Shocking: Stage Moms vs. NFL's Manning Family

I live in Los Angeles. I used to be an actress and even a talent agent at a very well known agency. I'm currently a photographer and director and so I've seen the Hollywood industry from all sides. I'm also a mom.

I've photographed child actors at various levels of their careers and during these headshot session photo shoots many of the parents say, "So you must meet a lot of Stage Moms?" and it's with the derogatory spin that the term seems to have earned itself. And with every year I remain in this business, I expect to actually start to answer that with a resounding "Yes, so many!" But alas, after 16 years and photographing hundreds of young actors and spending time with their parents I've kept my answer to a steadfast "No, I've barely met a one!"

Sure, there are the famous stage mom's from Brooke Shields' mom to Brittany Spears, from JonBenet Ramsey's mom to Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan's. But these "budding new stage moms", from my experience as an agent and a mother of a teenager who modeled professionally while in high school (Professionally enough to proudly buy a car with all her own money when she was 16) are actually following their kid's lead. When you turn on the TV and see any child under 16, they had to have an adult helping them, even if it was just driving them. The kids themselves want to do this! As a talent agent I have spoken at dozens of seminars in front of hundreds of kids and parents and these kids are excited and have dreams to be a performer. Just like a child who wants to be a pro football player, the parents encourage him.

So in that vein, I quote Archie Manning, father of two wildly successful children Peyton and Eli who are among the 0.2% of High School grads to actually make the NFL. "They have to like it and enjoy it and want to do it. And parents, we are just there to support [them]. They were motivated to play and get better, and they had a great work ethic. That's why they got there. My advice for parents is to support your children, make sure they are having fun. Support them and be there for them. Give them encouragement and make it a life lesson that along the way they are learning to make good decisions and do the right thing." Archie Manning - Forbes

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The acting kids look at the TV and want to be on it. They watch Disney and Nickelodeon and want to DO THAT. Now, of course not all of them exhibit the outgoing qualities of a superstar but that's not for me to judge nor the parents. There is no harm in enrolling your kid into a weekend acting class where he gets to play make believe and build confidence in front of like minded peers. There is no harm in going to an audition where you walk into a room of friendly strangers and introduce yourself, answer questions, play pretend (read the script), then walk out the door to see a smiling parent congratulating you on your courage and poise. If that's all they ever get out of this career they will, at the very least, have acquired social skills that will serve them in whatever they pursue.

But trust me, these "Stage moms" in LA will all tell you that it's not easy for them to juggle their work schedule, their other kids schedules, their wifely duties and their personal needs. They can and do spend hours a day on the freeways of Hollywood driving their kids to and from auditions and callbacks. Most of them would tell you "If my kid said he was done with this - I'd certainly not fight him as I would have more quality family time for sure." But then there is the other side of the coin, which is instilling a perseverance and work ethic in your child. They may not want to go to an audition or their acting class but that's similar to not wanting to practice the piano or go to soccer practice. So when is it "encouragement and discipline" and when is it being a "pushy uncaring selfish stage mom".

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I think the difference lies within listening to the child. Ask him or her, "Would you like to be able to play the piano? Would you like to perform in front of people and pretend to be different characters? If it wasn't so hard, would you like to be able to dance?" And if they answer yes, it's your wonderful right as a parent to help them achieve those goals. It will take as much patience on your part to "bite your tongue" when you hear them sing off key, and to refrain from announcing to other grown-ups in front of your child "Oh she's just being shy...why are you being shy today, you're never that way...!?" Those words don't actually help a child become un-shy. If anything they reinforce that "shy" gets attention. The worst thing that will happen if you facilitate your child who is interested in the performing arts is a back load of undone house chores, countless hours driving to and from appointments, eating at drive thrus, and consoling them when they didn't get a gig they really expected to. But the good out weighs the bad in my experience here.

If they end up as an accountant, an architect, a realtor, a web designer, or a chef, a day won't go by where the skills of collaborating with others, entering a room with confidence (even when you don't feel so), starting the conversation, public speaking, or being able to deliver a good joke won't come in handy. He or she will look back fondly at school plays they did and will be glad that their parents grinned and bared it. From Shirley Temple to Drew Barrymore, young girls have loved to dress up and entertain. I'm going out on a limb here when I say stage moms are like cosmetic surgery, you only really notice the bad ones...

Questions? Contact me. I do this all day long. :-)

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Denice Duff studied photography at the TISCH School of the Arts at NYU. She then came to LA and starting landing jobs in front of the camera from national commercials and Films to guest star TV roles from Matlock to CSI Miami. She was a contract player on the Young and the Restless and also directed a film distributed by Blockbuster. She then took on the role of Agent at the Bobby Ball Agency and launched careers for hundreds of actors. She then left to further her first passion behind the camera helping artists. Whether directing them in award winning music videos or shooting their headshots or PR shots for magazines Denice, after many years in Hollywood, is STILL so in love with her job. Contact her, because “You should be auditioning more”.

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1 Tip that will improve your audition

Judy Kain shares an audition tip that will increase your chances of booking

Judy Kain has been a professional actress now for 37 years, showcasing her skills and talents in over 350 commercials and in over 80 roles for film and television.  

Some of her more well-known credits include a Television Series Regular on The Jackie Thomas Show and a Recurring role on the Emmy-winning show Mad Men, a role which won her a SAG Award.  Her other favorite recurring credits include Married with Children, For Your Love, Grosse Pointe, and Manhattan, AZ with Chad Everett.  She has done numerous guest appearances on the hit shows Modern Family, The Middle, Bones, Castle, Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, ER, Seinfeld, The District, The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Friends, and The Drew Carey Show just to name a few.   Her teaching career has also lead to immense success, being voted BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE ON-CAMERA COMMERCIAL TEACHER IN LA in 2010 and 2011.  Her other acting classes have won BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE IN LA as well, and continue to produce amazing results for her students. She teaches Advanced Callback, Commercial A to Z and Commercial Wednesday Workouts.

Can Clothes Really Book a Job?... Aspects of the Castable Actor

Not only can the right clothes play a part in booking a job, more importantly, the wrong clothes can lose a job for an actor as well.  Think about it. This is a visual medium. When the camera cuts to a character whether in a television show, a movie or especially a commercial, we (the audience) immediately have a sense of who they are and what their role is just by the way they look…their type, age, and the clothes they’re wearing.

The same is true for any actor walking into an audition or a meeting. A casting director, director, agent or manager must be able to look at you or your headshot and know instantly who you are and how and where you fit in. Every type, every category, every marketable role has a certain “uniform” way of dressing that speaks to the viewer eliminating the need for unnecessary exposition.

I have been working with a very lovely actress on her specific marketable image for commercials.  She is in that early forties, mom of teens category. In real life, she has a very cool arty way of dressing. You see her and think “funky” “offbeat” “very hip” “very cool.” Words you don’t necessarily equate with the 40-something mothers portrayed on television…juggling home and career while trying to clean the bathroom and make dinner. And yet, “very hip” “very cool” is how she was dressing to go to auditions. Her reasoning was that her personal style set her apart from the other actresses in her category. Memorable, yes, but not in the way she thought.

Imagine a commercial director looking for the perfect harried housewife and in walks a woman looking, albeit great, like she just came from the Avant-Garde challenge on Project Runway. Without even saying a word, she has either lost the interest of or confused everyone in that room. Why? Because visually, she is not presenting herself in a marketable way…she is not selling, what the industry is buying.

We discussed the “uniform” of women her type in television commercials; layers, little to no skin, denim shirt over pastel tshirts, khakis or nondescript slacks, and loafers or flats…basic mom clothes.  She proudly came to our next meeting with armloads of new clothes: a little denim dress cut high above the knee, beautiful high-end designer blouses in pastel colors, and the most kick-ass high-heeled loafers that make you wonder how the hell does she walk in those things and who cares ‘cause they are “fabulous!” Mothers portrayed in television commercials wear basic mom clothes…the kind you find at Target or JCPenny…nothing with designer labels or expensive fabrics from high-end stores. I told her, that in her everyday life she can wear whatever she wants, but when she is going up for a “mom” role, it’s Target or JCPenny. She was crushed…and then she asked the question that every actor I work with poses: 

“If I’m supposed to look and dress like everyone else, how am I going to stand apart and be noticed?”

My answer: The star quarterback wears the exact same uniform as the guy on the bench,…what sets them apart? (I know right, Project Runway and sports analogies in one article???) Mainly, it’s talent. You need to bring that which makes you unique or special (talent and branding) to every audition and meeting within the parameters of your category. What does that mean? Wear the Uniform. Be You. 

Blow them away with your talent.

Your job as an actor is to study television, movies, and commercials, not only for the current acting styles and trends, but also for the current clothing, hair style, and makeup (women only, please!) trends of your specific type and categories. Start to look at yourself the way the industry sees you.

If you truly want to be castable, you need to know who you are and what you have to offer…and if you want to get on the field and play with the big guys, you MUST wear the uniform. Clothes really can play a part in booking a job.

Dress the part, and you may just be asked to play it!

Tom Burke is an Image Consultant, Headshot Coach and Acting Teacher. After transitioning from a successful print model to an accomplished on-camera actor to a proficient on-set acting coach, Tom fused his wealth of knowledge and keen eye to become one of LA’s premier Image Consultants and Headshot Coaches. He's the creator of The Castable Actor (www.thecastableactor.com), a series of workshops, seminars, articles, and advice designed to help actors open doors to a successful career. He is currently teaching the classes Not Just A Pretty Face, All-In-One Headshots Package, and The Castable Actor at Keep it Real Acting Studios in North Hollywood.

3 Ways to Better your Commercial Audition

Actress & Teacher Judy Kain shares 3 tips on how to best prepare for your commercial audition. For more acting advice, visit www.keepitrealacting.com/blog.html

Judy Kain has been a professional actress now for 37 years, showcasing her skills and talents in over 350 commercials and in over 80 roles for film and television.  

Some of her more well-known credits include a Television Series Regular on The Jackie Thomas Show and a Recurring role on the Emmy-winning show Mad Men, a role which won her a SAG Award.  Her other favorite recurring credits include Married with Children, For Your Love, Grosse Pointe, and Manhattan, AZ with Chad Everett.  She has done numerous guest appearances on the hit shows Modern Family, The Middle, Bones, Castle, Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, ER, Seinfeld, The District, The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Friends, and The Drew Carey Show just to name a few.   Her teaching career has also lead to immense success, being voted BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE ON-CAMERA COMMERCIAL TEACHER IN LA in 2010 and 2011.  Her other acting classes have won BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE IN LA as well, and continue to produce amazing results for her students. She teaches Advanced Callback, Commercial A to Z and Commercial Wednesday Workouts.

The Best way to help your Child Actor

Inevitably you will get a commercial audition at the most inconvenient time, in the farthest location from where you live, during heavy Los Angeles traffic. But because over 2500 actors are submitted for each role, and you were lucky enough to get your children picked, you should happily make the audition, even if that means changing your child's dentist appointment, rescheduling your own hair appointment, or even skipping the karate class they are enrolled in.

Give yourself a leg up and always have an extra set of clothes in the car. Shoes, tights, shirts, sweatshirts.. whatever is a good standard outfit for your child. Also hair ties, brushes,  anything you need to make the necessary quick adjustments and not drive home.  Also have snacks in the car... ALWAYS! Bars, Nuts, Juice boxes, fruit snacks.. so your child isn’t hungry when they arrive.

It is important to help your child understand the spot, and their function in it. Help them with any words they do not know how to pronounce or understand. But that is where your assistance should end.

IT IS CRITICAL YOU NEVER TELL OR SHOW THEM HOW TO SAY THE WORDS, OR GIVE THEM ANY GESTURES TO DO WHILE SAYING IT! DO NOT COACH YOUR KIDS!  Let them sound natural like a kid.. DO NOT TELL THEM TO SMILE ON CERTAIN WORDS.

You are hurting them more than you will know.  Casting directors can tell instantly that a kid has been coached poorly and then it is very difficult to direct them to read naturally.  

Your job is to get them to the audition on time,  keep them in a good mood, feed them, support them and drive them home safely.  That is very, very helpful and appreciated.

If your kids are over a certain age, that’s where techniques can help them without locking them into a rigid recital for the casting director. Here are a few technique suggestions for your kids over 8 years old.

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Paraphrase: Put the scene in your own words. Make it your own and know exactly what it is you're doing in this place. This is an excellent way to memorize the lines as they will make much more sense to you if you make this a regular practice.  In addition you will refrain from being selly. The tone of commercials nowadays is very filmic and often times the product is not even uttered by you or anyone in the scene. It may be voiced over at the end. SO NEVER NEVER NEVER SELL.  That is not your job. That is the advertisers job. You are to play the scene and work to get what you want from the person you're talking to.

Personalize:  This is where you can add your own experience as it fits in with the confines of the scene. You always want to work within the framework of the scene you are given and  Put your own spin on it or infuse a  little hint of your personality in the scene. This is very important because it is your audition and your job is to lift  the copy from the page and make it come alive. The way to do this is make personal everything you are talking about. Pick someone from your life to talk to. I have a list of 5-7 people who I talk to on a regular basis and I use them and put them in the camera. I actually cast the person I am talking to or about so I have a clear picture of who is in the scene with me. They should be real people in your life, not made up people. For kids most of the time they are talking to their mom, dad or siblings. If they do not have siblings they can use a cousin or good friend Talk to them and see how the scene becomes more real for you.  In addition to this work, know how you feel about everything you talking about.

Practice: Get the words out of your mouth prior to going in the room. You do not want the first time these words come out of your mouth to be on your first take… DISASTER! Find a corner, or go outside or in the bathroom and say them in full volume. The words sound different vocalized than they do up in your head..

And once you get in the room ASK FOR A REHEARSAL or look at the cue card and do a quick take out loud while the session director is finding your name on the call sheet. It is like a free take and you might even get some notes from the session director too!

When you are done, say thanks and leave upbeat.

Parents should ask only one question when your kid comes out of the audition room...

Are you all done? or  Did you have fun?

That is it.... gather their things and sign out and go on to your next appointment.

Or treat them with a visit to the local eatery.

DO NOT ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS as they put undo pressure on your young actor and they are unable to answer it and will sense they did something wrong.. and will carry that into the next auditions.

1. How did you do?
2. How did it go?
3. What did they ask you do?
4. Did they like you?
5. Refrain from saying.. lets hope you get this one.. or hope you get a callback.. etc... Keep your kids pressure free.

As parents of a young actor you have to accept that you will never be privy to what happens in the audition room. That is why they should be in class where they can get proper training from a professional.

The only time you will see your child work is on the set. That is your only opportunity to see them in action. And then again there you are the parent. They have a director, a teacher and a studio rep to make sure they are not being worked improperly under the child labor laws.

For more info on Child actors, classes or coaching call Keep it Real Acting (818)901-8606 or email keepitreal@keepitrealacting.com

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Judy Kain has been a professional actress now for 37 years, showcasing her skills and talents in over 350 commercials and in over 80 roles for film and television.  

Some of her more well-known credits include a Television Series Regular on The Jackie Thomas Show and a Recurring role on the Emmy-winning show Mad Men, a role which won her a SAG Award.  Her other favorite recurring credits include Married with Children, For Your Love, Grosse Pointe, and Manhattan, AZ with Chad Everett.  She has done numerous guest appearances on the hit shows Modern Family, The Middle, Bones, Castle, Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, ER, Seinfeld, The District, The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Friends, and The Drew Carey Show just to name a few.   Her teaching career has also lead to immense success, being voted BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE ON-CAMERA COMMERCIAL TEACHER IN LA in 2010 and 2011.  Her other acting classes have won BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE IN LA as well, and continue to produce amazing results for her students. She teaches Advanced Callback, Commercial A to Z and Commercial Wednesday Workouts.

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Is Acting right for my child?

"YOUR CHILD IS SO CUTE! THEY SHOULD BE ON TV!"How many times have parents heard that?  As an actress and acting coach, many parents ask me about how to get their kids started in the business, oftentimes because they’ve been told their child is cute!

My first thought is, has the child expressed an interest in wanting to act?  If the answer is yes, then get them into a good on-camera acting class.   It’s no different than if your child was interested in dancing, gymnastics or playing a sport.  You’d enroll them in a sports league or class, right?  Do the same for a child who wants to act.

Like many things kids try, some will love acting and others will decide they’d rather be on the playground, or WATCHING TV rather than being ON TV.  But if they love it, having taken a class will give them the beginning tools and confidence they need to walk into an audition room knowing what to expect.  THAT can make a huge difference in which cute child gets the job.

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Donna Rusch Kids Classes

Donna has more than 20 years experience as a professional actress and broadcaster.  She is a former TV News Anchor and Television Show Host and has been seen in more than 100 commercials and Industrial films, most recently for clients such as Sara Lee, Suave, Curves, Farmers and Merchants Bank of California and Reliant Energy.  Donna can be seen in the Ben Affleck thriller “Gone Girl” and has a lead role in “The Periphery” now winning awards at film festivals.  Recent television credits include Criminal Minds, Revenge and the new ABC series “How to Get Away With Murder”.

Donna has extensive experience working as an acting coach for kids and teens.  She says “I so enjoy my career and find it both a thrill and privilege to mentor the next generation as they reach for their dreams. “

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The Castable Actor: Keys to get you in the door

So what exactly makes an actor castable? That’s easy, right? It’s an actor who is talented and can act whatever part they are given…uhmm…Not exactly. We all know actors, from classes or work or life, who are not really all that talented. Some don’t even seem to care or want it as much as the rest of us, and yet, they keep getting called in for auditions, and often, they even get booked. What’s up with that?

Simple…talent will always win out in the end (so keep working out those acting muscles in classes and workshops), but just being talented won’t get you in the door.

The Castable Actor is a series of workshops, lectures, one-on-one coaching sessions, and sequence of articles that helps actors acquire the keys to open those doors. Agents, managers, casting directors, and producers need to be able to look at you or your headshot or your reel and know that you are castable before they even decide to bring you in for an audition or meeting. Meaning, they need to know exactly who you are and what they can do with you…they need to know that you are a marketable commodity. After all, this is a business.

The Castable Actor helps actors find their places in the business…who they are and how they fit in. It teaches actors to expand how they view the industry, and most importantly, how to look at themselves the way the industry sees them.

Before we look at some of the castable traits that I explore throughout the course of The Castable Actor, there are three words that you need to etch into your brain: Honest, Realistic, Specific. These terms are extremely important in all aspects of your acting life, but it is especially vital to keep them on the forefront as you try to incorporate into your acting life the aspects of The Castable Actor:

-Knowledge. The actor that is not only castable, but also capable of building a career, is one who understands the business of this industry. Film and TV is so much more than red carpets, premiers, and huge paychecks.  The Castable Actor is one who can pull back the illusion and magic of acting to reveal a job with rules and parameters like any other profession.

-Self –Awareness. Knowing who you are and how you fit in this industry is the first and most important step to becoming castable. I am still amazed that 9 out of 10 actors I work with don’t even know their specific Type. As I always say: “No one is going to get you, til you get you.”

-Marketability. Part of knowing who you are and where you fit in is knowing what jobs or roles that you can be cast in today…not roles you want to do or dream of doing, but understanding and accepting the level you are currently at…this is when those three words (Honest Realistic Specific) play an important part.

-Presentation.  You know who you are, how you fit in, and the roles you can be playing today…now you need to start presenting yourself in that light. This is a visual business…look the part, and you will be asked to act it.

 -Individuality/Branding. When you are sitting in the waiting room with 25 other actors all your same type and marketability, what do you bring unique and special to the role that the others don’t? This is your Brand.

-Packaging. Understanding the importance of Packaging separates the actor who is castable from the part-time “I think I want to act if I don’t really have to do anything” actor. It is bringing everything together in a recognizable, branded, individualized package, including you, your image and presence and all marketing materials: headshots, reel, postcards, website, web series, etc.

-Image Maintenance. Once you figure out who you are, and how to best package your self and your brand, if you want to remain castable, you need to learn how to maintain and alter those aspects, while always staying true to yourself, in an ever-changing industry.

-Flexibility. Being flexible is a great quality of the Castable Actor. Not only do you need to be able to “Yes and…” in the acting arena, you should be as open to changing your image, look, dress, branding, etc. in order to constantly present the best most marketable you.

-Acknowledging Limitations. No, you can’t do everything, no matter what your mother told you, but what you can do is “be you” better than anyone else. Becoming the best at doing what you do within your own limitations not only creates a Castable Actor, it creates a memorable actor.

-Confidence not Cockiness. Confidence is an attractive attribute. A Castable Actor is one who knows who s/he is and more importantly, owns it…warts and all.  Cockiness is just a cover-up for insecurities and no one wants a cocky insecure actor on set.

-Goal Setting. Start thinking about your acting career from today plus five years. Let go of who you were or what you did in the past. That year you booked a couple jobs, or that month your hair looked amazing, sure, they were great, but the Castable Actor is far too busy to stay in the past. Look to where you want to be and set realistic honest and specific goals to get you there.

So there you have a number of the aspects that we will fully explore throughout The Castable Actor; aspects that can help make an actor more marketable, more desirable, ultimately, more castable, I invite you along on the journey, to take a workshop, read the articles, and put the information to work in your own acting life (remember Honest, Realistic, and Specific). Along the way you’ll acquire the keys you need to get in the door…not only for an audition or two, but if you’ve got the talent to back it up, The Castable Actor could lead you through the door to a successful career.

Tom Burke All in One Headshot, Not Just a Pretty Face, The Castable Actor Tom, a working model and actor, teaches seminars and gives lectures on the importance of headshots and discovering an actor’s image. He is currently consulting and coaching at Keep It Real Acting Studios in North Hollywood, CA where he also teaches the exclusive classes: All-In-One Headshots Package, The Castable Actor, and Not Just a Pretty Face.

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The Difference Between Commercial & Theatrical Auditions

A few years ago, a friend of mine I will call Ted approached me about getting into commercials. I was somewhat surprised, since he had previously told me that he was a “serious” actor, and would not even consider doing commercials. Which was too bad because he had a great look.

I referred him to a commercial agency that signed him, and soon he was on the audition trail. He was in on several sessions I directed, so I was able to see his work.

After a few months, he came to see me, asking why I thought he wasn’t booking spots. “I don’t get it,” he said, “I’m not even getting callbacks.” “What do you do to prepare for your auditions?” I asked. “Prepare?” Ted said, incredulously, “For a commercial audition?” “What kind of training have you gotten?” I asked. “Training? For commercials?” he responded.

I knew what his problem was from watching his auditions. He still believed himself too good to act in commercials, and so didn’t take the audition process seriously. He did not treat his commercial auditions with the same respect he had for theatrical auditions. Consequently, he was always “on top of the material,” not creating a reality around the audition situation. So his auditions came off as arrogant and aloof.

A student asked me recently what was the difference between auditioning for commercials and theatrical productions. I said “Usually, the length of your sides.”

True, there is more technique involved in commercial auditions, eg: cheating to the camera, inventing a button, etc. But both come down to good acting—creating a credible character that an audience can relate to.

Of course, commercial actors should always be aware of the style of the product’s advertising. For instance, you don’t audition the same way for McDonald’s as for Bud Light. But the same is true in theatrical. You wouldn’t audition for “Sons of Anarchy” the same way as for “Modern Family.” The biggest difference is that with commercials, the hardest part is actually the audition. Once you’ve booked the spot, everything else is easy. Whereas for theatrical, once you’ve booked the role, your work has just begun.

Another thing to consider when thinking about commercial auditions is that there are a lot of very good actors out there booking commercials. They know what they’re doing and how to audition well. They are your competition. Every time you audition you are going up against them and they take it seriously.

Remember, you’re an actor and auditions are precious. Honor your craft by giving them the attention necessary to make them credible.

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Doug Traer Commercial Wednesday Workout, Kids Commercial Class Doug has been working in film, television, theatre, and commercials for the past 26 years.  His film credits include Robert Miller’s Brenda Starr, the critically acclaimed Speak of the Devil and the black comedy Dead Giveaway.  He has had multiple roles on General Hospital, appeared in America’s Most Wanted and Saved by the Bell, among others.He has made a number of national TV commercials for products such as Mercedes-Benz, Sony Playstation, Sprint, Blue Cross Insurance, Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and Hardee’s Restaurants.

In addition to his acting gigs, he works as a commercial casting director and session director as well as teaching and providing career guidance to young actors or those just getting into the business.  He also directs theatrical and industrial video productions through his own independent production company.

Doug studied acting with master teacher Cliff Osmond for 15 years and improv with the LA Connection. He began teaching commercial classes 12 years ago and theatrical classes in 2003.  He has also taught in San Francisco, Chicago, Oakland, Phoenix and Santa Barbara and recently returned from Tokyo where he taught American acting to Japanese students.

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Judy Kain's Advice Column

"Hi Judy,

I'm wondering if I could ask your advice on a weird callback I had today.

I signed in and we all waited for a while. They had been going in groups of 4 but by the time they got to me they had no one left. They did ask one girl to stay and go again with me, but the scene was supposed to be with two other guys as well. There were two parts to the commercial - we did the first take and the director cut us off before the second part. He then quickly went into the next take and I felt rushed right into it, so the second take was probably really jumbled and again he never let us get to the second part. When the girl and I got outside she said that that was nothing like it was the first time she went in. 

I've been rushed through auditions and callbacks before and rarely feel good about how it went after. 

What would you have done in this situation?"

-Feeling Rushed

I understand your frustration.

It doesn't sound like an ideal callback situation. And I think you handled it as best you could. It is possible they were going according to appointment time and not according to the sign in list.

If you ever feel rushed. You can always say, "Let me do that again" or "Can I have another pass at that?" When all is said and done, you have to let it go and move on to the next opportunity. You did nothing wrong.

We have to adopt that attitude of divine nonchalance, in which we do our best but there is little to no need for the job. Always happy to be of service to the spot as you are a unique and fantastic talent, should they choose you.

All the best,

Judy Kain

Have a question? Ask an expert. Submit your question anonymously via email or in the comments below to have it answered in a future advice column.

Judy Kain has been a professional actress now for 37 years, showcasing her skills and talents in over 350 commercials and in over 80 roles for film and television.  

Some of her more well-known credits include a Television Series Regular on The Jackie Thomas Show and a Recurring role on the Emmy-winning show Mad Men, a role which won her a SAG Award.  Her other favorite recurring credits include Married with Children, For Your Love, Grosse Pointe, and Manhattan, AZ with Chad Everett.  She has done numerous guest appearances on the hit shows Modern Family, The Middle, Bones, Castle, Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, ER, Seinfeld, The District, The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Friends, and The Drew Carey Show just to name a few.   Her teaching career has also lead to immense success, being voted BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE ON-CAMERA COMMERCIAL TEACHER IN LA in 2010 and 2011.  Her other acting classes have won BACKSTAGE WEST'S FAVORITE IN LA as well, and continue to produce amazing results for her students. She teaches Advanced Callback, Commercial A to Z and Commercial Wednesday Workouts.

Hosting 101

There are so many times a new student will come to me for coaching and just want to know a few basics on how to handle a hosting audition...whether it be a commercial spokesperson, entertainment reporter, infomerical, industrial, reality TV show audition, etc.

The FIRST to know when you're hosting is that you are ALWAYS looking at camera. The exception to that is if you have a co-host or your are interviewing someone on the red carpet. Then it's about 35% to your co-host or interviewee and 65% is into the camera lens. You are the eyes and ears of the viewer and you are giving them a play by play of all that your are experiencing...using all of your senses...so they can get the best perceived experience of being there without actually having to leave their living room.

The SECOND thing is you are always playing yourself. You may do different versions of yourself (more playful, more serious, more professional, more nerdy) but you are always yourself. There is really no character study required...which is great! You just use the lines given and have them go through your "operating system" to have it be the most fun, entertaining version of YOU delivering that information.

The THIRD and final basic thing to remember is to book-end your read. Just like book-ends on a shelf. Make sure you do a strong first sentence all into camera and a super strong last sentence into camera. THESE TWO SENTENCES ARE REALLY THE ONLY ONES YOU SHOULD TOTALLY MEMORIZE FOR AN AUDITION. It's usually so much copy you want to have the freedom to look down and gather your lines. But doing a solid open and close into camera (as well as saying your name and the name of the product and show) will make your audition POP!

Next time we'll talk about a few way to handle your nerves when you have LOTS of copy to get through..."See" you then! :)

Shannon O’Dowd is an on-camera coach specializing in hosting training for infomercials (DR), Entertainment Reporting, Shopping Channels, Reality TV, Talk Shows, Trade-show Narration, Career Coaching, and Teleprompter Training.  Shannon O’Dowd began her coaching career with Carolyne Barry Creative and Suzanne Sena as the instructor for all incoming students wanting to gain knowledge on how to be a working host. After years of instructing, Shannon is very good at getting the best performance possible out of her clients with spot-on adjustments & information that “sticks” & aids in many areas of on-camera work, even beyond just hosting!

Join Shannon for her 1 day Kids & Teens Hosting Class coming up October 26!