1 Exercise Child Actors Can Use to Get Into Character

Acting is “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” as one of the great contemporary acting teachers, Sanford Meisner, would say. Most people understand that acting involves pretending to be someone you are not, but it is a lot easier if you are personally connected to the character’s situation, with an understanding of the reality being portrayed. So, how does a child (who has had fewer years to collect experiences) gain the perspective and insight needed to truthfully act out situations he or she has never faced?

When I work with young actors who need help relating to something their character is experiencing that is unfamiliar to them, I use the “as if” exercise also known as the “magic if” technique taught by famed actor, director, and teacher Konstantin Stanislavsky. This exercise is employed to help students understand the reality of a character’s life and circumstances. 

When preparing to play a scene that is about something they never confronted before and which may seem foreign to them, I ask my students to answer the following two questions:

1. How would you feel if this were happening to you?

2. When the character faces this situation, what similar situation could you have faced in the past or imagine to be true that would feel as if you were going through the same thing?

First, thinking about the scene as if it is happening to you helps you imagine standing in the character’s shoes. The other day, for example, I had a student who was faced with a character whose parents are getting divorced, but she didn’t have any examples of divorce in her life. I asked her, “How would you feel if your parents were divorcing?” This requires imagination to answer and sometimes confidence to try. It can be hard for children to identify with some challenging situations if they find it is too scary to consider going through themselves. This exercise helps them relate without over-relating because they are consciously working through it. 

Another young actor’s character had to annoy her older brother in an audition scene for a film. In real life she has no siblings so I had her act  as if her annoying little cousin, whom she told me about, was bothering her. 

When young actors cannot put themselves in the character’s shoes directly, the “as if” exercise helps them find parallel situations in their own lives to aid them in relating via another perspective. I have the kids ask, “ ‘Situation A’ to the character is as if ‘what’ to me?” They usually find common ground in memories of the same emotions affecting them—pride, fear, anger, love, grief, hilarity, hurt, embarrassment. 

For example, if the character is mourning his father’s death, young actors can search their minds for times of loss and grief in their own lives. Maybe flushing their dead goldfish down the toilet was sad, but not sad enough to elicit the pain and sorrow a character would feel at the loss of his father. What about when Fido died after a car accident and the young actor had to say goodbye to his lifelong companion? That could do the trick. Being able to recall the appropriate feelings from your own life is essential for relating to your character’s inner truth during the scene. Having the ability to re-experience those feelings on cue is what lends authenticity to your performance. Perhaps a young actor has no prior experience with an emotion (which is true for many kids). This is where imagining something to be true will resonate. You may be pretending to be someone else, but you can’t fake the feelings.

Young performers are often asked to portray characters in situations that they just have not faced yet in their lives. By using the “as if” exercise described above, kids have a great tool to help them relate and, ultimately, act as if they know the truth of any moment.

3 Essential Traits Child Actors Need to Succeed

Show business is glamorous to the outside observer. It is exciting, exhilarating, and draws people who dream of living in that world into the footlights or studio from all walks. Insiders, however, know it is a lot of hard work and not everyone is cut out for it. How do you know if your child has what it takes to succeed? Here are three necessary traits that all successful performers in the industry have in common.

Passion. There is no doubt when young performers get bit by the acting, singing, and dancing bug that they are excited about it! It’s fun! Everyone will see their talent. Their friends will be jealous. The rewards will be fabulous! The question is whether this thrill will last. Is it rooted in a true passion for the craft? Look for the evidence. A child who is truly passionate about performing will be driven to exist in that world above all else. Sports? No thanks, I want to train with my voice coach. Spend Saturday at the mall? No way! I have acting class! Take a cruise during Spring Break? Isn’t there a performing arts program where I can try out for a musical during that vacation? It is this love affair with performing that is the whole reason for getting into the business. There is no substitute.

Dedication. Show business does not notice people with a passing interest in performing. A child needs to be committed to learning, practicing, and developing her talent above all other interests. There is a lot of competition and many talented people vying for attention, so each child will need to work hard and drive his own progress forward. This commitment means a child looks for opportunities to pursue her craft, getting involved in school productions, and community theater. He may be asking for a manager or agent, not waiting for someone else to suggest it. Your child will be memorizing her lines during her free time rather than playing Xbox or surfing the web. The mere thought of being late to acting class keeps her motivated to do her chores and homework on time. It would not be a struggle to get him to focus and do the work needed to memorize his monologue or nail his dance routine because he loves it. The work gets done.

Resilience. Everyone faces rejection in show business. While it may take some time to adjust to it, the experience of being told “no” is valuable. A performer can’t quit when things become challenging. He has to go out the next day and try another audition. And another. No one is right for all roles, and there are infinite reasons why one does or does not get cast. It is not personal. Understanding this is necessary to learning persistence. Courage, confidence, and resilience are needed every step of the way.

Pursuing a career in the performing arts is a tough road! Talent and skill are important, but they are not enough. It takes hard work over a long period of time to break through, so you have to be industrious. There are many disappointments before every triumph, so you have to have faith that the work will pay off. You keep pushing forward because you believe that success is right through the next door you open. All of these things together create the engine for success, and passion is the fuel that propels you forward.

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!