Choosing the Right Acting Classes

When I first got to Atlanta, I immediately started two acting classes. The first was Beginner Stage Acting at Alliance Theater. The class was taught by Stephen Ruffin and it was the class where I discovered my love for acting and the realization that I wanted to pursue this as a living. The second class was Baseline Acting for Film and TV at Catapult Studios and it was taught by Patrick Hogan. I found both valuable and I decided to continue my acting education by moving on to the Intermediate class at Catapult (also taught by Patrick Hogan) and a Meisner Class at Drama, Inc taught by Taurean Cavins-Flores. It wasn’t done on purpose, but all of these classes had something in common; they were taught by working actors who book regularly.

This was also true for the online Self-Tape Audition class I took with Kenzo Lee.

Because I was booking a lot and consistently, I stopped classes. Not because I felt I didn’t need them anymore, but because I was missing classes and felt like I was throwing money away by not attending all my classes.

Find Your Fit

Actors ask me what classes I recommend that they take and my answer is always the same. Try and find classes to audit to see if the class is a good fit for you. There are lots of great classes and instructors, but the method and teaching style should be a good fit for you. People learn differently, and a class that someone loves, might not be your cup of tea. The Meisner Method is not something that speaks to me or my acting style, but people love it and the class I took was excellent. It just wasn’t for me.

Do Your Research

It’s easy to look up reviews on classes with the internet, but I would take it a step further and research the instructors. Check out their IMDb to see how much experience they actually have. I have seen many posts on Facebook offering classes that will help an actor book more roles, but after a quick search, they have very few credits or haven’t worked since the 1990s. Promises like this are a huge red flag and I would have a hard time forking over money to someone who says they can help you book more, but can’t book themselves.

Talk to Other Actors

Actors are passionate about the classes they took or their instructors. I am the same. Talk to other actors and find out what classes they recommend. Someone with first hand experience is a great way to find out the inside story about what you can expect from the classes.

Acting classes aren’t cheap and they are a four to eight week commitment. Spend the time to do the research. Make sure you’ll like the teacher, their teaching style and the class.