01 Dec Child Actor Audition Advice
Here at 3-2-1 Acting Studio in Los Angeles, we specialize in child actor audition advice and often work with young children, ages 4-7 (as well as kids and adults!). In order to prepare our child actors for successful careers, we prepare them for the audition environment. It’s important for your child actor to be ready for the different types of scenarios that could be presented to them.
Here is some child actor audition advice that will support your young actor (age 2-7):
Enroll your child in a great acting class.
It is so important that your young child enter a supportive and uplifting training environment! At 3-2-1 Acting Studios, we believe in positive reinforcement, and we uphold a nurturing environment for all of our students. As you look for an acting studio for your child actor, see if you can audit some classes with your child. Make sure that the acting studio offers courses on audition preparation!
Focus on simple emotional expressions
Our primary child actor audition advice: make sure that your child is able to express a range of emotions when prompted to do so. In the video, you will see 3-2-1 acting studios instructor Natasha leading a group of young children through a fun and engaging exercise, teaching the child actors in 3-2-1’s acting class to quickly access their emotions.
Can your child express joy? Excitement? Also, can your child express some of the sadder emotions (sadness, grumpiness).
Practice at home!
You can set up an audition environment at home and play “make believe” – as though your child is attending a real audition. Set up your phone on a tripod, as though gearing up for a self tape. Stand behind the camera and ask your child different questions. Watch Natasha’s exercise in the video; you can lead your child through the same sequence of emotions! You’ll notice there are no lines!
Keep your practice session brief.
Be sure to keep your practice sessions short and sweet! Ideally, stick to 3-5 minute sessions. After you’ve completed a practice session, switch tasks entirely. Frequent, regular, brief bouts of play and practice will help your child respond on cue! Keeping it brief will also help keep practice fun.
Speaking of…
Make sure your child is having fun!
If your child is not having fun in acting class, then they are not in the right class. Acting should always be an enjoyable and expressive outlet! The more joy your child experiences while training in class or with you at home, the more they will shine in auditions. My final child actor audition advice: have fun!
