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What Kind of Training Does It Take to Be an Actor?

Happy July, my dear readers! I don't know about you but I've gotta say that this new schedule of posting once a month has been a delight for me. 

While followers/readers of this blog since 2007 were spoiled with much more frequent posts, this slower pace helps me feel a whole lot more confident in bringing you quality, thoughtfully written, and insightful content. 

Either way, thank you to my old and new followers/readers for being along with me on the next chapter of this blog. Let's get to it, shall we?

Interested in both acting AND modeling? For more details about the training required to be a model, check out my previous post: "What Kind of Training Does It Takes to Be a Model?"

Without further ado, let's get to the topic at hand: what kind of training must one do in order to become an actor? Let's first ask the most obvious question:

DO ACTORS NEED FORMAL TRAINING?

Yes! As much as we can be confident in our natural talent, these days that's just not enough. With the right training, any actor can elevate themselves. This can lead to much more interest from agencies (who DO check what kind of training you've had and from whom) and potential clients.

WHY IS FORMAL TRAINING FOR ACTORS IMPORTANT?

When you receive proper acting training, you're not just learning how to act but the techniques and discipline it takes to be an effective and serious performer. There's a whole culture to the art of acting and if you're just trying to run and gun by showcasing your raw -- but unrefined -- talent, you're going to get laughed out of casting and agency offices.

Here's the hard truth: there are entirely too many people trying to become actors that the market is heavily saturated with aspiring hopefuls, including actively working actors still trying to find their big break. Agencies and casting directors alike have heard the same stories too many times. 

Want to be taken seriously as an actor? 

Do your research and invest in the kind of training that will get you where you want to be. 

DID YOU SAY "INVEST"?

In case you weren't aware, pursuing acting has a lot more territory to it when it comes to training compared to modeling. While both do entail on the job training, the gatekeeping that happens on the acting side is very real. They want to know that you have training of some kind and depending on the market you're trying to work in, agencies and casting directors (let's throw in talent managers, too) will want to know the names of the individuals/schools/companies you've received training from.

That means some level of money is going to to be spent on your end. Does that mean you have to drop thousands of dollars? No. It is entirely possible to receive quality training from legitimate businesses for affordable prices. This is especially true with the popularity of online training programs. 

That being said, you will get what you pay for (or skimp out on paying for). It's crucial to research the options available to you in your area (if you want something in-person) or online. There are payment plans, discounts, scholarships, and other ways acting schools and coaches try to make this part of the process as affordable as possible.

Even experienced and established actors, including A-listers, go back and take additional training as refreshers to stay on top of their game (or receive coaching to nail an audition or develop a role they've booked) so believe me, training for actors goes hand-in-hand with so many other aspects of the industry. If the pros can humble themselves to go back to training and understand the importance of it, you should, too.

How much should you spend on acting training? There's no preferred price. Again, it's all subjective but below are some common factors to take into account:

  • Your location and whether you'd benefit from in-person and/or online courses.
  • Your budget (be realistic).
  • How often you want to receive training (can you commit to one session a month, several sessions a week, every other week?).
  • Can you pay per course/session or for a set number of courses/sessions?
  • Is auditing an option (this is where you can attend the class and observe but don't participate in the activities or assigned homework/projects...auditing is typically much cheaper or even free but, again, you don't typically receive direct instruction or participate)?
  • What type of training are you interested in (auditioning, commercial acting, theatrical acting, self tapes, breaking down scripts, reading sides, monologues, cold reads, getting into character, learning the actual business of acting, etc.)?
  • Are you looking for a group environment (online or in-person) or one-on-one instruction?

Knowing the answers to those preferences should help you narrow down the options and find the best fit for your needs.

WHAT IS THE BEST TRAINING AN ACTOR SHOULD GET?

Personally, I say get training in as many categories as possible to get a well-rounded sense of the craft. Of course, that can get pricey but there are acting programs that operate on a curriculum that tends to include a variety of subjects or are structured in a way that you can pursue certain sets of subjects but it's totally okay to start off slow and take one or two classes and see what happens from there. Go at your own pace!

If I had to recommend a broad example of the type of training one should get as an actor, I would boil it down to: auditioning for commercials and theatrical (TV/Film), learning cold reads and monologues, and breaking down scripts/scenes/sides.

It's important to note that some programs have prerequisites where you have to take certain courses before you can do more advanced levels. Don't be discouraged by this approach. You've gotta learn to crawl before you can walk and even if you're an actor coming to formal training for the first time with experience under your belt, there's nothing wrong with starting on a clean training slate and progressing within a program or with a specific acting coach/instructor.

TRAINING CAN ONLY HELP YOU, NOT HURT YOU

I had no ego about taking training myself, even with 25+ years of experience. The industry continues to change and evolve and it's extremely beneficial for me to know the inside scoop of what casting directors are looking for from actors when it comes to auditioning and other related subjects. It keeps me up to date and although I'm also an acting coach, I continue to want to learn new things and apply them to myself as an actor and for my clients. I'll never say I have all the answers...in fact, no coach or acting school should. 

Acting is a craft and an art that's always going to transform and evolve and you've gotta keep up. Receiving training is one of the most effective ways to ensure that.

And don't worry, there's many more posts that I'll devote to detailing more on this topic in depth, as well as the other territory that comes with modeling so rest assured, any questions or concerns you might have now, will be answered in due time by continuing to check back on this blog. If you can't wait, shoot me a direct email: daniadenise@gmail.com and I'll do my best to provide answers for your specific situation.

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