The On Location Education Blog
Living with Anxiety and Uncertainty as an Actor
Living with Anxiety and Uncertainty as an Actor
Actors are constantly faced with rejection and uncertainty. This is a natural part of practically every career or field of interest, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to grapple with. Especially for young or new actors, a lack of confidence can feel debilitating. But it’s important to remember that every actor has had to deal with this type of anxiety at one point in their careers. There’s nothing wrong with feeling nervous about your burgeoning skills, but in the long run, these feelings can hold you back from growth.
Voice Health Tips for Actors
Voice Health Tips for Actors
Not every acting job is a speaking role, but many do involve using your voice in some way. Whether you’ve been hired for a film, voice-over role, or are performing on a stage, your voice will likely play a big part in your performance. Actors of all ages and experience levels need to take time to maintain their skills as well as physical and mental well-being if they want to be successful.
5 Common Mistakes Made by Parents of Child Actors
5 Common Mistakes Made by Parents of Child Actors
Parents of child actors have a difficult role to navigate. On one hand, you want to nurture and support your child in every way you can, but on the other hand, you must understand that acting is a business and requires professionalism. There are many different aspects of parenting a young actor that can be challenging—from interacting with agents to navigating auditions and balancing family and fun time with work. You’re human, and you’re bound to make mistakes.
The Secret to Dealing with Rejection as an Actor
The Secret to Dealing with Rejection as an Actor
Actress Reese Witherspoon recently shared a story on social media about the many rejections she received over the course of her career. She wrote:
“I'm not gonna lie, sometimes all the rejection would hurt my feelings, I would take it personally. I definitely cried in the shower a lot in my 20’s. What I didn’t know then was : rejection teaches you perseverance and how to get tough. And you also learn ... not every path is right for you.”
6 Things Every Parent of a Child Actor Should Know
6 Things Every Parent of a Child Actor Should Know
Supporting a young performer comes with a mountain of changes and challenges that parents and children must navigate together. But as your child’s guardian (and often as their manager), there are some lessons that parents might have to learn the hard way. The information below is intended for you to facilitate this transition and provide valuable insights that might prevent headaches down the road.
4 Tips to Working Well with Castmates
4 Tips to Working Well with Castmates
Building your acting career can often seem like a solitary pursuit. You are responsible for your own skills. Even with a parent’s help, or manager’s, or agent’s, it is an actor’s individual capabilities that drive their careers. But when you land some roles and head to a real set for the first time, the chances are that this will change. Some auditions even take place with other actors, so it’s critical for actors to learn to work with others in a constructive way.
Child Actors and Managing Mental Health
Child Actors and Managing Mental Health
Show business can be a stressful industry for anyone and everyone in it. As the parent of a young performer, you will likely get to witness the repercussions of such a stressful job in real time. With schooling, family, friends, and a career to manage, young actors can easily be overwhelmed. And this challenging combination can have wide-ranging effects, all of which need to be monitored. Actors young and old are constantly put under pressure by their careers and personal lives, and while the show must go on, health and safety are top priorities.
7 Helpful Apps for Young Actors
7 Helpful Apps for Young Actors
Actors of every age always need to hone their craft and work on their skills, no matter who they are and how long they’ve been in the business. There are many different ways for actors to continue to learn, some are more expensive and time-consuming than others. For younger actors embroiled in the digital age, apps can present a unique learning opportunity.
How to Market Yourself as a Young Actor
How to Market Yourself as a Young Actor
Actors of all types and ages find work in a variety of ways. But while your skills form the foundation of your career, there is also another aspect that is vital for success: Marketing and networking. How you represent yourself to the world, along with how other professionals represent you, are key components to crafting a fruitful career in the long run.
Career Advice Every Young Actor Should Know
Career Advice Every Young Actor Should Know
Many child actors are inundated with well-meaning advice. There is no shortage of people telling them how to do their jobs and build their careers. But with so much conflicting and confusing information, what’s a young performer to believe?
How Young Actors Can Avoid Burnout
How Young Actors Can Avoid Burnout
For every actor, burnout is a serious concern. This is especially true for child actors who are often juggling school as well as auditions, training, filming, and more. For young performers, building a career in showbusiness while also working to build a future for themselves can seem like an insurmountable task. Burnout is characterized by a lack of creativity, fatigue, feeling overwhelmed, and not enjoying new opportunities that would usually be a source of fun and excitement. For many, burnout gets in the way of one’s love for their art and can be incredibly discouraging.
How to Prepare for Your First Audition
How to Prepare for Your First Audition
Congratulations—you've landed your very first audition! This is a big accomplishment for any actor. It’s your first taste of the professional acting world and can lead to many future opportunities. But because this is your first time auditioning for a part, there’s probably a lot on your mind. Though the audition is just the first step toward earning a role, it is the first time you will be exposing your skills to industry professionals, and it should be taken seriously. The trick with auditions is not taking them so seriously that you sabotage your chances of success.