Am I Too Late? A Blog for Adults

A discussion that needs to happen…

If there is one question The Actor’s Scene’s Front Desk staff hears more than any other, it may just be: “Am I too late?”

Am I too late to consider acting? Am I too late to start taking classes? Am I too late to be “bookable”?

The answer quite frankly is a big old “N-O”.

"You are never too late to reinvent yourself."

-Steve Harvey

Why? Because acting is different than working in other industries- it doesn’t follow a set pattern. There is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach that will guarantee your success. Many actors that you see in film and tv are younger (which comes with it’s own set of issues!), but that should never make one feel like they’ve missed their shot. In fact, many of the biggest A-List actors didn’t get their big break until later in life and still managed to build a career: Alan Rickman 32, Viola Davis 43, Morgan Freeman 50, Samuel L. Jackson- 41. The beloved and iconic character, Michael Scott of The Office, would have never been the same without Steve Carrell- and he didn’t begin acting until 43.

Acting represents LIFE and life takes all different kinds of people. You have a story, talents, quirks, dreams- and they deserve their chance. Don’t give up on yourself yet. Let’s talk about some reasons why your acting career can work!

For one thing, getting into acting has never been easier. It continues to require hard work, but being seen in this industry is easier than it has ever been…

Before we dive into the logistics of why let’s hear from one of our current TAS students, Hiro Ortiz, on why it’s never too late to get started:

Thanks Hiro! Now let’s get into it.

To begin with, the majority of auditions are taped instead of in person. This opens things up for actors in several ways, namely in terms of timing. Actors are now able to set their audition taping at a time that is most convenient for themselves. You’ll no longer have to call out of your day job or drop responsibilities at a moment’s notice when an audition comes your way. You get to decide when the best time to tape your audition is within the allotted time frame. This is especially great for those who have established lives and need to have more flexibility when auditioning.

The topic of taped auditions leads us to the next reason you’re not too late: The industry has spread out! Actors no longer have to move to L.A. or New York to build a career. Between film tax breaks in different states and wider accessibility to film technology there are opportunities to act on film and television all over the US. Look at us! TAS isn’t in L.A., we are located in a suburb of Atlanta and we watch student after student succeed in this career.

Many new actors look for their ‘big break’ but don’t have the first idea what it’s like being on set. With local filming options, we encourage you to try being an extra or working in a short film (or student film)! These things are a great way to start building your resume and connections- while also building knowledge through experience. We cover this in our classes, but you can also reach out for a Career Coaching Session if you’d like to discuss your options for jumping into filming opportunities.

Outside of those logistical barriers, the key to making it in this industry at any age is finding a like-minded community. This career is tough no matter what age you find yourself pursuing it. It requires a lot of hard work, there is a lot to know, and you face a lot of rejection. Having a supportive acting community will encourage you through that and guide you as you take each step.

If you are new to acting, you may have some false ideas in your head about acting classes. The stereotype being a critical coach and competitive peers as everyone tries to outshine one another. But that is NOT a healthy environment to help you grow. At TAS, we believe there’s room for EVERYONE at the table- so there’s no need for competition in a classroom setting.

Instead, we focus on cultivating encouragement, accountability, safety, and a growth-oriented approach to each student. Our coaches step in to mentor each student, helping them to identify their options and their goals, then take one step at a time- celebrating successes along the way.

Make sure that your class is one where you feel supported, challenged, and safe. As you start auditioning and working on set- you want to have your community in place around you!

Let’s hear what current student, Jeremy Hunt says about how his community helped him:

Thanks Jeremy! It goes to show that a solid community can truly help you make the right decision.

Okay, now you know that it isn’t too late…what next? What does a taped audition look like? How do I get these auditions where I live? And how in the world do I find a community?

While the environment in a classroom should never feel competitive, we guarantee you that the industry is. These days there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people jumping at a feature film role. How do you know what to expect so you can audition (and perform) with confidence? How can you not just do the right things but really stand out?

Here is where we talk about acting classes again. Sales gimmick? Not at all. In fact, most agencies require their clients to invest in ongoing training. Acting is something you should be working on constantly- beyond gaining focus and body control, you should be learning how to build characters, create a script analysis, show flexibility in emotion. And that’s just the fun ‘acting parts’. What about the business side; you need to learn about agent relations, audition technique, on-set etiquette, etc. We cannot stress enough the importance of classes for new actors, or at least private lessons.

Let’s see what advice previous student and current taping actor, Joe Geracie says:

Ready to take a chance and sign up for a class? If you’re in the north metro-Atlanta area we would be honored if you tried a class at The Actor’s Scene. Which one do we recommend?

Most new actors are encouraged to go through On-Camera Foundations. It’s a program designed with the new actor in mind and goes over a lot of what we covered above. Though, as you advance, we do have classes for working actors. Such as The Taped Audition (for those wanting to build proficiency in their audition success rate) or Script & Set Study(for those wanting to learn longer on-set etiquette and character management), we even have a film production class, The On-Set Experience, for those wanting to explore the production side of acting.

We recommend checking out our classes or giving us a call at 77904-6646. Our friendly Front Desk team can help you find the perfect class for your experience level and goals.

Most importantly, it is the perfect place to find your community. The majority of our class options are 32 weeks which gives you plenty of time to get to know your Coach and your fellow classmates/actors. Our classes also range from ages 4 years old to 104, so you’re sure to find plenty of others in your age group to build relationships with.

The best part: If you head over to our “Classes” tab, you’ll find that you aren’t too late to sign up for our 32 week classes. AND you are never too late to begin acting!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

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About The Author

Kirsten Krehbiel

Kirsten Krehbiel is an Atlanta based actress, director, and writer who enjoys bringing people new truths through the art of storytelling. She has a love of acting both on camera and on stage, having been lucky enough to be a part of incredible productions in both worlds. Kirsten joined the TAS team in 2020 as a coach, a job she loves because it lets her watch first hand as students grow and gain self confidence as actors. When she is not creating or coaching, you can find Kirsten hanging out with her grumpy cat on their back porch.

Am I Too Late? A Blog for Adults