the blueprint
Before a Young Performer Builds a Career, the Family Needs a Plan.
THE BLUEPRINT is a two-day parent-and-child intensive designed around a simple truth: when a young person enters the entertainment industry, the entire family enters with them.
Two Days. Two Perspectives. One Goal: Preparing Young Performers and Their Parents for the Industry.
DAY 1 - Parents
Parents will learn about the business of acting and what it means to pursue opportunities responsibly.
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The program will help families understand the roles of agents, managers, casting professionals, coaches and production teams; how auditions and bookings work
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What professional materials may be required
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What questions should be asked
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How to recognize warning signs; and how parents can guide their young person without creating unnecessary pressure.
DAY 2 - Youth
The Young Performer will focus on acting and audition techniques.
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Recognize the language used in training and reinforce healthy preparation after the intensive. This creates continuity between the classroom and home.
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The child is not expected to remember and implement everything alone, and the parent is no longer trying to support a process they have never been taught to understand.
* Class age groups 6-11 , 12-16
A child’s talent may open doors, but informed parents play an essential role in helping young performers navigate the opportunities, expectations and challenges of the entertainment industry.
A child’s talent may open doors, but informed parents play an essential role in helping young performers navigate the opportunities, expectations and challenges of the entertainment industry.
DAY ONE — THE BUSINESS: WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW
Ms. Lee is joined by her personal talent agent, Susan Toler Walters of STW Talent Agency, whose extensive experience includes teaching, developing and professionally representing children in the entertainment industry.
Together, Lee and Walters will help parents understand the business behind their child’s talent, including:
● How talent representation works and what agents look for
● The professional audition, callback and booking process
● Recognizing legitimate opportunities and potential industry red flags
● Understanding contracts, finances and professional expectations
● Supporting a child’s education, emotional well-being and career development
DAY TWO — THE CRAFT: PREPARING YOUNG ACTORS TO COMPETE
Young performers join Ms. Lee and co-instructor and resident photographer Rodd Evans for interactive acting instruction, on-camera exercises, audition preparation and performance development designed to strengthen their skills and confidence.
As a valuable addition to their training, each young performer will also walk away with a professional headshot captured by Evans—giving them a polished, industry-ready image to help present themselves professionally beyond the workshop.
By combining practical industry knowledge for parents with hands-on training, personalized performance development and a professional headshot for young actors, THE BLUEPRINT provides families with a clearer understanding of what it takes to pursue opportunities responsibly and professionally.
“A child can be incredibly talented, but if the adults guiding that child don’t understand the business, they’re operating at a disadvantage,” Lee explains. “THE BLUEPRINT is about helping parents become knowledgeable partners in their child’s journey while giving young performers practical tools they can use as they pursue opportunities.”
Susan | Founder & Talent Agent
STW Talent Agency
With a lifelong passion for the performing arts and extensive experience in acting, teaching, and talent development, Susan brings a unique perspective to talent representation. A graduate of East Carolina University with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Dance, she began her career as a professional actress before gaining hands-on experience in talent management and actor development in Los Angeles.
Susan’s journey led her to establish performing arts programs in North Carolina, where she trained hundreds of aspiring performers in film acting, audition technique, commercials, scene study, and musical theatre.
In 2009, Susan founded STW Talent Agency, combining her industry knowledge and commitment to nurturing talent with a passion for connecting professional performers with meaningful opportunities. As the agency expanded alongside the industry, she relocated its main office to Atlanta in 2014 and opened a New York office in Brooklyn in 2019.
Today, Susan leads STW Talent Agency as a boutique representation firm dedicated to developing careers, building industry relationships, and advocating for professionals.
Rodd Evans | Performing Arts Instructor,
Actor, Writer, and Producer
Rodd Evans is a performing arts instructor, actor, writer, and producer passionate about empowering young people through the arts. He has taught students from kindergarten through 12th grade, using creative expression to build confidence, encourage collaboration, and inspire storytelling. Through his work with Bigger Picture Association, he also helps bring engaging arts programs and special events to students and communities.
A graduate of Western Michigan University and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Rodd is currently completing his MBA. His professional entertainment credits include TV One, BET, Tubi, and Amazon Prime. He is also the founder of Bigger Picture Films, where he continues his mission of telling impactful stories and using the arts to make a difference.
Rodd believes the arts have the power to unite communities, inspire the next generation, and remind young people that their voices and stories matter.