How to Teach Kids About Stage Presence in Show Business

Stage presence is that indefinable something that makes a stage performance, a vocal presentation or even a classroom lesson take off and live. It is born of personal confidence, enthusiasm and connection with the audience. Some people have it naturally. The English author Rudyard Kipling wrote, "It isn't beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It's just 'It'." Clara Bow, the silent film star, had magnificent stage presence, and was sometimes called the "it girl."

Things You'll Need

  • Film clips
  • Short scripts
  • Small stage or cleared area

Instructions

    • 1

      Planning and rehearsal are key to developing stage presence. When actors or singers have their performance down so perfectly that they do not have to think about it, they can focus on observing how the audience is reacting and on refining their performance. Costuming can also help with stage presence, as can specialized make-up. Encourage young actors to practice in front of a mirror while wearing their costume. Seeing themselves as the character can help make it come to life.

    • 2

      Teach your child to channel his stage fright. It is natural to be nervous before a performance, but even youthful actors can use that tension to create stage presence. Mild stress can help them be just a little bit louder, bolder and more "on." Encourage your child to use broad gestures, and to be more emphatic with emotions than they would be in real life. Have a couple of rehearsals where students romp through their performance in a silly way before getting back to serious acting. This helps them explore their roles, and be more confident with them.

    • 3

      Praise your child. Self-confidence is key to having good stage presence. The more confident your child actor becomes that he can create the character and do the performance, the more likely he is to develop that indefinable "something" that grabs an audience's attention. View film clips of actors who definitely had "it," such as Clark Gable. Compare the historical clips to more modern artists, such as Sean Connery, who definitely can hold center stage whether he is playing James Bond or King Arthur.

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