At least initially, the best place to find tryouts and casting calls for children is through an internet casting platform like The Playground. After securing representation, a child actor’s agent will have direct access to casting directors and will be able to submit them for larger roles with big channels and studios.
While no formal training or education is required to become a child actor, young performers can hone their craft through four primary avenues: weekly group classes, workshops, private mentoring, and summer programs.
To begin their acting career, every child actor requires four items: headshots, an acting resume, a video reel, and audition supplies. These are necessary components of any actor’s toolkit, but you’ll approach them differently with children than you would with adults.
There is no “optimal” age for your child to begin acting, but you can anticipate varying casting opportunities based on their age. According to acting coach Denise Simon, child actors between the ages of 8 and 11 are typically the most desirable for agents and managers due to the abundance of roles available to this age range—but child actors of any age can expect the following:
It’s not uncommon for children to exclaim to their parents at some time, “I want to be on television!” However, how can you know if this is a passing fancy—or something more substantial? According to the top acting coaches, there are a few obvious signals that your child’s interest in acting is real.
