Acting Camps

By Darryl Green

  • Acting Camps:
    Preparing Your Young Actor or Actress for Industry Success

    Helping your young acting hopeful prepare for a successful acting career can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the parent. All parents like seeing their children being creative, expressing themselves, and, most importantly, having fun.
    It should be stated, however, that forcing a child to participate in any pursuit they don’t like is not just counterproductive but harmful to the child. Your role, as the acting hopeful’s parent, is to caringly nurture your children’s expressed interests and not force them into a pursuit in order to live vicariously through them. One would have to be born under a rock to have missed some of the more public examples of what can happen when children are forced into an acting career they never wanted.

    That being said, there are some very simple pointers you can follow that will have a powerful impact in the immediate sense and create long-term opportunities for the professional acting success of your son or daughter.

    Start Early: Human beings, it would seem, are all natural born actors. Early in their lives, they often spend entire afternoons play-acting imaginary scenarios. Sadly, as many of us get older, we forget how much fun acting can be. By exposing your youngsters, at an early age, to the concept of acting, you are, in effect, introducing them to something at which they are already. Regardless of whether it’s soccer, football, chess, or acting, childhood pursuits should always be fun. By giving your children an early glimpse of acting while they are young and predisposed to the concept, you dramatically increase the odds of their long-term success. Acting Camps provide the perfect vehicle for your children to immerse themselves in the creative fun acting can provide. What they gain from the camp experience has as much to do with you, the parent, as it does the camp itself. With the internet woven into the fabric of our lives, there is simply no excuse for parents not doing due-diligence research on any acting camp they are considering. A little research time, up front, can save you a lot of money, effort, and disappointment later.

    After your children have started their first camp, make sure that they are having fun. If not, first try finding a better-suited program and see if that resolves the issue. If not, you may need to consider the fact that acting may not be of interest to them at that point in their lives. If that is the case, and the situation is handled carefully, it may well become one as they get older. Forcing the issue now will virtually guarantee that your child will never enjoy the art. If there isn’t a fit, back off and give them some time. Find out what it was about the camp experience they didn’t like. More importantly, find out what things (even if only a few) they actually did like about the camp. Pay attention to these answers. There is a good chance that, armed with this information, you can research other camps that may be better suited to your child’s tastes and artistic needs. Find a different camp, try again next year, and until then don’t push or make a big deal out of it.

    Be Involved: Acting is a passion and, like flame, it needs fuel in order to burn. A parent’s support and involvement has no equal as that fuel. Acting Camp is about far more than just what happens during the time your child attends. What happens before and after camp is as important as the camp itself. Furthermore, if you have an uninterested attitude towards your children’s pursuits then their attitude will soon follow your own. Help them prepare for the camp experience beforehand. If you have done your research, then you are well-versed in what your children will be learning and doing. Help them feel prepared for it and they will have the kind of fun that only self-confidence brings. After Camp is over, spend a lot of time revisiting what they experienced and learned. Often, there are exercises and drama games that can be fun for the whole family to recreate. children look to their parents for validation. Be that validation for your young actor or actress and you have armed them well for success.

    Be Selective: Acting Camps are as varied as the children who attend them. Take the time to research, research, research. If your children are new to the art, look for fun-filled camps that focus more on the enjoyment of the experience than the knowledge gained. As your children progress, they will want, as well as need, more challenges for their minds. Complacency destroys drive, and an unchallenged mind can hardly avoid becoming complacent. Acting Camp should always be fun, but as your children grow they will develop a sense of pride in their craft and will be eager to take the challenge to the next level. Do your homework and be prepared to provide that challenge in their next camp.

    Preparing For the Next Step: Eventually your children (and I use that term loosely here) will be ready to move on to acting school. As you have watched and participated with your children in their acting youth, you’ll no doubt have picked up on where their artistic talents and drive really lie. Research schools that have well-respected programs, and degrees, in those areas. This next step is an expensive one, so doing your research here actually does pay. Just as acting camps have helped form your children’s creative foundations, so acting schools will take it to that next, and this time, professional level.

    About The Author

    Mike Nelson is a contributing writer for Acting-Camp.com (www.acting-camp.com) an Acting Camps and Acting school resource site for current and aspiring acting industry professionals.

    Recommended Posts

  • Ad

  • Actor Profile: Michael Richards

    Actor Profile: Michael Richards An in-depth look at the career and life of the comedic genius (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and Background Michael Richards, best known for his role as the lovable…

    How Jason Alexander Got Into Acting

    How Jason Alexander Got Into Acting An exploration of the early life and career of the beloved actor (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and Inspirations Jason Alexander, best known for his iconic role…

    How Michael Richards Got Into Acting

    How Michael Richards Got Into ActingThe Journey of a Comedic Legend and His Iconic Career (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and Foundations Michael Richards, born on July 24, 1949, in Culver City, California,…

    How Julia Louis-Dreyfus Got Into Acting

    How Julia Louis-Dreyfus Got Into ActingThe Journey of One of Comedy’s Most Iconic Stars (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and Influences Julia Louis-Dreyfus was born on January 13, 1961, in New York City,…

    Actor Profile: Jason Alexander

    Actor Profile: Jason AlexanderAn In-Depth Look at the Life and Career of Jason Alexander (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and Beginnings in Acting Jason Alexander, born on September 23, 1959, in Newark, New…

  • Ad

  • How David Schwimmer Got Into Acting

    How David Schwimmer Got Into Acting From Chicago Stages to Hollywood Fame: The Journey of David Schwimmer (By Carmichael Phillip) A Chicago Beginning: Early Influences David Lawrence Schwimmer was born on November 2,…

    How Matthew Perry Got Into Acting

    How Matthew Perry Got Into Acting From a Young Dreamer to Sitcom Icon: The Journey of Matthew Perry (By Carmichael Phillip) A Canadian Start: Born Into Showbiz Matthew Langford Perry was born on…

    How Matt LeBlanc Got Into Acting

    How Matt LeBlanc Got Into Acting From Carpentry Dreams to Sitcom Stardom: The Unlikely Rise of a Comedy Icon (By Carmichael Phillip)   Early Life: A Blue-Collar Beginning Born on July 25, 1967,…

  • Ad

  • Actor Profile: Lisa Kudrow

    Actor Profile: Lisa Kudrow From “Friends” to Fearless Roles: The Enduring Charm and Talent of Lisa Kudrow (By Javier Guerra)   Early Life: From Biology to the Bright Lights Before she became synonymous…

    Do Child Actors Go to School While Filming?

    Do Child Actors Go to School While Filming? Balancing Books and the Big Screen: The Real Education Behind the Scenes (By Javier Guerra) A Double Life: Hollywood and Homework The lives of child…

    Actor Profile: David Schwimmer

    Actor Profile: David Schwimmer From Ross Geller to Icon: The Journey of David Schwimmer (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and the Spark for Acting David Lawrence Schwimmer was born on November 2, 1966,…

    Actor Profile: Matthew Perry

    Actor Profile: Matthew Perry The Brilliant, Troubled Star Behind Chandler Bing and a Legacy That Endures (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and the Birth of a Performer Born on August 19, 1969, in…

    Actor Profile: Matt LeBlanc

    Actor Profile: Matt LeBlanc From “Friends” to Fatherhood: The Career, Personality, and Life of Matt LeBlanc (By Carmichael Phillip) Early Life and Journey to Hollywood Born on July 25, 1967, in Newton, Massachusetts,…

  • Ad

  • Do child actors pay taxes?

    Do child actors pay taxes? A look into how young performers are taxed and protected by the law (By Javier Guerra) (Photo: Karolina Grabowska | Pexels) Yes, Child Actors Pay Taxes — Here’s…

    How much does a 12 year old actor get paid?

    How much does a 12 year old actor get paid? Breaking down child actor salaries in film, TV, commercials, and more (By Ray Reese) (Photo: Cottonbro Studio | Pexels) Understanding the Basics of…

    What Does “Screenplay” Mean in Film Credits?

    What Does “Screenplay” Mean in Film Credits? Understanding the Role and Recognition of Screenwriters in the Film Industry (By Ray Reese) (Photo: GR Stocks | Unsplash) Decoding the “Screenplay” Credit When watching a…

  • Ad

  • What Degree Do Most Film Directors Have?

    What Degree Do Most Film Directors Have? Unpacking the educational backgrounds of Hollywood’s top directors—and what aspiring filmmakers can learn from them (By Ray Reese) (Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels) The Myth of…

    How Do You Get Cast in Local Commercials?

    How Do You Get Cast in Local Commercials? Insider strategies and real stories for landing local TV and online ad gigs (By Ray Reese) (Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels) Understand the Local Commercial…

    How to Find Voice Actor Jobs?

    How to Find Voice Actor Jobs? Your ultimate guide to landing work in the world of voice acting (By Ray Reese) (Photo: Kaboompics.com | Pexels) Start with Training and Demos Before diving into…

    Actor Profile: Courteney Cox

    Actor Profile: Courteney Cox Exploring the Career and Impact of Courteney Cox in Hollywood (By Carmichael Phillip) Introduction to Courteney Cox Courteney Cox is one of the most iconic and versatile actresses in…

    Can You Bring a Blanket into a Movie Theater Regal?

    Can You Bring a Blanket into a Movie Theater Regal? Exploring Comfort Policies at Regal Cinemas and Other Movie Theaters (By Ray Reese) (Photo: GR Stocks | Unsplash) Understanding Regal Cinema Policies When…

  • Ad