2 talented granddaugthers, 12 &14, with great potential but no "real" experience, except in school?

Question

How do I get them started in auditions for acting and singing. What is 1st, 2nd and so, until they can at least be recognized by those who can help them to break into show business, and I don't mean a manager...yet. I need names, addresses and phone numbers. You've got to see them to believe
what they can do. Confidence and following instructions is not a problem with these two. Serious responders may IM me if you can help me help them.

Thanks, Ed

Answer 1

I am the mother of a teenage actress and let me tell you, I think that you're going about this all the wrong way. I would NEVER have allowed her to audition for anything other than a school play at 12 or 14. Your granddaughter's education HAS to be first and foremost -- no matter how talented you think they are. Keep them in school, keep them involved in the theater program at the school district they are in. They need all that type of experience. Even if their dreams are to be a television or movie actress or a professional singer, the experience they can get from acting in a school play in front of a live audience will help them hoan their craft. What else you could do is get them involved in a modeling agency close to your home. This will help with poise and confidence. It can also get them to auditions for local television commericals (local commercials just about always use local talent). Prepare them to go to college and get a 4-year degree in Performing Arts. Prepare them for LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of rejection!!!! YOU may think they are wonderful, but not everyone will, and they won't be a perfect match for everything they audition for. DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, tell them that they will be famous someday or that they will make a ton of money acting and singing. Chances are, no matter how talented and beautiful they are, they WILL NOT get rich and famous from their acting/singing career! There are PLENTY of beautiful, handsome, talented singers and actors waiting tables in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Becoming famous and making money off this craft is a dream -- your granddaughters HAVE to know ahead of time, that that's what it is and that some dreams come true and some dreams don't. Encourage them to follow their dreams, yes. Letting them assume that they will make something of themselves in this business, no. The one thing that you need to realize, however, is that these are your granddaughters, not your biological children. YOU cannot get them involved or sign them up for anything, unless you are their legal guardian, without their parent's consent. Finally, singing and acting HAVE to be done because your granddaughters LOVE it, not for the fame or the money. It takes a lot of time and a lot of patience. If it is fame and money they are after, there are plenty of other ways to make it -- especially ways that won't break their hearts because of all the rejection. I wish you all the best of luck.

Answer 2

In our dojang I see this all the time. I am actually the example you put forward. I attend class with my two sons. Youngest is 10 and the eldest is 13, I myself am 33. I'm the one who takes it seriously while my eldest just goes through the motions and my youngest sees it as fun. We all started at the same time four years ago. I am a red belt, my eldest is a blue belt and my youngest is a green tip. (He is in no hurry to grade because he can't test for his black until at least 14). My eldest hasn't progressed past blue because he isn't taking it seriously enough. That is the key right there. At some stage you have to take it seriously or you will get to a certain point and go no further. It isn't easy all the way through to black. Our gradings take training performance into account and my instructor has no qualms about refusing to grade you if he doesnt see the effort, or he is correcting the same thing over and over again. We have to take it serious at some stage and you aren't going to do something for years if you are just there to relieve boredom. Saying this though we do have a lot of fun in class with games that focus on balance and reflexes so it is not all serious martial arts. I don't think there is a better way to differentiate between the serious student and the hobbiest because eventually the training itself eliminates the students who aren't taking it as serious as they should. Time always tells.

Answer 3

Parents and grandparents frequently think that their progeny are talented but as Simon Cowell has pointed out time & time again on American Idol, it ain't always true.

What you need most is an independent, unbiased estimator of the kid's abilities, most likely a licensed high school drama teacher. Next time your local school hold audtions for plays, revues, or talent contests, send your grandkids over there and do not butt in with the pros. If you have to pay for the service, you'll probably get swindled.

Answer 4

Just look up 'talent agents' in the telephone directory or on the Internet, and follow the instructions. There aren't any magic steps or secret contacts. If the kids are truly talented, this will be recognized soon enough. In the meantime, they should be encouraged to participate in local theatrical and musical productions.

Answer 5

Look into local theatres. They give people excellent practice auditioning and preforming. If I knew how to be discovered ofr show business, do you really hink I'd be on here? And, also, if thery're teens/preteens, they don't have much time for that sort of thing!