Dear Toni,

My name is Hector L. Chaidez, and I am a bilingual, twenty-two year old Latino. I have a busy schedule complete with a job, homework and auditions. What can I do to handle stress and anxiety? What are some techniques to prepare for an audition? What shows would you suggest I’d be right for as a young Latino male?

Dear Hector,

A show like “The George Lopez Show” is a great option but I don’t want to only name shows that are primarily Latino. There are so many avenues for Latino actors that I don’t feel it is necessary to confine yourself to thinking you can only do those types of shows. There are many commercials and television shows that are shot in English as well as Spanish. You might also think of doing soap operas. As for your next question, to handle stress and anxiety, come see me!  As for some techniques to prepare for an audition, I would suggest reading your copy out loud three times before you sleep and when you awake in the morning this will help your memorization. Also, inhale three deep breaths in through the nose and exhale through the mouth to calm yourself.  Do not listen to other actors audition for your role. If you are called back, do not change your original reading or outfit. These are just a few techniques that will help .

Thank you for taking the time to write.
Toni Attell

Toni Attell is a hypnotherapist and acting coach. For people interested in her acting classes please call (818) 787-8685. For hypnotherapy go to www.hypnosis4you.net