Welcome to the 10 Talent Blog/Vlog! A bit about 10 Talent; I am Sarah Matton, Founder and Director. For over a decade I have worked professionally in the field of musical theatre. In the fall of 2021, I expanded and brought on another Agent who has first-hand knowledge and experience in the Industry, Jessica Cvitkovic. We have worked together on stage, and now as a team at 10 Talent. We hope to provide tips to all Artists in the Industry. We hope you enjoy!

 

Congratulations to all the 2024 Theatre Graduates! You have made it to the other side of Theatre school.

The reality is, you are no longer on a schedule – no one is making you train or show up to class. You are not getting a grade and no one else is paying for your lessons. To stay in shape, you must now create your own routine. Now is a great time to implement some tips to keep you on the right track.  These tips were catered to Musical Theatre students but can be applied to all Artists wanting to create their own routine and accountability.

1| Dance Classes
On Sundays, look at the drop-in dance studios and choose at least 1 class. Sign up for it ahead of time and put it in your calendar. Tip: Use a colour code for each activity.

2| Singing Lessons
Schedule all your Singing lessons for the month in advance. Stay consistent with the same time/day so you are more regimented on a regular basis. On the weeks that you aren’t taking a lesson, keep singing scheduled in your calendar and dedicate that hour to yourself to practice!

3| Side Hustle
Get a job/side hustle that can offer a flexible schedule. Serving is a great option as the hours are evenings and weekends which don’t usually conflict with auditions/callbacks. There is also usually a large staff. Make friends so you can swap shifts. I once paid someone to take my shift so I could do the MMVAs with Lady Gaga – worth it!

Allocate a percentage of EVERY PAYCHECK to your craft. Put it in a separate account for your career and don’t make any excuses.

4| Network
Try to see as many shows as possible. Do your homework on who the major players are in this industry and who you want to work with. If you see someone at a show, be brave and introduce yourself.

5| Skill Improvement
Look at your songbook and see where you have holes. Look at your movement skills and see where you are the weakest. Be honest with yourself and focus on that weakness.

6| Self-submissions
Schedule two 1 hour sessions a week in your calendar where you can look through E-Drives and Casting Workbook breakdowns. SELF SUBMIT as much as possible. Remember when submitting with a Cover letter to make it personal. This should not be something you C&P for every submission.

7| Audition Journal
Keep a detailed journal of all auditions. Be sure to include:

Date:
What show:
Who was in the room:
What you sang:
What was the feedback:

Welcome to the 10 Talent Blog/Vlog! A bit about 10 Talent; I am Sarah Matton, Founder and Director. For over a decade I have worked professionally in the field of musical theatre. In the fall of 2021, I expanded and brought on another Agent who has first-hand knowledge and experience in the Industry, Jessica Cvitkovic. We have worked together on stage, and now as a team at 10 Talent. We hope to provide tips to all Artists in the Industry. We hope you enjoy!

We get a lot of email submissions from parents who are very green and don’t quite know the ins and outs of this industry. After all this is a business, and it needs to be approached like one, no matter the age. Here are a few recommendations for parents who think their kid may be ready for the big screen:

1 | Sign your child up for Acting Classes. This is the absolute first step. Before you even entertain the idea of getting representation you need to get some kind of experience behind a camera with training. You also need to see if your child really enjoys it or if it’s a 5-minute fling.

2 | Make sure your Acting training is reputable. We look for ON CAMERA CLASSES on a resume. For those who are in the GTA, we recommend Armstrong Acting Studio, as they have children’s classes and Casting Directors know who they are. We can’t speak to every small-town acting school but please do your homework and make sure your coach has a professional Acting Resume.

3 | Have your Acting coach help piece together a resume. If you don’t have professional experience yet feel free to include Awards, hobbies, special skills, and training that applies to the industry.

4 | Get a decent headshot. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars because realistically you will need new headshots every couple of years as your child grows up, but make sure your child’s photo is current and accurate.

5 | Look for a reputable agent on the ACTRA website. There are some Agencies that specialize with Youth. https://www.actratoronto.com/agents-directory/. Remember, there should be no up-front fees to be represented. We get paid when you get paid through commission only.

What does this look like for you?
As your child is a minor, all correspondents will go through you. You will be the one to read the lines of a script off camera, edit the videos for self-tapes and upload the material. You will be the one to drive your child to call-backs, wardrobe fittings and will also be required to accompany your child on set all day. This is a huge commitment from the parents and can feel like another job. We notice there is a learning curve for all new parents, and it can take weeks or months to get the hang of it. Once your child has an audition or self-tape, it is expected that it will be done.

What does this look like for your child?
This industry can be very difficult because there is not a lot of feedback. Even when your child is doing great auditions but not booking the job, it can be very disheartening to them, and even make them want to give up. It is very important to have an ongoing conversation with your child so they understand that they may go in for 10 things and be lucky to book 1 job. Children need to really enjoy the process over the outcome, or they will grow tired of doing it.