SIDE NOTE: Remember, if you feel you're being scammed ("hey, your kid looks like a star, she should take photos and classes right here at the mall!") or waaay over-charged, ask us---shoot us an email. We've been in this business a long time.
Don't just hand over your grocery money and hope for the best.
Denise Kane, Ruby (on monitor)
New in town? looking for a place to live? Try Oakwood apts: www.oakwood.com/childactors
BACKSTAGE WEST
For Kids, Having Fun Is The Name Of The Game
August 2008 by Paul Haber
The question that haunts so many commercial actors is a simple one: What are directors looking for? Often the answer can be complex, emcompassing any number of variables depending on the director and the needs of the commercial. When it comes to kids, however, the answer is often simple: fun.
Actor-director Bo Kane and his wife, actor-producer Denise Loveday-Kane, both 20-year commercial vets who teach an acting workshop for kids in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, concur. "It's all about having a good time in there," says Kane. "It should be no pressure - just have fun and listen to the director." Ultimately though, a kid needs to like auditioning. "If you don't like to audition, you may never get to the set," Kane predicts, on the grounds that actors typically spend a lot more time auditioning than working.
Kane likens his workshop to batting practice in baseball: Get up as much or as little as you like during class, being yourself. He calls his workshop a great place to make mistakes, where you can laugh them off insteading of beating yourself up . Moreover, he says, his class is not just about auditioning; it's a place where students learn to listen, dollow directions, and eventually become comfortable speaking in front of a group.
They also learn the nuts and bolts of the audition process, including basic do's and don'ts. "For kids, there aren't that many rules. Things like slating - you can cover that quickly", says Kane. Denise adds, "We teach the kids to walk in the door with confidence and a smile and hit their mark like they're ready to go." Loveday-Kane recommends that a child tells his or her age when they slate, and if they have a funny haircut "tell them you're willing to cut it." Kane recalls one great kid ... with a Mohawk. "With a Mohawk, telling them you're happy to cut it is a nice thing to say on camera ... right away," he says with a laugh.
(c) BackStage West

Private coaching is available, $75/hr.
http://www.bokaneonline.com/Kids_Acting_Class.php
http://bokaneonline.com/googleb99a6f42899e6623.html
http://www.google.com/accounts/VE?c=COLBvZX02dyZnwEQ1p7LjJblgPD_AQ&hl=en