How to get your child into acting
Whether you’re taking your child to evening or weekend drama classes, enrolled them at a drama school or are looking to get them involved in some local amateur dramatics, there are plenty of ways to get started and begin the journey of child acting.
We’ve created a list of ways to start that journey as well as some useful tips along the way.
ACTOR TRAINING
Even with great training and drama school credentials behind you, there is no guarantee of a job or a successful career! For a parent it is a fine line to tread, encouraging and supporting while keeping their feet and your feet on the ground.
When your child begins to enjoy acting classes, or evening and weekend sessions at places like Stagecoach and Helen O’Grady, it might be time to look at enrolling them in some proper actor training.
Although qualifications in drama and acting are not mandatory to progress in the industry, the experience in regular, high level training can make a big difference. It will also prepare your child for work auditions and eventually drama school auditions - if that’s a route they take.
Some drama schools, like ArtsEd, have a day school and sixth form that can offer a traditional educational pathway, as well as specialised training. These are great options to consider if your child wants to do more professional acting either now or in the long term.
PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS
The path for your child to get seen for roles begins when you either start submitting them, or their agent does. Before this, however, a key prerequisite is to have professional headshots taken so that casting directors can see what your child looks like. Furthermore, it will significantly help when writing to agents.
Headshots are not cheap, but if they’re done right then they can be the difference between getting in the room with the casting director or not.
The best way to find a suitable headshot photographer is to read articles on the top photographers right now - like the one we wrote recently here. You can also ask other parents, or have a skim through social media to see who’s headshots are high quality but it’s a very subjective area, hence why we recommend 10 different photographers in our article.
GET AN AGENT
Agents are professionals in the industry that represent your child and try and get them into auditions for you. They (should) have strong relationships with casting directors and have their finger on the pulse of what’s being cast by who and when.
Although there are agencies that won’t take on under 16s, there are plenty that do and you’ll need to do your research in order to find out which ones do. Our recommendation is to use the PMA (The Personal Managers Association). They’re “the leading professional body for talent agencies in the UK” and all agencies that are members of the PMA are verified.
“Members are bound by a code of good agent practice, with outlines conscientious regard for the professional welfare of clients; and commitment to industry-wide values of equality, diversity and inclusion, and anti-harassment”
Once you’ve found one, two or more agencies that may be suitable for your child, you’ll need to write to the agency with your child’s headshot and preferably a link to their Spotlight page. If your child doesn’t have a Spotlight yet, you can explain this or create a different acting CV on websites like Mandy until your child is eligible for Spotlight.
Submit for roles on CASTING WEBSITES
If you decide not to get an agent for your child, you can still create acting CVs for them and submit them for roles (the job an agent would usually do).
Spotlight is the main website for this, although there are specific requirements before you’re allowed to join. Websites such as Mandy are useful as they, technically, do the same thing and are free. From the point of setting up profile for your child, you will be eligible to submit them for roles advertised by casting directors and companies.
Be familiar with children’s casting directors
Not all casting directors cast include children in the casting remit but there are some who specialise in casting younger actors either because of the show or company they work for, or simply because that’s their niche.
Casting directors and teams that focus on child castings include Keston and Keston, Lauren Evans Anna Dawson and Emma Stafford - but there are plenty more out there.
The best trick is to follow these professionals on social media, if they have it, and keep up to date with the casting calls they put out. Historically, casting teams would release the advertised roles via Spotlight only, but it’s common for casting teams to double-up now and push their casting call out via social media.
