Attracting an Acting Mentor can be pivotal in your career, especially gleaning knowledge, expertise and wisdom from those with a lot of experience in the industry. You’ll gain valued advice both directionally and as a practitioner entering the industry. There are steps you need to take to ensure the mentor relationship is a success for both parties.
Asking for Mentorship
If you are an emerging actor wanting to develop your acting or performance skills and you know someone who might fit the bill as a mentor, you can ask in a number of ways.
Simply ring the person to see if they are available to help you work on a monologue or a scene. From there you can ask them to give you advice regarding the business and their thoughts.
Coming straight out to ask for mentorship might be a bit overwhelming for some, especially busier directors, so start out with less of a commitment, so it gives them and or you an out if need be.
Often directors, producers and actors who have experience and knowledge are more than happy to give you tips and tricks about the industry, and work on a scene with you.
Finding a mentor from a city or area you wish to work in, the better. Because they should have inside knowledge about the culture and industry already.
Imagine the great advice you’ll get by simply asking those who’ve been in the industry for a while. It flatters them and you’ll glean some advice which is often priceless.
Ideas for questions to ask:
- What audition monologue do you think would suit you best and why?
- What are the best drama schools around? Do you recommend Drama School?
- What directors, producers, companies are like to work with?
- What is the most difficult thing you’ve faced working in the industry?
- How difficult of a lifestyle is it?
- What are the best parts of working in the industry?
- What did you do in the hard times?
- What makes a great actor?
- What are some no nos in the industry?
- How do I get equity or in theater unions etc?
- What are some of the negative traits in an actor or performer?
- What is your most memorable role?
- Who should I see about getting professional headshots?
- Who are the best agents out there
- What might be good classes to hone my skills?
Basically the questions are endless, but most practitioners would be more than happy to answer your many questions and give you sage advice.
Working with your Mentor
Whether you are paying for their time or they are giving it, having a mentor really helps focus and motivate you.
They can help you work on specific monologues for auditions, scripts and short scenes. Sometimes you would do well to work with other budding actors to work on pieces because it makes it easier when working on two handers. They should be on hand too.
A mentor/director might ask someone else to be there to help with the dialogue or be with them for safety reasons, especially an older male working with young female actors.
Mentors can help you refine your dialogue, body language and overall portrayal of your character. Often people watching you can see your acting flaws much more easily than we can while acting the role. The trick is to listen to their advice and change up what you need to, to best fit the role.
Try not to take Things Personally
When acting a piece in front of someone you really admire and want to do really well, it can be difficult when they give you direction and advice which is vastly different from where you think you are.
Sometimes mentors can offer advice which can be jarring but true. The trick is not to take this personally, but as a job, or a trait to work on. Even though you are vulnerable and doing your best, sometimes it can feel as though you’ll never get it right. But hold your tongue and do your best, that’s all you can do.
If you do feel overwhelmed by the advice and feel that you can’t catch a break, recognize that there are things that you need to refine and work on.
Then shake it off for the rest of the day, have a shower, read a book, take a bath, tell yourself positive self-talk, that you are worth it and can do it. Remember to look after yourself after a rough mentor session. Get ready for your audition.
Prepare for your Scene
It goes without saying that you’ll need to make sure you are fully prepared when working with an acting mentor, so learning your lines is essential.
It really helps directors and acting coaches when their students take the time to learn their scenes off by heart and have worked on it already. Having said that some directors would prefer you to be a clean slate and work entirely with them on the piece as you go.
If you know your lines off by heart, your director can work with you and help shape you into the character you’ll need to be.
It is also very helpful if there are other actors you’re working with. When you both know your lines, things are more likely to run smoother and you’ll get to your destination sooner rather than later.
Finding a Space to Work in
Finding a place to work can vary from a small room in someone’s house, If a mentor is working with you for free, the space can either be at your place or theirs, or in a space you both know and have permission to work in.
My husband has worked both at his work (a Film and Television School), so his studios were ideal, our home, their home, basically anywhere there is a space.
As long as you can’t be disrupted you’re good to go.
*personal story*
My acting friends were working on a two hander piece and it had a fight scene with lots of cursing and yelling. This scene was worked on over and over by the mentor/director which was in a mini warehouse next to other businesses unrelated to acting.
As we broke up for the day and walked out of the building we were approached by a man saying that he thought it was real and was considering calling the police. Someone did tell him though that it was a drama school warehouse and he made the connection, thank goodness.
Take Notes
If you’re able during the session to take notes, do so. You can often tell an amateur from a professional in the way they choose to remember something. Taking notes tells the director or mentor you’re serious about their notes and direction.
But having those notes is also incredibly helpful too. So often during your rehearsal, your director will yell out something to you and at the time you change up what you need to, but if you’ve forgotten what they’ve said and didn’t write it down, you might forget the direction next time.
It’s very helpful going over your notes every night. Remember to learn and rehearse changes as needed. A mentor will be more helpful and motivated to help you if you do the preparation.
When Might You Book in with a Mentor?
The question can be answered by the following:
- When your next audition is coming up
- You are wanting extra tuition and wish to work on a monologue or scene
- You need good personal direction to help build confidence
- You want to know more people in the business
- You need guidance in general about the industry.
- You are interested in becoming a director, acting coach or person in the industry in whatever form it takes.
Who Could Be my Mentor?
I would probably choose those who’ve been in the industry for a while and whom you have some admiration for.
If they’ve been in the industry for a while, they’re more likely to give you sage advice. You can choose to offer to pay them for their services and many would probably say no, especially if you’re a promising actor who genuinely needs a helping hand. That is negotiable between you and them.
Often mentors do offer services and charge by the hour that is absolutely fine and you’ll glean a lot from the professional approach.
But if they gave their time and energy a simple thank you and or a bottle of their favorite beverage or a voucher for a coffee for two wouldn’t go astray.
Types of Mentors:
- Directors
- Acting coaches
- Acting/drama teachers
- Producers
- Experienced Actor
- Casting Directors
- Agents
Choose someone whom you’ll think you’d like to work with and ask them for help. You’ll be surprised by how many would be more than happy to offer you advice.
Getting a mentor can be a valuable tool in your journey to the acting world. Choose someone who’d be good for you, do your preparation, ask questions about the industry, listen and learn and you should be onto a winner.
