How Well Do You Know Your Craft?

Every year, thousands of young people decide they want to pursue acting. Many make that choice because they think it looks easy. And it looks easy because the great actors make it seem like they’re not really doing anything. But the truth is, they have worked very hard on their craft—that’s the key. Good acting may look easy, but it’s not.

For those of you who think you know a thing or two about the craft of acting, here’s a little quiz to test your knowledge.

1. The character is always you.

• A) Yes

• B) Sometimes

• C) No

• D) Yes and no

The answer? A. The character is always you. Who is uttering the words? Whose tears are flowing? Whose heart is racing? Who is wearing the costume? You must always begin with yourself. If you don’t, you will end up an empty shell.

2. Which of the following is NOT a good way to emotionally prepare to begin a scene?

• A) Shooting hoops before entering.

• B) Using an analogous situation from what the character is experiencing to tap into the character’s emotional life.

• C) Imagining the same situation the character is going through.

• D) Eating a lot of candy.

The answer? D. Getting pumped up on sugar can actually get in the way of your performance. To properly prepare, any one or a combination of the other answers are true. Tapping into your emotional life by imagining something to be true is what actors do and to do this, you must exercise and strengthen your actor’s imagination. If your character is in a playful state of mind perhaps playing basketball before entering may also help you get into the proper mindset.

3. What is acting?

• A) Faking an emotion.

• B) Pretending to be the best you can be.

• C) Living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.

• D) Hiding behind a character.

The answer? C. According to the great acting teacher and guru Sanford Meisner, acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. It is a simple way to define what an actor does to create a performance you can believe.

4. What is an acting teacher’s job?

• A) To tell you how to say the lines.

• B) To intimidate you to be your best.

• C) To be your best friend.

• D) To help you find your truth.

The answer? D. A good acting teacher will help you direct yourself with skill, guidance, and support. They will do this without ego and with a strong sense of self. You will feel welcomed and heard and an equal partner in the process. When a student asks, “How do I say this line?” a teacher must never give a response. Instead, they may ask you to reframe the question to, “What does the character want?” or “Why are they saying this line.

5. Which of the following is not true? To be a good actor you need to be…

• A) Humble

• B) A good human

• C) Interested

• D) Confident

The answer? Trick question! Every answer is correct. Good actors are not ego-driven; they’re interested in other people and they are kind. Other people want to work with them.

The truth is, many actors at every age approach acting by imitating what they have seen before or trying to make it look like they are having an experience that they’re not having. This is not acting. This is not related to acting. There is no life and there is no fun. Good acting is real, honest, and truthful.

3 Tips to Help Young Actors Get into Character

Preparation is more than knowing your lines. It is embodying the life of the character. Your emotional state, mood, and choices you make while you prepare all affect that first moment the director yells, “Action.”

When I was just out of college, I apprenticed at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre in Jupiter, Fla. Although I sacrificed sleep and suffered the indignity of washing smelly laundry, it was worth it as I got an insider’s view into the craft and process of some of America’s most iconic and loved actors.

I was struck how every night before Martin Sheen took the stage in “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest,” he would play basketball with the guys outside the stage door. I wondered at the time why he wasn’t preparing, only to later realize that he was. Basketball—rough, cursing, shoving, and joking—was what he needed to get in the mindset to be the loud, dirty, sexual, and determined character of McMurphy. In his case, genius literally was one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration!

I tell my students what Sheen knew: An actor cannot begin a scene emotionally empty. It is critical to make good choices leading up to that first moment. Child actors have some unique advantages and challenges in this regard. Although a basketball court may not be readily available before your next audition or when the camera rolls, here are some tips to help with your preparation.

Make up a story one line at a time. Sometimes it is hard to change gears. Homework or a fight with your sister, for example, make it hard to be the cheerful, Disney character you are about to play. One way to leave the day behind is to make up a story with a partner one or several lines at a time with each of you picking up the story where the other left off. This exercise is fun and natural for young actors, sharpens the ability to listen and react, and clears the mind of distractions and anxiety.

Play cards. Really, play cards! If the part you are playing is social and funny, play Go Fish with your mom and possibly another kid waiting to audition. Solitaire, on the other hand, is the way to go if the part is more of a loner or introspective. Young actors often draw on the mood around them, especially when they do not have the life experience to play a part they are asked to play. A social or solitary game of cards will keep you from trying too hard and will help you take advantage of the unfiltered way many young actors are able to naturally tap into the emotional context around them.

Visit the bathroom. It is especially difficult for many young actors to ignore the desire to please or exercise the autonomy to overrule authority figures around them. Sometimes you will need to get away from a parent who wants to drill you on your lines at the very last minute (generally a bad idea) or the child wrangler who just won’t let you be. To use your visit as excellent preparation, leave a note in the stall from the point of view of your character. This is especially fun if you are playing a mischievous role!

Young actors must deal with the same chaos that abounds around adult actors in the moments before they perform and both must create strategies and rituals that they can apply in a variety of circumstances to perform successfully. Kids have the advantages and disadvantages of being kids. Remember to play to your natural strengths in the moments before you begin your role and you are likely to find great success in the moments after.

How to Be a Great Reading Partner for Your Child Actor's Self-Tape

You don’t have to be a trained actor to be a good reading partner for your child. Even if you have your own acting talent, while reading with your child, remember to keep the focus on them. In the supporting role of “great reading partner” for your child, the following tips will help you help your young performer shine. 

1. Stand or sit offscreen. You should not be seen on camera, so position yourself right next the camera. Unless directed otherwise, sit where the actor can look at you while speaking, instead of them appearing to address the camera. She should be speaking and connecting with you, so stay at her eye level.

2. Speak softly and give the actor a microphone. As a reader, you don’t want to steal the focus. It is your child’s audition, not yours. Since you are positioned closest to the camera, the device will pick up your voice more easily, making it sound louder than the actor’s. Remain aware of this when reading and speak softly. You are not co-starring in this scene, but rather providing a framework that supports the actor’s purposes. In addition, it is wise to use an external microphone for the actor’s voice, to tip the sound balance in his favor. Microphones can be purchased for as little as $10 each and are well worth it. Not only do you get more clarity with a mic, but microphones with sensitivity-control have the flexibility to make great recordings in quiet and chaotic settings alike.

3. Read fluently. Practice your lines. The more familiar you are with the script and lines, the more effectively you will be able to support your partner. You are there to help the actor do the best job he can do, so invest the time needed to prepare. Pace is important, especially in comedy, so you also need to know the timing. If you are reading too slowly or too quickly, it can throw the actor off and kill the humor. Ask for help if you are unsure of the best pace or timing. If another family member or friend has better acting or comedy skills than you and offers the time, allow him to do the readings with your child! Remember, this is not about you, and it is important that your child have a competent reading partner.

4. Read all the other parts, and skip the stage directions. One person reads for all of the characters in the scene. Having additional people play other parts is confusing and unnecessary. Keep in mind that stage directions are there for information only! Make sure you and your child have read and know the stage directions, but stick to the usual protocol and do not read stage directions aloud on camera. 

5. Don’t judge or criticize. This is not the time to offer advice on your child’s performance. An actor should not be distracted by concerns of the reader’s perceptions during this process. If you have an idea or healthy suggestion to offer, feel free to take notes for discussion at a later time, as long as jotting your thoughts down does not interfere with the flow of the reading. While reading, your focus needs to stay on playing the character(s) opposite your child, and providing the support he needs.

There are many ways that parents support their young performers, and being the reader is just one of them. Always remember my motto below, and keep things fun while you work together to reach their dreams.

10 Tips for a Winning Audition

Your dream is to be a working actor. You’ve always been told you “have it,” but the phone doesn’t ring for callbacks.

What separates professionals from wannabe talent show prodigies isn't inspiration. It’s preparation and execution. Take control of your audition with these ten helpful tips to improve your skills.

1. Confidence
It sounds simple but it takes practice. Walk in the door with your held head high. Be wary of shuffling feet. You don’t get sympathy points if you’re nervous, not feeling well, or having a bad day. Leave it outside the door. You are being sized up the minute you walk in so practice good posture and body language before you arrive. And don’t forget to smile—that’s the lasting impression you want to leave.

2. Personality
Let it shine through. Don’t give one-word answers when having a conversation with the casting director. Ask questions! The industry is looking for smart, curious actors.

3. Connection
Make one with the reader. Memorize the material or be familiar enough with it to maintain eye contact. Knowing the dialogue is important, but making a connection with the reader is what will make the scene natural and believable.

4. Character. 
Know the character. Read the entire script beforehand to pick-up as many clues as possible. We know about a character by the following:

• What he/she says about himself/herself

• What other characters say about him/her

• What the playwright or screenwriter says about him/her

READ: 21 Things That Make Casting Directors Happy in the Audition Room

5. Objective
Go underneath the dialogue. What does he/she want from the other characters? What is the character’s purpose in the scene/story?

6. Obstacle
What’s in the way of the character getting what he/she wants? Acting is what happens to you as you try to get your objective met, in spite of the obstacle.

7. Opposites 
Yelling isn’t the only way to show hatred or anger. Sometimes being quiet as you make your point is a powerful display of emotion. Playing opposites is a much more interesting choice than the obvious.

8. Love
Find the love in the scene; even nasty characters should be likable on some level. Find a moment in the scene where the love can show through.

9. Act
Acting means to do, not to talk. Find your actions and play them! (A wonderful resource is the book “Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus” by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams.)

10. Variety
Feel the levels and dynamic in the scene. Don’t play one emotion. If the character is angry or tough, when might he/she show some vulnerability?

Wannabe? Not you! Interesting, memorable auditions will start to happen for you when you dig into scripts with these thoughts in mind before and during your auditions.

5 Schooling Alternatives for Your Child Actor

Child performers have the unique task of balancing schoolwork while pursuing a professional career. Between classes in acting, dance, and voice, auditions, matinee performances, and film shoots, scheduling them all can be daunting.

Many families today turn to online schooling for their child’s education. Children have the flexibility to take classes at times most convenient to them based on their schedule. It also allows them to work at their own pace, a particularly helpful benefit to child actors who may need to work ahead of schedule because of an upcoming acting commitment. By attending a virtual private school, kids no longer miss class or fall behind. Teachers develop an individualized learning plan that is tailored for each student.

There are plenty of excellent homeschooling programs nationwide. Here a few that many of my students have attended with great success.

Calvert Education 
For moms and dads who are interested in teaching their kid actors themselves, Calvert Education provides a proven, time-tested homeschool curriculum and individual courses with all the tools and support necessary to ensure you are the best teacher your child has ever had. Calvert homeschool families receive step-by-step lesson manuals, unlimited support from their highly trained and certified education counselors, and access to the Calvert Teaching Navigator, an innovative and easy-to-use online resource that makes homeschooling easier and more flexible than ever before.

Connections Academy
This online academy’s state-level schools are tuition-free, fully accredited online public schools for students in grades K–12. The virtual school provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere with an innovative curriculum that meets and exceeds all national and state education standards. The combination of credentialed teachers, a proven curriculum, diverse electives, and technology tools and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. Connections Academy also offers an affordable virtual private school option available to anyone around the world with International Connections Academy.

K12 International Academy 
K12 International Academy is a private online college preparatory school for grades K–12 accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and is recognized as a diploma granting institution by the Virginia Council for Private Education. Highly credentialed teachers deliver an individualized education using the academy’s online classroom platform. Multiple enrollment start dates are available throughout the year for full- and part- time students. Check out their website for more information!

Laurel Springs School
Laurel Springs School is a fully accredited private online school for students in grades K–12 and is known best for working with actors, musicians, and other performers. Academic programs are offered that aim to honor each child’s individual learning style and educational needs. The staff is knowledgeable about the specific needs of student performers, and has experience regarding extensive student travel schedules, work permits, studio teachers, and other pertinent topics. In addition, Laurel Springs has an outstanding record of placing its graduates into the selective colleges and universities of their choice!

The School for Young Performers (SYP)
SYP is not an online program but offers and alternative to the traditional classroom setting. This New York State registered K–12 private school has been around for 21 years strong. The school was designed in 1995 for students with careers in the performing arts, modeling, or athletics—as well as private families. SYP’s founders and administrators have been providing a quality academic alternative in on-location settings for over 30 years. Moreover, the SYP program brings exclusive and exemplary education directly to its students anywhere and anytime.

These are only a few of the many virtual programs offered online. I’d love to hear about other schooling options and programs that have worked well for you and your young performer—sound off in the comments below!

You Should Attend Every Audition. Here’s Why

Developing an acting career takes time. It’s hard work. There is no such thing as an overnight success. I’ve worked with many famous actors who began their careers as child actors and invested at least ten years before they achieved stardom. What they all had in common was discipline, perseverance, and auditioning as often as possible.

According to Richard Lustig—a seven-time grand prize lottery winner—“You have to play consistently and never miss a drawing in the game you’re playing.” The same thinking applies to auditions: There are hundreds of actors vying for any given role, so the more you audition, the better your chances are. You have to play to win!

Still not convinced all those auditions are worth your time and energy? Here are a few more reasons you should be going to every audition possible.

Your reps work hard to get you appointments. 
The most frustrating thing for agents and managers to hear is that you can’t attend an audition. They are working hard to get you appointments for projects that will give you work and propel your career forward—they don’t want to hear excuses.

You’re part of the team, so be a good team player by showing up, being loyal and appreciative. You made the commitment that you want to be an actor and you need to honor that commitment. If you really can’t go because you’re stuck in jury duty or out of town, ask if you can send a video submission. It’s better than not trying. 

READ: How to Stop Over-Thinking Your Auditions

Get to know casting directors. 
These are the folks who are helping to get you hired. Casting directors want you to succeed, but they also need to get to know you, trust you, and vet you to the directors, producers, network, and studio executives. So the more you get to know casting directors, the more comfortable you’ll feel, which will lead to a better audition.

You may not be right for the role you’re going in for, but if you show up and give a great audition, casting directors will bring you back over and over again for future projects.

Gain experience. 
The only way to get experience is to perform every chance you can. Each audition is another experience to learn something about yourself and your craft. Perhaps you’ve been choosing monologues or songs that aren’t working for you anymore. You won’t know until you give it a whirl.

However, if you’re not ready to be auditioning because you still need to hone your craft then don’t audition for the big leagues until you are ready. There are plenty of other opportunities to help you prepare. Smaller roles and student films will give you a chance to practice and get better.

You want this, remember. 
No excuses. Just go! If you’re sure that you are clearly the wrong gender or age for the role, you may want to decline. However, keep an open mind. If you have the essence of what they’re looking for, show up and be seen. Casting often makes changes to the original concept based on how auditions go, so remind yourself of what you want: the role, to be a working actor, to fulfill your dream.

Work Permits + Blocked Trusts: What You Need to Know for Child Actors

Your child is auditioning regularly in the hopes of landing a paying gig. The next step is to make sure you have everything in place to satisfy production and protect your child’s earnings, which means you’ll need to have valid work permits and a blocked trust (or Coogan) account. Plan in advance; don’t wait until your child books a job to look into everything. 

Work Permits
Minors working professionally are often required to obtain a work permit to ensure their employment does not harm their health or education. State laws regarding work permits vary widely, so check with your state of residence and, if different, the state where your child is performing to see what’s required.

Work permits are usually issued by a state’s department of labor. In New York, it is possible to get a one-time, fifteen-day temporary work permit if your child is suddenly cast and has not previously been issued a work permit in the state of New York. In California, it is a one-time, ten-day permit. However, I recommend that you apply for a work permit as soon as your child is ready to pursue professional roles, especially if they will be auditioning in New York or California. Most states issue an initial six-month work permit.

What you will need: A birth certificate and documentation of satisfactory school attendance, school performance, and health signed by a principal or school administrator. If a child is homeschooled, a parent can complete the educational form along with an affidavit from the school responsible for overseeing their child’s educational program. For more information on work permits, visit sagaftra.org.

READ: How to Know if Your Child Is Passionate About Acting or if It’s a Phase

Blocked Trust/Coogan Accounts
In the 1920s, Jackie Coogan became the first major child actor in America to earn millions of dollars. When he became an adult, he discovered his parents had spent most of his money. Coogan battled his mother in court and was able to recover a small portion of his earnings, but the legal battle resulted in the 1939 enactment of the California Child Actor’s Bill, often referred to as the “Coogan Law” or the “Coogan Act,” and requires that a child actor’s employer set aside 15 percent of the earnings in a trust.

In states other than California, a Coogan account is legally known as a blocked trust account. The stipulations are the same—15 percent of a minor actor’s earnings until they reach adulthood—and is required in California, New York, Louisiana, and New Mexico. New York calls their accounts UMTA or UGMA Compliant Trust accounts, while Louisiana and New Mexico both refer to them as blocked trust accounts but vary in the requirements for setting them up. Each state has specific requirementsfor these accounts. 

If your child needs a blocked trust account, start by consulting with your financial advisor and local banks. Not all banks offer blocked trust accounts for minors, and even some that do have employees who are not familiar with them. Explore several options to find an account with the best interest rate.

The following national banks provide blocked trust/Coogan accounts: SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union, Actors Federal Credit Union, Bank of the West, City National Bank, First Entertainment Credit Union, Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney, Union Bank of California, and Wells Fargo. Each bank has different requirements for opening these accounts. Most require your child’s name, social security number, certified birth certificate, and proof of your identity along with the initial deposit. 


Once you have established a blocked trust account, ask the bank to immediately provide you with a letter (on letterhead) documenting the following items: The name, full street address, and phone number of the financial institution branch where the account was opened, the date it was opened, the type of the account specified as a blocked trust, and the routing and account numbers. You will also need the signature of the financial representative who set up the account. As soon as you have this letter, make several copies. Store the original in a secure location and provide copies to your child’s agent and manager. 


Make sure to monitor the account carefully. It’s not unheard of for money to fall through the cracks with production and not find its way into your child’s account. Don’t rely on your agent or manager to follow up—take control of that by calling the bank to make sure the money is where it should be.

5 Ways To Help Child Actors Stay On Top of Schoolwork

How many times have you pulled your child out of school early for an audition? Does your teenager miss the first few classes in the morning because of a late night at the theater? Going to school, attending auditions, and working can be a heavy burden for anyone – especially a child or teenager. Here are some tips to help you as parents and guardians manage the scheduling demands of your busy young performer.

1. Make sure your child gets enough rest. Not only can sleep deprivation lead to poor school performance, it can also compromise your child’s immune system, resulting in allergies or other sickness. If your child starts missing school due to illness, playing “catch up” will just add more stress.

2. Ensure your child is eating a healthy balanced diet. Yes, this is easier said than done. I have kids of my own, and they like sweets. When they are filled with sugar and carbs, they will be lethargic, moody, and not at the top of their game. The next time your child needs a pick-me-up, substitute a protein bar for that Snickers bar.

3. Keep good communication with the school and teachers. Consulting with the school in advance is absolutely a key element to creating a supportive school environment and helping your child stay on top of his or her academics. When children miss class in public school, they are marked absent. They are only allowed a certain number of absences per semester, and "working" absences are not always considered "excused." Consulting with the principal or district supervisor, especially on long, on-going shoots (TV series, movies, etc.), may help you keep the truant officer away from your door.

4. Make sure your child is attending a school that is supportive of their job. I frequently get asked by parents, ”Which school would support my child best?” I decided to ask Alan Simon, president of School for Young Performers and On Location Education, the nation’s premier tutoring service for child performers, to answer this question as he knows a thing or two about school and its demands on young actors.

"Schools that are supportive of the working actor's lifestyle come in many forms. In addition to the School for Young Performers, there is the Professional Children's School. Both of these are examples of private schools that can accommodate a family's needs. Some families prefer to home-school through a variety of programs, some independent, some religious, some affiliated with universities and other institutions of learning. Additionally, there are also many public 'magnet' programs that support drama majors and working performers. Whatever you choose, make sure that your school of record will sign your child's work permit. Completion of satisfactory educational performance must be attested to by a recognized public, private, or home-schooling program in order for your child to legally work in at least forty of the fifty states."

5. Develop a good routine. Sticking to a regular schedule and routine can also help balance the work and school load. The problem is that show business does NOT follow a schedule. For the working child actor, there are hold days, re-shoots, matinee performances, unexpected overruns, etc. Explaining the business of show business to the school takes some doing. They understand scheduling conflicts such as sanctioned sports trips and children with illnesses and broken limbs. The schedule of a “working child”? Not so much. They will have to learn to "roll with it" as much as the family does. When exploring your school options, consider how supportive the school can be before settling on one.

Although my own children are not in show business, I know what it takes to manage their busy schedules. In order to be the best parent I can be I need to practice self-care as well. As the parent of a child actor, I recommend you follow my advice here not only for your child, but also for yourself. Get enough sleep, eat well, plan your schedule, and don’t forget to throw a little fun in too!

12 Terms Parents of Child Actors Need to Know

Every industry has its own lingo. When your child enters the entertainment industry, you'll encounter a whole new vocabulary. These terms are frequently used when describing auditions and scripts. If you can familiarize yourself with them now, you'll be able to help your young actor understand what's required and how to use these terms correctly.

Booking: Getting hired for the job.

Breakdown: A description of the project that includes a storyline synopsis in addition to descriptions of all the characters/roles in the script. It also commonly includes names of the people involved in the project such as the directors, casting directors, and producers as well as an estimated start date and location of the production.

Callback: A second or additional audition to an initial interview or audition.

Cold read: For auditions, reading aloud a scene or sides with little or no rehearsal.

Copy: A commercial or voice over script.

Improvisation: A spontaneous scene leading to discovery that allows the actor to find reality within themselves while performing without a script. 

Local hire: An actor hired locally where production (usually TV and film) is being shot. This eliminates costs for travel, housing and per diem.

READ: How Child Actors Can Get Work in Atlanta & Florida

Open call: An interview or audition open to anyone.

Sides: Pages or scenes from a script used by performers selected for an audition that highlights a specific character.

Slate: In on-camera auditions the performer’s introduction of their name, age (if under 18), and sometimes height, hometown and agency.

Triple Threat: An actor or actress who can sing, dance and act skillfully and equally well usually referring to performers in musical theatre.

Type (or type casting): Characterizing performers based on their “look.”

Knowing these terms will help you avoid confusion and feeling that others know more than you do. There are plenty more terms pertaining to other areas of the entertainment industry as well. Next month look for my article identifying key terms as it relates to legal and union matters.

How Child Actors Master Cold Reads

As my mentor, Charles Nelson Reilly, often said, “Acting is hard.” Of course it’s hard, especially when you are asked to do a cold read. Cold readings—when an actor has little or no advance time to review a script before performing a scene—are challenging but an unavoidable reality. This can be especially difficult for young performers who are still mastering basic reading skills, but here are some tips to help child actors master cold readings!

PRACTICE 
Encourage your child to read aloud every day. When building any skill, a person needs to train regularly. Buy scene books to use as practice. Have your child read the parts out loud with you as his reading partner in the scene. Consider it a daily regimen in order to build and maintain his skills.

READING SKILLS 
Help your young actor learn to read in general. The sooner he masters reading as a skill, the sooner he will be able to master reading and acting at the same time.

MEMORIZE FIRST AND LAST LINES 
New readers are usually advised to memorize their parts if time allows, but in a cold reading this habit can backfire. Children often attempt to memorize their lines even when they don’t have enough time, and that prevents them from focusing on the important aspect of an audition: the acting. Children need to stay connected to the character’s intentions rather than worry about getting the words perfect. Help your child memorize the first and last lines, so they can connect immediately and leave on a strong note.

DO THE LEGWORK 
Prepare what you can in advance. Learn all you can about the project and the characters before an audition. Arrive early on audition day to get as much time with the script as possible. The more your child knows about the context and general story line, the faster she will be able to make sense of a scene that is handed to her in the audition.

READ OUT LOUD 
Reading the scene aloud several times, even if he has only a few minutes before going in front of the casting director, is helpful. Teach him to clarify anything that is uncertain by asking questions beforehand.

KNOW THE INTENTIONS 
Identifying the character’s motivations and understand the relationship with the other characters in the scene will help her get at what is underneath the dialogue so she can play the intention of the scene rather than focusing on the words.

LISTEN 
Coach your child to work with her scene partner rather than talk to the script. Caution her not to study her next line when her scene partner is talking, but rather to listen as he speaks, looking at him and responding in character. She should not be distracted by the paper.

STAY IN CHARACTER 
If a line gets flubbed, he should not get thrown off. Coach him to relax and recover. He needs to remain connected to the material and the character, and focus on what the character’s objective is.

ENJOY
Make the process fun. Remind her why she wants to do this so she is motivated to keep training and building her skills. Encourage her to see this as the tool it is to help her reach her goals. Point out that learning to master a cold reading is not the same as being a good actor, so she realizes this isn’t a reflection on her talent as a performer.

Cold readings are hard for even the most seasoned actors. Let your child know that if he keeps practicing, he will improve and stay sharp. Your support will help him do his best when a cold reading is required.