How to convince parents that acting is right for me??

Question

You've probably heard this question before, but here goes!

I'm 13, and I would like to be an actress. But my parents really don't think that acting is the right way to go - they aren't exactly "OMG ACTING - that's rubbish" - they just don't want me to 'waste' my time and energy doing auditions I am likely to be rejected in - I am not afraid of rejection - it's a fact of life as an actress!

But you're probably wondering why I don't just beg - but the thing is, that according to my teachers, I have a lot of potential with other subjects... and my parents want me to go to uni and study something like sciences (or whatever).

Because I'm 13, I can't get an agent without my parents' support, and I can't really audition for community theatre if my parents don't really approve - and I'm planning to talk to them about it - but if they still don't approve, then I'll have to wait until I'm 18 - will that be too late?? so what do I do?? What should I talk to them about, and how should I go about it??

Answer 1

The best way to get your parents to let you try your hand at acting is to present it in a "baby steps" kind of way. Don't talk about agents and careers and working professionally - just yet. They need to be eased into the idea of letting their child try their hand at acting. Talking about big stuff like agents, headshots, etc. is just going to make your parents feel overwhelmed.

I suggest you present your idea of attending an acting class or a community theatre audition in the same way you would ask them if you could go to summer camp or join a sports team or other extracurricular activity. Since, unless you're working professionally, it really is just going to be like any other activity a 13 year old might get involved in.

What's great about working on plays is that it gives you a lot more than just acting experience. It helps build social skills, communication skills, coordination, self-confidence, empathy, increase your vocabulary and understanding of the written language, increase your focus and concentration, increase your ability to memorize, increase listening skills, become more aware of your body and spacial awareness, it may spawn new interests in history and other subject matters. You'd get to meet and interact with new and interesting people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. And if you do community theatre, it just might fulfill some of your community service requirements for school (I know it does in my area.)

All the teens I know who are involved in theatre do well in school (yes, you'll want to keep your grades up), but theatre offers so much - even more than most other activities you can be involved in at school, because theatre combines a lot of them. Theatre is physically and mentally demanding and will require that you stay sharp in both ways.

When approaching your parents, you may also want to be prepared to answer why you want to act. What seems fulfilling about it to you? And try not to speak in terms of fame or tv and movies, since parents tend to not take those types of ideas seriously.

You also want to make it seem like any other activity you could get interested in - where the parents really only have to get you there, and aren't required to do a lot of other work or spend money (which is why I would hold off talking about agents and headshots, etc. since you won't need them to do school plays and community theatre.)

I hope you'll be able to try your hand at acting. You can never really know if acting is right for you until you get to work on a few productions and see if it's what you thought it would be like - or better - or completely different. And I think it's wonderful for kids/teens to get to try their hand at many different activities - especially ones they already show interest in.

Sorry this is so long - I hope it's at least somewhat helpful.

To sum up: Put your parents at ease, let them know the good things about acting, why you're interested, and that it doesn't cost tons of money to try it out.  And assure then that you will get all of your school work done, keep your grades up, and stay out of trouble. And then be sure to follow through with those promises if they let you (and even if they don't - so the next time you approach them, you'll have a good track record.) And you may want to find out if community theatre in your area will fulfill community service requirements for your school - because that's a plus.

Answer 2

Sorry, but you're 13. You don't know what is for you, and you don't know what's best for you.

Take a theatre class in high school. Then when you're older and know who you are, you can make these decisions.

Answer 3

Keep your grades high while being in all the school shows, If you are good enough for a career, the teachers and other parents will be congratuating your parents on having such a talented daughter, then you can talk to them about it.,  

Answer 4

Why are your parents against you taking part in community theatre? If anything the experience will strengthen you as a person, provide you with social skills, give you new friends, experience in acting (you can learn a LOT) and will help you decide if theatre really is for you. Get involved in amateur productions for experience, otherwise you will have no idea what to do when trying to get an agent, and an agent will not take you if you have no experience. You need to get involved, if you are any good people will be asking you to audition for things and you will make contacts...this is how the theatre works, you don't immediately get an agent and have work coming to you.

Answer 5

If acting is your passion, go for it; but realize that it is not easy getting into that field. Many people wait tables, or work jobs to put food on the table to make it as an actor or actress...

My advice is to work on something to fall back on(a degree, which will get you a good job while you work towards your acting career), and maybe create short films that showcase your work as an actress...and create a calling card for yourself.

Good luck.