Auditioning With Kids: When Your Scene Partner Is Four Feet Tall

Today we’re talking about auditioning for commercials and television with a very particular kind of scene partner. You arrive, you’re assigned someone, and they meet the following criteria: forty-eight inches tall or less, demanding chocolate milk, and in full command of the lyrics to “Let It Go.” Congratulations. You’re auditioning with a small child. If it’s your own small person, that’s a different post. If it’s somebody else’s, here’s how to make it go well.

1) Introduce yourself

To the kid, and to the mom, dad or guardian. Get a feel for the child’s personality. Most young actors, like most full-sized ones, get nervous or shy before an audition; ask questions and let them do most of the talking. At the other end of the spectrum is the exceedingly gregarious child, whose nerves come out as giggling, jumping and joking in a way that’s hard to focus. Not to worry. The scene can still be very good. You just have to know which one you’ve got.

2) Offer to go over the sides together

If there are lines, rehearse them a few different ways. First a dry run, just to get the words out once and focus the child. Then again, listening for the tricky spots. If either of you is stumbling, do an over-enunciated read to punch the diction. Then once or twice more, starting to explore and really listening to each other. Rehearsal is great, and don’t over-rehearse a child; once you’re in a groove, let them rest until you’re called.

Include the parent in the offer. “Mom can be the casting director and we’ll do our scene.” If the child is older and would rather not have the parent involved, make sure you’re still working within eyeshot of them.

3) Build the relationship first

Say you’re auditioning for a company and you’re playing a mother making dinner while interacting with her child. No lines, just action. How do you rehearse that? Create some space work together. Build an imaginary stove and let the child hand you things from the kitchen: spices, spoons, the salt. Get to the relationship right away. Don’t talk about the scene; play it. Kids are better at this than we are, and if you let them lead, they’ll take you somewhere real before the casting director has said a word.

Then walk in together, and let the kid be the star. Your job in the room is to make your scene partner look good. With a four-year-old, that’s also the fastest way to make yourself look good, and casting will remember the adult who made the kid comfortable long after they’ve forgotten the read.