How to Become a Singer or Actress As a Teenager

Co-authored by Tanisha Hall

Last Updated: February 26, 2023 References Approved

Acting or singing as a teen can be a fun, but difficult career to get into. However, with the right amount of effort, you can get your foot in the door. In order to become a teenage singer or actor, it's best to network with the right people, learn about your industry, and practice your craft. Performing as a singer or actor as a teenager can be rewarding for the personal and professional fulfillment it offers.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Networking with the Right People

1
Learn how to network. Careers in the entertainment industry function on networking. You’ll find that meeting and talking to people you know about your career can be the best way to succeed.^{[1]
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- If you find people who have similar interests, they are more likely to be able to put you in contact with people who can help you. Becoming friends with other aspiring teen actors or singers can introduce you to some of the right people.
- When you meet people who may be able to help your career, be sure to ask them plenty of questions. They should find you interesting and want to stay in touch with you in the future.
2
Ask friends and family for advice. If you have friends or family in the entertainment industry, they may be great sources of knowledge for you. However, even if they are not, they may know people or, at the very least, be able to offer you good advice on how to start a career.
- Friends and family may offer you great advice on how to start a career. Additionally, they may know people who can help you out.
- If you know someone who works in the entertainment industry, reach out to them. Even if they are a distant relative or friend of a friend, they may still be able to offer you some advice on how to start your career.
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3
Talk to your music and drama teachers. If you’re a teen actor or singer, you are likely in music or drama classes or activities. While your music or drama teacher may not be able to get you a job, they may have some good tips for how to get started in your career.^{[2]
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- Your music or drama teacher may have some connections in the entertainment industry. It’s possible a former pupil of theirs may be able to set you up with an agent or an audition.
- You may also want to ask your music or drama teacher for tips on how to branch out your career beyond their classes and concerts/plays. Maybe local theater or singing competition may be a good way to begin building your reputation.
4
Make friends with people who work at venues and theaters. If you have a local theater in your town, it may be a good idea to talk to them about upcoming events. They may be able to offer you a spot or tell you how best to audition for things on the calendar.
- Whenever you have an event at a local theater, make an effort to talk to the people running the venue. They will appreciate it and make it easier for you to come back and ask them for opportunities in the future.
- Many famous actors and singers got their start working at venues and theaters. You can learn a lot about the entertainment industry and also meet influential people.
5
Tell your interests to everyone you meet. They may just be the one to help you get a gig down the line. You never know who might be the person that can set you up with that ideal meeting to start your career.
- When people ask you what you want to do for a living, talk to them enthusiastically about your passion for singing or acting. They will remember you in the future and may be able to help you out.
- Being friendly to everyone you meet will help them to think fondly of you. Even if it’s someone that you will never meet again, always speak kindly to them.
6
Get headshots. Professional headshots can cost a small fortune, but they are necessary for any audition you will go to. If you can’t afford professional headshots, you can try to make them yourself, but make sure they look as polished as possible.
- Headshots should have good lighting on your face and be generally from the chest up. You should be looking into the camera and the photo should not be blurry at all.
- Your headshot should look like you. While you should be wearing professional attire and makeup, your headshot must demonstrate your look and personality accurately.
7
Get an agent. An agent can help you find auditions rapidly and at a high volume. Whether or not you want to leg work of finding auditions yourself, an agent is a great person to have in your network.^{[3]
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- When you’re looking for an agent, send a short e-mail with a few pictures to the youth department of talent agencies. Though it’s possible you may not hear back from them, a response can help you to get an agent.
- If you are lucky enough to meet with an agent, be enthusiastic, outgoing, and friendly. Personality counts for a lot when you’re meeting agents.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Learning About Your Industry

1
Join any relevant clubs. You can join acting or singing clubs in school or your community. These clubs or groups can be a good place to get started.
- See what performance clubs your school offers. School is where many performers get their start.
- Community theater can be a fun place to begin as well. It's often easier to break into than theaters in bigger cities.
2
Participate in any school show, open mic or talent show you can. Not only is any and all practice good, but you never know who will be in the audience. Treat every gig you participate in like it's an audition for your dream role.
3
Find out more about the industry. If you want to work as a singer or actor, it’s important to know as much about the field as possible. Learning about the industry makes you prepared for whatever happens in your career.
- Visit the websites of local and national performing guilds to find out about the industry's current events and politics. Your city or town may have performing guilds that you may want to join or learn more about.^{[4]
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- Delve into the history of film, television, or professional singing. You’ll learn more about what’s popular today as well as seeming more intelligent and informed when you’re networking.
4
Go to local shows, plays, concerts, and open mics. It’s good to watch how people conduct themselves both on stage and off stage. You should appreciate and critique things that you think work and don’t work to hone your performing senses.
- When you’re watching others perform, pay attention to the ways they engage the audience. Since performing is about interacting with the audience, you may learn some interesting tips on how to do so in your own endeavors.^{[5]
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- Additionally, watch how the performers interact with others when they’re not performing. Often, being a good person and kind to others is an attribute of the best performers.
5
Research your favorites actors or singers. You can find out how they got to where they are today and what their tips are. If you know your acting or singing models, then learning more about them can be useful to you in your career.
- Read plenty of interviews or magazine profiles of your favorite actors or singers. They will talk about their relationship to their craft and how it fulfills them.
- Starting out in your singing or acting career can be difficult. You can find encouragement in the struggles of your favorite performers. They also had to go through what you are early in their careers.
6
Get an internship or apprenticeship. It’s important to start somewhere and performing immediately may not be an option, so you may need to do some grunt work for free. Even if you're just helping a theatre set or clean up, ushering, or selling merchandise for a local band, you're getting experience in the industry you've chosen.^{[6]
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- If you’re interested in working as a singer, it may be a good idea to contact record labels or music publications. They may have open internships, but may also know of opportunities for internships elsewhere.
- For teen actors, finding internships at local theaters may be a great option. You may also be able to find a position in the marketing or artistic department that can get you started at a theatre.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Practicing Your Craft

1
Invest in training. An acting or singing coach can do wonders to not only build upon the skills you already have, but they can also expose you to techniques you never considered. Additionally, it's much easier to have someone else direct you rather than direct yourself. ^{[7]
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- Ideally, you'll want to find an acting or singing coach with plenty of professional experience. They should be trained in the best techniques and have real practical experience working in the industry.
- A voice coach should have an education or training in music and vocal anatomy, they should be able to execute the techniques they're teaching you.^{[8]
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- An acting or singing coach can make a big difference. It's easy to get in your own head too much if you don't have outside assistance.
- You can also try to volunteer at an acting or singing studio in exchange for lessons. They may want you to work in their ticketing office for a few hours a week, but it will be worth it. ^{[9]
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2
Train yourself if you can't afford professional training. If professional training is too expensive for you, you can try to do it on your own. It's important to research the best singing and acting techniques and try them when you're practicing.
- Try to find information about different singing or acting techniques. You can implement them on your own time. You'll want your practice to be specific, so trying specific techniques is important.
- Don't hesitate to contact coaches if you have questions about a technique you don't understand. They may just respond with the information you needed.
- Additionally, if you have friends that have similar dreams, consider meeting up and learning from each other. Working with others can be a big help when learning your craft.
3
Audition as much as possible. The best way to learn how to become a better singer or actor is to audition for others. Even though auditioning can be nerve-wracking, it's a good way to judge your progress as you enter the field.^{[10]
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- Find auditions in local newspapers, on bulletin boards, on the internet, and from the people in your network. You should be able to find plenty of auditions that suit your interests and abilities.
- Don't rule out any audition for any reason. Every audition is a place to practice your skill and be met with new challenges you will learn from.
4
Use knowledge from auditions to become better. After you audition, even if you don't get the job, it's a good idea to ask for additional tips. People you are auditioning for will appreciate your interest.
- Auditions can be painful, since your performing is being judged. However, think of them as an opportunity to become better at what you want to do for a living.
- Don't just sit on your knowledge from an audition, but use it to make you a better performer. If you are given direction from an audition, try to practice that technique in the future.
5
Try out for talent shows. Talent shows can be a good way to show off your singing or acting ability. There are some talent shows geared specifically for teens, so it may be a good idea to start with teen talent shows first.
- Many talent shows focus on a variety of skills. You’ll want to choose a talent show that focuses on your specific skill set, be it singing, acting, or something else.
- It’s also a good idea to research the specific talent show and the judges. Your performance should be something that you think the audience will like and give you a good chance to win.
6
Cultivate yourself as a triple threat. If you’re starting out as a teen singer or actor, you can also try to learn a complementary skill. Teen singers can learn how to play various instruments, while teen actors can learn how to dance or maybe even sing while acting, such as in musicals.
- Teen singers can learn a variety of instruments to accompany themselves. Learning how to play an instrument like piano or guitar can be a useful skill when you’re starting out as a young singer.
- Teen actors, on the other hand, can learn how to dance or maybe even sing while acting. For many acting jobs, such as musicals or some comedy performances, singing can be an important part of your acting ability and skill set.
7
Be wary of schemes. If you doubt a situation, seek the advice of someone you trust to help you judge the situation. There are plenty of people trying to take advantage of teen singers or actors, so always think carefully through any situation.
- If you are approached by a stranger to be a singer or actress, it's a good idea to be cautious. While this may sometimes happen, it can also be a scheme people use to make money off unsuspecting teens.
- Talk to your friends and family about any suspicious opportunities. If something seems too good to be true, there's a good chance it is.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I talk to my parents about my dreams? At the moment that seems to be my biggest obstacle.

Community Answer

The best way to talk to your parents is to sit down with them and just tell them, "Mom, Dad, I want to be an actor/singer." If you're too nervous for this approach, tell a story about your day, which ends in you telling them. For an example: "Today we talked about what we want to be when we grow up. Turns out I'm one of five people in my class who wants to be a singer/actor."
Question

I've tried out for a school show but I didn't get a part. Should I give up?

Community Answer

If you want to act (or sing), don't give up just because you didn't get the part. Keep going and never give up!
Question

Should I wait until I'm 18 to start singing?

Community Answer

You don't have to, you can sing at any age. Taylor Swift started at 14, and look at her now!