Image by respres/Flickr, Spend Hours in Traffic to Become a Child Actor
When we decided to help our daughter become a child actor, we did not think much about the cons of acting — instead we were focused on giving our daughter the opportunity to do what she seemed to enjoy most — entertaining others.
At the same time, helping her become a child actor seemed like an exciting and fun thing to do. And Los Angeles seemed like a cool place to be. (See “What Should You Do If Your Child Wants to Become a Child Actor?” and “Should You Move to Los Angeles for Your Child to Become a Child Actor?” for more on this topic.)
As we started our journey into show business, we knew there would be some sacrifices, but it was not until we moved to L.A. and began auditioning that we started to really understand the sacrifices.
A Birthday Party
I remember one particular time when my daughter was 7, and she was invited to the birthday party of one of her best friends at school. It was a pool party, and all of her friends were planning to be there. She was so excited that she could hardly think or talk about anything else.
An Audition
When the phone rang the day before the party, and it was her talent manager, my heart sank. As I feared, my daughter’s manager informed me of an audition scheduled at the same time as the birthday party.
It had been a while since my daughter’s last audition, and I knew I really needed to agree to it.
Perhaps I should have turned it down, but instead I asked if we could change to a later time. I was able to postpone it for two hours, but it still meant she’d have to leave the party early.
I dreaded telling my daughter about the audition and wondered how I could get her to rehearse her lines, much less be cheerful and happy in the audition.
Changing Plans
When I told her, first she said “No, I am not going!” She was very upset, but after a few minutes of thinking, she seemed to understand that it was something she needed to do. She immediately began working on learning the lines for the audition.
I still remember having to tell the mother of the birthday girl that we’d be leaving early for an audition. I also remember how she looked at me when I told her. Most people really don’t understand about this sort of thing.
Doing What You Have to Do
When I arrived back at the party to pick up my daughter, she was in the pool laughing and playing with her friends, and I hated having to take her away from this.
I still remember how sad she looked when she saw me there. But she got out willingly, and then, amazingly, cheerfully left with me.
Making Plans is Difficult
This was only one of so many occasions when plans were made with friends and then had to be canceled due to auditions. Sometimes I was almost afraid to make any plans for my daughter for fear of an audition resulting in us having to cancel. I even started warning the parents whenever plans were made that if an audition came up we’d have to cancel.
Some of the other parents and I joked about it saying we needed to make plans to go somewhere if we wanted our child to get an audition.
Interference with plans made is just one of a number of things that a child has to deal with when they become a child actor.
Have you thought about what your child will give up to become a child actor?
“What does a child give up to become a child actor?”
