We were lucky to catch up with Judy Kain recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Judy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?
When I Opened Keep It Real Acting Studios, I had some teachers in place and they grew as we grew. I did have to hire a staff of people to help with the administration of the school itself, so I could focus more on coaching and teaching and the promotion of the Business in order to make enrollment for the acting classes easier. Enrollment is the most challenging part of having a studio. But We have been blessed with a great reputation and excelente Word of Mouth.
I found that the right Staff of people came to me and I knew if they were right for the Acting studio immediately. I wanted people who were pursuing a career in acting and needed a job. This way, they would be motivated to glean all the info the studio had to offer to further their career and less likely to leave. They had to Get more out of the Job than Just a paycheck.
And of course, they had to be engaging and hard-working. And have fun. What I miss the most about having the physical space was we would brainstorm and get ideas just sitting around at lunch or in between clients and we could run into the studio and film something right on the spot. It was so creative and collaborative. Now that the studio is all online and virtual we do not have that. And I miss it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have been working as a professional actress for over 40 years. I started when I moved to LA after graduating college with a BFA.
When I moved to LA I was unsure of how to get into the business. At the time they had a paper that was devoted to Actors, singers, and dancers and it came out once a week. That was my lifeline and of course Acting classes. I met like-minded people in classes and we helped each other. I got my first job on Three’s Company back in 1979. I thought that was going to be “easy” after that, but I still had to hustle and that work ethic never stopped for me.
I never wanted to be in commercials but took a commercial class and found that it was just another way to use my acting chops and Make Money. I have been in well over 400 commercials to date. and still booking. I find that I had a lot to offer students when it comes to commercials and I am an excellent teacher of that craft. I have won many awards for teaching and find it extremely rewarding when students book their first commercial or break a dry streak they have had and book a big spot after taking one of my classes.
My approach to teaching is honest and direct but extremely positive with each student. I have a keen eye to be able to guide and pull a performance out of students.
Of course, I love being on set. Working with celebrities like Ted Danson or Kate Hudson, Blake Griffin or Ringo Star is a treat. And improv is my jam. Finding ways to add things to the scene or commercial and just keep the life going has made me a sought after actress to work with
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
There was a time when I thought things had dried up for me. I was approaching 50 and the roles were not coming fast enough .
I also had a lot of my connections in the industry were retiring and a whole crop of young Casting directors or directors were taking over that did not know me.
I had to get myself out there so they knew I was someone they could trust in the audition room or on set. I found ways to promote myself, get my work in front of them and embrace my age. Most important embrace my age and wisdom and not try to hang on to being 40 anymore.
That is tough for actors to move into that next category and play roles that have even more depth and keep on going.
That is when I started playing a whole lot of judges. I must have booked 6 judges in one year.
Now I play a lot of fun grandmas. Just keep embracing the future and what it holds.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
social media is huge now since so much is virtual. I am smart and hired someone to handle it for me that is younger and way better at it.
He grew my business and followers and we get so many signs up via Instagram now it is crazy
And personally, for my own growth as an actress, I have to create a buzz about myself and create the image of a working actress.
and that is what people say to me all the time when they see me.. “wow you have been busy” or ¨you are working all the time¨ . CONGRATS”. and that is what you want people to think about you. People want to work with people who are working.
Work begets more work and it is a happy circle of energy.
Social media is key right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.keepitrealacting.com/
- Instagram: @keepitrealactin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeepItRealActing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-kain-b4105130
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyKain/videos
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/keep-it-real-acting-studio-north-hollywood-2#query:Keep%20It%20Real%20Acting%20Studio
Image Credits
Francene Selkirk- casting director
Rachel Leigh Cook On set of SIsterhood Inc
mathew Perry
Yvette Nicole Brown
Wendell Pierce
On set of ODD COUPLE