Finding your ideal acting class when you’re a total beginner
The 3 questions to ask yourself !
When you want to try acting classes, it can be hard to choose from all the courses that are available.
Here are 3 questions to ask yourself to help you find the acting class that’s just right for you.
1_ Why do you want to join an acting class?
This is the first question to ask yourself: what drives you to learn how to act? Do you simply want to try something new, have fun and let go of the everyday stress and meet new people, or do you want to hone your public speaking skills, overcome shyness or even learn the craft in a deeper, more intensive way, and eventually do amateur shows?
Depending on your “why”, every class will not necessarily be right for you. If you want to try first before committing to anything, go to open days or workshop tasters: they will give you a flavor of what to expect in terms of the environment, the type of people, the energy and the whole vibe of the class.
If you are looking to regularly commit to a class to have fun and do something different in your week, you’ll enjoy a weekly evening or weekend class for beginners, and that doesn’t require any previous acting experience. These weekly workshops are usually between 2 to 3 hours long, over one or several semesters. There is enough time to make sure that the group meets regularly, that the people get to know each other and gain confidence, in a safe and non-judgmental environment before getting into the core of the drama game.
On the other hand, if you are looking to learn more quickly about the craft and the technique, intensive classes and seminars could be of interest to you. Some are aimed at total beginners and can happen over one weekend or one week, and they are usually organized by drama schools that want to recruit for their long-term programs.
These intensive classes are often much more challenging because they are limited in time, and there is a lot to cover. People are often pushed out of their comfort zone quicker, sometimes in a less patient way than in longer beginners programs. It can be quite emotionally intense to start with, and it is important to be motivated, psychologically ready and open to constructive criticism as well as having a personality that fits in easily in a group of strangers.
Whatever you choose, you don’t become an actor in a week! It’s first about finding the right format for you to enjoy the class and be in the right environment to help you show who you truly are.
2_ What do you really need to be comfortable, and challenged at the same time?
WRITTEN BY Marion Lb