This article is for informational purposes only. The entertainment industry for minors is heavily regulated and requirements vary significantly by state and country. Parents and guardians should consult with a qualified entertainment lawyer before signing any contracts or beginning professional work.
Build Your Foundational Skills
Starting an acting career at 13 requires commitment from both the young actor and their parent or guardian. The entertainment industry is highly competitive, and professional success is built on consistent training and a realistic understanding of the business. This initial phase involves developing a marketable skill set and building a solid foundation in the craft of acting before seeking professional opportunities.
Skill development involves enrolling in acting classes and workshops designed specifically for youth. Local community theaters often offer accessible programs that teach stage presence, improvisation, and basic scene work. These low-pressure environments help the actor learn the fundamentals of character development and script analysis. The focus is on understanding the mechanics of performance and developing comfort in front of an audience.
Formalized training is far more valuable than immediate professional credits at this stage. Seeking out an acting coach who specializes in on-camera technique can bridge the gap between stage work and the demands of film and television. On-camera classes introduce the unique requirements of working with close-ups, understanding frame, and delivering subtle performances. This specialized instruction helps a young actor learn to translate their performance energy for the lens, which is a requirement for modern auditions.
Participating in school drama clubs and student film projects is another way to gain practical experience. School productions offer the chance to work through a full rehearsal process and understand the collaborative nature of a cast and crew. Student films, often produced by local college programs, provide hands-on experience with set etiquette. These non-paid experiences demonstrate a commitment to the craft and familiarity with a production environment, filling the “experience” gap on an initial resume.
Prepare Your Professional Toolkit
Before approaching agents or casting directors, a young actor needs a set of professional marketing materials that communicate their potential. The most important tool is the professional headshot. A good headshot for a minor should be current, clearly represent their age, and capture their natural personality without excessive makeup or dramatic lighting.
An industry-standard headshot is a close-up portrait that focuses on the eyes, communicating expressiveness and confidence. Parents should hire a professional photographer with experience shooting youth actors to ensure the photo meets specific industry requirements. Clothing should be simple, solid-colored, and free of logos, patterns, or distracting jewelry so the focus remains entirely on the actor’s face. Avoid using phone selfies or school pictures, as these immediately signal a lack of seriousness to industry professionals.
The second tool is the acting resume, formatted to fit an 8×10-inch sheet and often stapled to the back of the headshot. Since a new actor has no professional credits, the resume must maximize the “Training” and “Special Skills” sections. List every class, workshop, and coach, detailing specific techniques learned, such as cold reading, improvisation, or scene study.
The “Special Skills” section highlights unique talents that could be written into a role. These abilities show versatility and provide casting directors with a full profile of the young performer. Performance-worthy skills, hobbies, and sports should be listed, including:
- Foreign language proficiency
- Musical instruments or singing
- Various dance styles or martial arts
- Advanced athletic abilities or comfort with animals
Secure Representation
Representation connects an actor to professional auditions, and for a minor, securing a legitimate agent is a necessary step. Agents are state-licensed professionals whose primary function is to secure employment and negotiate contracts. They are paid a standard commission, typically 10% of the actor’s earnings, and should never charge upfront fees to sign or review materials.
A manager focuses on the actor’s long-term career strategy, development, and overall image. Managers often have smaller client rosters than agents, providing more personalized coaching and advice. While a manager may suggest training, in major markets like California and New York, they are legally prohibited from procuring employment without a licensed agent. For a new actor, an agent is the first required relationship to gain access to professional casting breakdowns.
Finding representation begins with thorough research to build a targeted list of agencies that represent youth actors. Industry websites and referral sources, such as recommendations from acting coaches or other industry parents, are the most reliable ways to identify legitimate contacts. All communication with potential agents must be handled exclusively by the parent or guardian, who acts as the minor’s business representative.
Parents must be vigilant about vetting potential representatives when submitting the professional toolkit. Avoid any agency that guarantees work, promises stardom, or pressures a parent to pay for expensive photography or required classes. A reputable agent demonstrates commitment through a realistic assessment of the actor’s potential and works on commission, earning pay only when the actor books a job. Once an offer is made, the parent should review the contract carefully and consider seeking legal counsel.
Navigate Auditions and Casting Calls
Once an agent is secured, the actor will begin receiving invitations to audition, often called casting calls. Auditions frequently begin with a self-taped submission, requiring the actor and parent to create a professional-quality video from home. A successful self-tape requires attention to technical details, including a clean, neutral background, such as a solid blue or gray wall, and simple, consistent lighting.
Audio quality is paramount; using an external microphone is necessary to ensure the actor’s voice is clear and free of background noise. The performance should be delivered with the reader, typically the parent, standing near the camera so the actor looks slightly off-camera. Following the exact instructions provided by the casting director for framing, lines, and slate information is non-negotiable, as precision demonstrates professionalism.
In-person auditions or virtual live callbacks require a high level of professional etiquette, especially for minors. Arriving early, being prepared to perform the material without a script, and maintaining respectful behavior towards all casting personnel are expected standards. Many auditions involve a cold read, where the actor is given the script immediately before the audition and must quickly analyze the material and make strong character choices.
The ability to take direction quickly is highly valued. Casting directors frequently give the actor an adjustment, or a new direction for the scene, to test their flexibility and capacity to collaborate. Since the outcome of an audition is dependent on factors outside the actor’s control, the focus should be on delivering a prepared, professional performance and immediately letting go of the result.
Understand the Legal and Financial Requirements
Entering the industry as a minor means navigating a specific set of legal and financial regulations designed to protect child performers. The parent or guardian must secure a Child Work Permit, which is mandatory before the minor can legally work on a professional set. Requirements for these permits, including necessary school attendance records and medical certifications, vary significantly depending on the state or province where the work is performed.
In major entertainment production hubs, a specific type of trust account must be established to protect the minor’s earnings, commonly known as a Coogan Account. In states like California, New York, Illinois, Louisiana, and New Mexico, a percentage of the minor’s gross earnings, often 15%, is legally required to be deposited into this blocked trust account.
The funds in a Coogan Account cannot be accessed by the parent or guardian and are held securely until the minor reaches the age of majority, typically 18. The employer is responsible for ensuring this percentage is withheld and deposited shortly after payment, but the parent must provide the account information. Proof of this established account is often a prerequisite for obtaining the necessary work permit.
The parent’s role extends to serving as the required on-set chaperone or teacher for the minor, particularly for actors under the age of 16. Child labor laws mandate strict limits on working hours and require that the minor’s education is maintained through designated on-set tutors or teachers. The parent is responsible for ensuring the minor’s welfare, education, and legal compliance are upheld throughout the entire duration of employment.
Maintain Momentum and Professional Growth
The path to a sustainable acting career is rarely linear, and maintaining momentum requires resilience and a commitment to continuous growth. Rejection is an inherent part of the industry, as actors audition for dozens of roles for every one they book. Developing a healthy perspective means viewing each audition as an opportunity to practice the craft, rather than a test with a pass or fail outcome.
Continuous training remains paramount, even after an actor begins booking jobs. Consistent enrollment in advanced classes helps hone skills and keeps the actor’s tools sharp for any role that comes their way. This commitment to ongoing education demonstrates a professional work ethic to agents and casting directors, showing that the actor is invested in their long-term development.
Balancing a professional career with the life of a 13-year-old requires careful management of time and expectations. School must remain a priority, and the parent is responsible for integrating the actor’s education with their work schedule, utilizing on-set teachers when necessary. Maintaining a strong social life and engaging in non-acting hobbies is important for ensuring the young actor remains well-adjusted and avoids burnout.
The goal is to build a long-term career, which means consistently updating the professional toolkit and nurturing industry relationships. Regularly providing the agent with updated headshots and new special skills ensures the actor is competitive for upcoming roles. Success is measured not by the speed of initial success, but by the ability to persevere and evolve over many years.