s Choice," Danish in “Out of Africa," Irish-American in “Ironweed," Australian in “A Cry in the Dark," Italian “The Bridges of Madison County," Irish in “Dancing at Lughnasa," Upper-Midwest in “A Prairie Home Companion," Bronx in “Doubt," Julia Child in “Julie & Julia," and English in “The Iron Lady.” Have fun as you simply watch, listen, and learn!

Finding the Love in Your Scene

When I ask my younger students how many of them hate their siblings, most of their hands go up. I then ask how they would feel if something bad happened to their sister or brother. The general consensus is they would feel sad. “So you really love your sibling even though you say you hate him?” Both can be true. We can hate and love at the same time.

One of the biggest criticisms I have, especially with teenage actors, is that they are missing the love in their scene. It is easy to be nasty and bitchy, but if they can’t find even an ounce of love, they are unlikeable. Many teenage female characters written for television are sarcastic and acerbic. The challenge is to find the character’s likable qualities as well, avoiding obvious, trite, and stereotypical choices. If you think the character has no redeeming qualities, that is a choice you are making and it is not a very interesting one.

To quote Michael Shurtleff in his book, “Audition”: “To find the deepest emotional content in a scene, you must ask, ‘Where is the love?’ It’s not important if you’re right or wrong: What is important is your commitment to whatever feeling you choose.” You may hate your dad at this moment because he won’t give you the car but you can also love him, can’t you?

Find what is true and know the opposite is also true. I recently worked on an audition scene with a few young actors. In the film, the father had deceived the entire family by faking his own death. Once the girl discovers this, she is obviously angry and in the scene tries to get revenge by hurting him emotionally. All of the actors played the anger beautifully but forgot one very important thing – they loved their dad and were truly grateful he was, in fact, alive. By not discovering the love, their performances were callous, calculating, and frankly uninteresting.

What about the villains who upend expectations? It is fascinating to find the genuine vulnerability in the conniving, back-stabbing cheerleader or the murderous, trashy mother who is often unexpectedly smart and caring.

I always tell my students, “Say what you mean but don’t always say it mean.” Your audition scene is about your boyfriend cheating on you with your best friend. Stop yelling. I understand that you are mad. How many times can you confront him by playing mean? Are you sad and hurt? Do you still love him even though he did something so egregious? Again, I love what Mr. Shurtleff has to say, “The actress has to know more than the character knows.”

Remember that love is more than sexuality and libidinal energy. It is the life instinct driving all humanity. Find it, play it and see what new levels you can find in your acting!

9 Lessons ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Can Teach Everyone

Last month, I took a group of my students and their parents to a performance of “Dear Evan Hansen.” When the curtain came down, every single one of us was flooded with emotions—there wasn’t a dry eye amongst us.

Without giving anything away, “Dear Evan Hansen” is a musical about a teen who feels invisible, but through a tragedy and a misunderstanding, finally starts to know what it’s like to fit in, to belong. The themes are universal and all too close to home for many. As one mother in our group stated, “We’ve all felt left out, lost, and alone at some point in our lives.”

After the moving theatrical experience we all had, I wanted to share what my students and parents took away from those hours in the theater. Regardless of whether you are an actor, parent, or civilian, no matter your age, gender, or religion, there are great life lessons to be learned from “Dear Evan Hansen.”

As an actor….

1. Be the character.
The show was believable because it was so real. These were real people having real experiences, not fabricated performances. The characters weren’t just being portrayed, they were living within the skin of the actor onstage.

2. Find the humor.
How can something as intense as a show about suicide be funny? Part of it is obviously the writing, but much of it relies on the actors. Throughout the show, Will Roland (in the role of Jared) and Kristolyn Lloyd (as Alana) used adept comic timing to make a serious subject real and tolerable. Just like life, we use humor to deal with pain.

3. Be vulnerable.
As actors, we’re taught to be vulnerable, a hard concept for many actors in training. But Ben Platt’s performance is a beautiful example of the power of being vulnerable. He offers himself totally and completely to the character of Evan Hansen. As the audience, we saw his insides, his raw emotion, and we’ll never forget it.

4. Allow silence.
When it comes to acting, it’s often the silence that has a greater impact than words. There is a moment in the show when the character of Evan is silent for what seems like an eternity, both to him and the audience. It’s uncomfortable, but we feel his anxiety and pain beyond what words could ever convey.

5. Make it original.
After countless stereotypical high school musicals with cheery dance numbers and sappy love songs, “Dear Evan Hansen” offers something wholly original and refreshing. We’re not watching a revival or a clone of something we’ve already seen. This is something new, something we’ve never seen before, and the energy and excitement is palpable.

READ: How Rachel Bay Jones Gives Her All to ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

As a human ….

6. Stay authentic.
Tell the truth. Don’t hide behind what you think others want you to be. “In a world of growing social media presence—which ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ portrays beautifully—we are constantly attempting to portray who we want everyone to think we are,” said 24-year-old Kevin Johnson, a member of our group that day.

“In reality, and even as a social media strategist, I find that authenticity gives the most positive and engaged feedback…. Students and adults alike need to know that being themselves is how we survive as people and that we do so by being honest with the most important person in our lives: ourselves.”

7. Stay aware.
Think about how social media affects us both negatively and positively. We often think we’re connecting with others virtually—more followers equals more friends, right? But in reality, spending all day with our heads in a computer or phone can mean that we’re actually disconnecting from the people around us. Make an effort to stay present.

8. Be relatable.
In the song “Waving Through A Window,” the lyrics begin, “On the outside always looking in, will I be more than I’ve always been?” This is the first introduction to Evan as someone who feels like he’s standing outside of something, never part of something.

“The words were such a powerful trigger, immediately triggering a thought that I was watching myself as a struggling teen in my darkest days,” said a 17-year-old student. The feeling was mutual for parents in the group: “As a mom, it also made me feel that same powerlessness of the two mothers on stage as they tried to deal with their sons’ pain and loneliness. There is nothing worse than being in the dark, unable to help.”

9. Embrace the imperfect.
Real life rarely ends with a big Hollywood flourish where everyone is happy and everything works out. Life is hard as lessons get learned and experience grows. This is reflected beautifully in “Dear Evan Hansen.” The show ends the way something so real, raw, and reflective should.

While the show is currently the darling of Broadway with its powerhouse cast, brilliant score, lyrics, and moving book, Dear Evan Hansen is profound on a personal and professional level. Run, don’t walk! This is a must-see for every theatre goer.

“It’s important to remind ourselves, young and old, that we must be our true, authentic selves. ‘You are you’ rings throughout [the show],” as Johnson reminds us. “I not only thought, ‘it is so vital for students to hear this,’ but also, ‘I needed this myself.”

3 Ways for Young Actors to Train

As an acting coach and teacher, my passion lies in inspiring young actors to be the best performers they can be as they reach their full potential. Hard work, combined with talent and drive, enable actors to master their craft and find success in their acting endeavors. However, talent and passion will wear thin without proper training. As a teacher and coach I introduce my students to a myriad of exercises, games and simple techniques while empowering, encouraging, and challenging them to reach beyond their current grasp. Proper instruction and guidance from a professional is an important piece for growth. Here are several ways to train all with different benefits.

Weekly group classes. It is the consistency and repetition of ongoing work that will allow an actor to grow. Weekly classes help build a foundation that is essential for young actors as they work with others. Besides providing a fun space to make friends, group classes reinforce acting basics like listening and reacting, as well as tackling difficult material. Any time parents ask me for advice, I always advise them to start with an ongoing, age appropriate class. I like to keep my classes small to ensure personalized attention. Ask to audit a class to make sure it is the right fit for your child. Continuous classes are an investment in your child’s artistic future that will have rewarding effects in all aspects of their life. 

Workshops. Whether your child attends audition workshops, musical theater bootcamps, or one-day on-camera classes, workshops provide performers with an intensive experience devoted to improving a certain area of performance. What I find most valuable about workshops is the environment pushes a performer to bring their A-game to a group of strangers. Workshops hone a specific skill usually taught by an expert in a certain field. It is a great refresher for certain areas, and an opportunity to learn about a new one. Workshops are not a substitute for ongoing training. Like spicing up your exercise routine, workshops are a good way for your child to flex certain performance muscles, but ongoing training is what will develop skill and nurture passion. 

Private coaching. I spend many hours of my week coaching young actors privately. The main benefit is they have my undivided attention. One-on-one coaching offers a personalized environment in which a young performer can feel safe and free to express themselves while being propelled to reach personal heights. A private coach will be familiar with your performer and will understand their strengths and know how to improve their weaknesses. Regular individual coaching is a form of ongoing training essential to developing specific skills that might be lost in weekly group classes. I highly recommend private coaching for professional children and children who frequent auditions. It is a crucial piece for a child’s professional growth. 

Training is a way to turn you child’s acting interest into a thriving passion. While each form of training has specific benefits, I find that a combination of all three is best for a young performer. The mix of different acting environments will ensure your child is a well-rounded performer with diverse skills. Talent and passion are essential elements in an actor’s life. Training is the glue that holds it all together. 

19 Lessons For Self-Reflection on a Snow Day

As I work from home today, watching the snow floating down, I am in awe of nature’s beauty. The phone is not ringing since all personal and work appointments are cancelled, and my dog is fast asleep at my feet. Sometimes it’s nice to have a quiet moment to reflect on things that have inspired me.

I am a student and always will be. I have taken classes in acting, voice, dance, meditation, guitar, yoga, kick-boxing, knitting, quilting, and cooking to name a few. In my own work teaching clients, as both an acting and life coach, I find myself quoting words of wisdom from some of my favorite inspirational teachers that I have worked with over the years. In this time of quiet reflection, I thought it would be nice to share some of them with you...

“It’s haaaaard. Acting is very hard.”

“If you say you’re going to go, GO!”

“You must be willing to make a mess to have your dreams.“

“In order to explode, you must have the stuff to explode with.”

“The voices in our head will sabotage us.“

“Take the effort, struggle, and examining of it out of acting.”

“Theater is life distilled.”

“We must forget the language and go with the humanity.”

“Make it specific. You won’t react from generalizations.“

“Acting is the most important moment of your life.”

“The title is very important to what is happening in the scene.”

“You understand a play better when you understand what is going on in the world at that time. “

“There are only two emotions in life - love and fear.”

“Let things surprise you. The reward about acting is you discover all the different me’s.”

“Don’t take it personally. It’s never about us. “

“Stay curious.”

“Anyone can make the moment real, but what you do with it is where the talent lies.”

“With good writing your first obligation is to the playwright.”

“Pay attention!”

I encourage you to find a quiet moment in your own busy day so you can reflect on what inspires you to do what you do. This can bring a smile to your face, give you a deeper sense of certainty and satisfaction with your life, and can even trigger fresh ideas and get the creative juices flowing. Stay safe and warm and enjoy the snow.

6 Ways for Parents of Child Actors to Stay Healthy

If you have a child actor in your family, you know what a challenge it is to keep up with casting calls, paperwork, classes, and rehearsals. It can be easy to place your child’s career ahead of your needs. You’ve all heard the advice about putting on your oxygen mask first, but it bears repeating here. If you are not taking care of yourself, you will be of no service to your child.

Acting is a family business when young performers are involved. What started out as a hobby for your child has turned into a full-time job… for you. Driving, traveling, staying up late helping your child with their lines and caring for your other family members is extremely demanding. I have worked with hundreds of children, teens, and parents over the years. The kids who thrive are the ones with healthy parents who are great role models. One of the most important things you can do to help your child succeed is to take care of yourself.

Here are some helpful tips to make sure you stay emotionally and physically healthy so that you can handle the demands of your child’s career and manage your other responsibilities at home:

Find your own passion. It is exciting to fantasize about your child becoming a star but living vicariously through them can be damaging to both of you. Instead, discover what turns you on. Just like teaching your child to go after their dream, practice what you preach. No matter what age you are, you need something in your life that lights you up. If your career isn’t fulfilling, find a new flexible one. Take an online class to learn a new skill, develop your creativity in art or dance classes or even volunteer for something meaningful. It is an easy excuse to say there is no time for you. However, your kids want to see you do something exciting and interesting. Soon they will be posting your accomplishments on Instagram.

Stay physically active. You want to be there for your child—for a long time. As we all know, regular physical activity prevents many diseases, back pain, and stress management. You make sure your kids are staying active. Give yourself the same gift. If you don’t have time for a gym membership, carve out time to walk, take an exercise class, dance or practice yoga.

Be open-minded. Parents of young actors have many challenging decisions to make, especially about taking an out-of-town job or auditioning for a touring production. This can cause anxiety. There are no easy answers and many factors to consider. My suggestion is to stay open to all possibilities and look for creative solutions. Don’t just close a door without fully exploring how it can work. Talk about the implications with all family members so everyone is heard and considered. Some parents say no too quickly and then regret it.

READ: “How to Help Your Child Actor Find Success”

Delegate. In a recent coaching session, a mom was distraught about the amount of time it was taking to help manage her daughter’s career. She had no time for herself. She was not taking time for friendship, her marriage, or her health. She was starting to feel depressed, lonely and anxious. My recommendation was that she hire some help so that she could carve out some time for herself and her relationships. Consider housekeepers, drivers, grocery delivery, or any other people who can take some of the load off of your shoulders. It’s a worthwhile investment. 

Be financially responsible. You may have to leave your job to manage your child’s career. This may affect your family’s income, and with that comes stress. The costs add up: training, travel, audition expenses, headshots, child care, demo reels. Consult with your accountant and perhaps your financial planner. Learn about the tax implications and the record-keeping required to track expenses. Also, manage your per diem payment for expenses wisely. When you can alleviate financial insecurity, you will have one less worry.

Seek out help when you need it. Life is hard, let’s face it. Being the parent of a child actor is challenging. But you don’t have to go it alone. Talk to a life coach, therapist, or gather together with other parents who can offer support. When you find yourself feeling anxious, unable to sleep, exhausted or cranky, it’s time reach out and talk to someone who understands.

When you use these six tips, you’ll be happier, healthier, and more able to enjoy your life and your child’s acting career.

4 Reasons Young Performers Should Wait to Join the Union, According to a Child Acting Coach

Most actors think they’ve made it when they’ve joined the union. One of the first questions I am often asked by parents is when should their child join the union. Parents think the union is the ticket to booking jobs when their children get started in the industry. It is a common misconception that the union is a marker of success and guarantees representation or work. 

Joining the union is not that simple. The most common ways in are getting hired in a union production or earning points to become an EMC (Equity Membership Candidate) in the theatrical union, Actors Equity Association. It takes hard work and often many auditions before becoming eligible. So instead of pondering why a child actor should join the union right away, why a child actor should hold off is the more important question. 

1. Union membership is expensive. Acting is an expensive career for you and your family. Between headshots, training, travel expenses, and time, you devote many resources to acting. The national initiation fee for SAG-AFTRA is $3,000 and the annual membership is hundreds of dollars. Membership is the same cost for a veteran actor getting continuous work and a 5-year old just starting out. Why pay to join something until you have to? 

2. Children can always be seen. It is a myth proliferated among actors that the union is essential to getting seen by representation and getting auditions with casting directors. Membership in the union doesn’t give your child preferential treatment in the eyes of agents or casting directors. They almost always see nonunion children at the end of the day. The bottom line is industry professionals are interested in genuine talent and actors who will make their projects successful. 

3. Gaining experience is more important. The most important thing to know before joining the union is that an actor is trained and well rounded. It is a fact there is more nonunion work than union work available to young performers. Gaining experience in all types of projects including student films, independent films, local and community theater, and even Web series will add experience to a résumé and provide learning opportunities in professional environments. 

4. Don’t limit your child. The union can keep your child from working. Once your child joins the union, they are ineligible for nonunion work. Your child might get a union job and then may have a dry spell. Auditions for actors go through cycles; sometimes it’s nonstop auditions, and other times it’s quiet. The quiet times are a great opportunity to submit your child for local theater, student films, and even extra work. As I said above, it keeps them busy and adds valuable experience and continued exposure. In this business, working constantly in a variety of environments is more valuable than holding off for jobs that are strictly union. 

When your child is starting out in the entertainment business, it’s important to leave them open to all the opportunities available. The union has been protecting actors and securing jobs for over 80 years, and its work is not to be under-appreciated. There comes a point when your child will have to join the union, but when they’re just starting out and building a résumé, why restrict them? You never know if your child’s big break can come through a small opportunity

How to Be the Best Advocate for Your Child Actor

As the parent of a rising star, you may be wondering how you can be the very best parent for a child who wants to perform. Whether your child stars in a movie or a local community theater production, there are things you can to do foster and support their dreams of performing.

If your child doesn’t have an agent or manager, you can help them find opportunities to act on their own. Encourage them to seek out online sources and trade magazines like Backstage, and to talk to other kids in the business. Remember: an actor has to act; it’s not enough to just dream about it. So support and encourage them in school and community outlets.

Since acting opportunities are limited, you may want to help your child find other ways to get their “fix.” Enroll them in an ongoing weekly acting class where they will learn about the craft, forge relationships with other young actors, and begin to network. This is a collaborative art and their young classmates today will be their coworkers tomorrow.

If your child is lucky enough to land a role, there will come a time when it has to end. There will also be dry spells between jobs. Learn how to help your child (and yourself) cope. I’ve had many students in touring productions which last anywhere from six months to a year and there’s always a letdown when it’s over and the child must return to a “regular” lifestyle. It is important to arm yourself with tools to help them through this process.

Acting is a family business when young performers are involved. From your other children to your marriage to your personal relationships, everyone is affected. A happy and healthy home environment will help your child actor reach their personal best. Of the hundreds of children, teens, and parents I’ve worked with over the years, the kids who thrive are the ones with parents who are great role models.

READ: 12 Terms Parents of Child Actors Need to Know

When your child is blessed with talent and a desire to act, sing, dance, and entertain, it’s a gift. By taking care of yourself and educating yourself about the entertainment industry while learning from seasoned industry pros, you’ll be a wise and supportive guide for your child.

Being the parent of a child actor is challenging. But you don’t have to do it alone. Talk to a life coach, therapist, or gather together with other parents who can offer support.

This fall, I’ll be leading parent advocacy groups in person and via phone for parents of child actors. Learn how to assemble and communicate effectively with your team, find performing opportunities for your child, educate yourself on unions, discuss ways to help your child cope with rejection, get support in how to handle your child’s disappointments, and how to take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually to be the best parent you can be.

There will be many teachable moments in your child’s acting career that will help them grow into a remarkable adult. It starts with you!

6 Questions Child Actors Should Avoid Asking

Much has been written for adults on what not to say in the audition room or ask of an industry professional, but what about for parents and kids? There are a few things that children tend to ask before thinking. After a while, this drives a casting director, an agent, manager, or acting teacher nuts! Most reveal that a young performer has not prepared well enough, and expects an easy answer. Some simply show uncertainty that creates doubt about him or her as an actor.

1. “How do I say this line?” This is by far the most frustrating question to hear from an actor. There are times when a coach may need to feed a beginner a line reading, but a professional doesn’t ask. Being professional means examining the character and lines oneself. Go through the process of thinking it through and ask:

What does the character want as result of saying this line? 
Why does my character say that?
How does my character feel at the moment?

2. “How do you pronounce this word?” Use this guideline: Can I find this answer on my own though other sources? If the answer is yes, then do your own legwork. Be professional and take the initiative whenever you can. This is basic preparation. A casting director doesn’t mind questions, but they don’t like thoughtless ones.

3. “Should I sit or stand?” If a casting director wants you to do something, he or she will ask you. Meanwhile, this is your performance. You have control of the room, so act like it. Do what you have rehearsed or need to do. Show confidence. Only confident actors get hired! 

4. “Can I start again?” Most people get flustered when they make a mistake during a reading. That’s natural! However, you are an actor and this is an audition. Project confidence at all times! If you flub or forget a line and want to start again…just start again. The casting director or industry rep you are reading for will appreciate that you resume control of the situation without any further delay, and you maintain a sense of authority over your performance.

5. “How did I do?” Tempting as it is, never ask a casting director for a review of your (or your child’s) performance. Feedback is an important learning tool, but know whom to ask. It is the job of your agent or manager to obtain feedback for you, and they will provide the answers when they can. 

6. “Who else is auditioning for this role?” Putting your rep or coach in the position of sharing confidential information about other clients isn’t fair, and it isn’t productive. Parents often try to pave the way for their children, looking for new insights. You think it may help to know more about the others who will be auditioning for this project. Honestly, it won’t. It’s natural to be curious about the competition, but don’t be distracted by what other people are doing. Stay focused on what you and your child can influence. The only things you can control are what you and your child are doing, so give that your full attention. Keep the focus on yourself, be prepared, and show up with confidence!

How to Choose an Acting Teacher for Your Child

When parents first call me about acting lessons for their child, they often say, “I’ve heard you are really good with kids!” I have to admit it’s true! Relating to kids comes naturally to me. There are also many other teachers out there who work well with children and teens, so what is the key? What ingredients need to be present to make it most rewarding for your child? Here is a list of things to look for when choosing an acting teacher for your young performer. 

Trust. Acting is intimate. In order to act well, kids need to access their emotions and dig inside themselves so they can relate to the characters they portray. Learning to act takes courage as they share personal stories, take risks with their feelings and try new things in their performance, so it is essential that their learning environment be safe. While giving young students feedback, a good teacher will also be supportive and encouraging. After all, this is about working towards your child’s dream! The teacher needs to build healthy relationships with the children, based on genuine care for each student. Students should never be torn down or abused as part of the learning process! By fostering mutual respect and optimism, a good teacher creates a dynamic that nurtures growth.

Respect. I’m not talking about politeness here. Some people think of children as less important or less capable than adults, and treat them as such. Find professionals who treat your child with the full respect due to all people, regardless of age. This means speaking to children as equals. A good teacher will not talk down to his students, but give them the credit for being able to handle reality. Granted, there are certain age-appropriate adjustments to make when talking about mature subjects, such as sex, drugs, or violence, but kids need honesty. Teachers need to be direct with feedback, rather than sugar-coating it. If a student has a bad acting habit, the teacher has to call him on it! Kids can handle constructive criticism and need to hear it in order to learn and grow as actors. 

Fun! While some adults seem to have forgotten that life can be fun, kids still believe it should be fun—and the kids are right! Learning is hard work, but when a teacher makes it playful, it feels effortless. Allowing students to play and explore is part of the process. They need to be creative and experiment with it. This is a place where they can let loose without being judged. They will be encouraged and praised for their efforts. Kids should come out of class feeling energized! They will have smiles on their faces and be eager to put what they’ve learned to use. 

Empowerment. One thing I always do is give my young students tools they can use when they are on their own, without me to guide them. I teach them to self-direct, so they have the skills to make independent choices in their acting. The goal of a good teacher is to empower a student to incorporate all the knowledge gained in class into who they are out in the real world and make it their own. I take great pride in watching a student put the work she’s done in class with me into motion in front of an audience or camera. If I’ve done my job well, she exceeds her own expectations and grows into a greater, more confident performer—and person—as a result of our time together. 

Remember to look for an acting teacher who specializes in working with young performers when you look for classes for your child. Entertainment is a tough, adult-oriented business and you want someone who is not only good with kids but has the chops to teach the craft. Every experience your child has while growing up can contribute to his becoming a happy, well-adjusted adult, so make sure you find someone who is going to support you both on that road.