It’s always nice to have someone in your corner, isn’t it? It’s particularly nice in these here creative industries—where so much of our business and lives are driven by rugged individualism. You’d think we were off in the wilderness in Alone, carving canoes with our teeth the way we fend for ourselves… But as you know, the life of an artist is much, much harder. These days, actors are turning to an acting coach to give them tips and mentorship on their craft and careers. If you’ve ever wondered if an acting coach is right for you, read on.
An acting coach provides training and mentorship for actors. Unlike an acting teacher for a class or at a drama school, their focus is more individualised. They can work with an actor on specific areas of their technique or process, offer advice on the industry and prepare them for important auditions. Acting coaches can be invaluable in the help they provide; however, it is important not to see them as a technical cure-all, or an industry fast-track. Know what you want from an acting coach: approach them with specific goals in mind.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the basic facts around acting coaches, and answer a few burning questions you might have on the subject. We’ll also hear from one of our StageMilk acting coaches directly. However, the first thing we should say on the matter is this: no actor needs an acting coach. All actors need some kind of training, all actors need hard work and a good pinch of luck. But if you can’t secure an acting coach for whatever reason, don’t panic. They are one way of getting you moving along your acting journey, not the only one.
All right, let’s huddle up!
Why Work with an Acting Coach?
As we mentioned above, an acting coach offers training and mentorship with an individualised touch. As you complete sessions together, they’ll come to know about your process, your goals and your current career. This, in turn, will help them offer advice that speaks to your personal journey as an actor.
They can be a means of keeping you accountable with regular work; they can push you into exploring new areas of your range or your craft, help you set goals and establish healthy work habits. Some actors work with a coach to keep themselves sharp, or get a fresh set of eyes on what and how they do—perhaps in a moment of career uncertainty or stagnation.
Acting coaches can also offer support if you find yourself in a less central location, or out of reach of a local acting class/drama school. Their work is predominantly performed online these days, and their hours are flexible to your needs.
What Can an Acting Coach Do?
Lotsa things! Coaches tend to be profesionals or performers in their own right, and so most will offer specialised skills based on their own training and/or lived experience. (This is something worth researching: don’t rush into a regular session if you don’t think you’ll be getting what you need from that particular individual.) Without presuming the menu of talents and skills of every coach out there, here’s a list of the main things you can expect:
- Audition Coaching. Looking for some help with a last-minute tape your agent has requested? Keen to have somebody once-0ver the instructions and ensure that your tired eyes are scanning the fine print? Acting coaches are perfect for helping you quickly and comprehensively prep for big auditions.
- Script Analysis and Character Creation. Coaches can help you break down the text of a script and discover all of the hidden meanings and ideas within. When it comes to discovering your character, they can ensure your choices are consistent with the larger story world.
- Area-specific Training. Accents? Physicality? Framing for self-tapes? Clowning? Throw an acting coach a specific prompt and they’ll be able to guide you to strengthening that aspect of your craft. This is an area where a little research into the coach beforehand can help guide you to the right practitioner.
- Acting Toolkit Review. Departing from all things craft and process for a moment: an acting coach can review your toolkit of showreel, CV, headshot and cover letter ahead of approaching professional representation.
- Examining your Work and Giving Feedback. Have you ever sent an audition to a casting director you felt completely certain about, only to get knocked back for no apparent reason? You can review your work with an acting coach and have them critique your work being sent out into the wilderness. (It’s exactly what we offer with our team here at StageMilk via our monthly Scene Club membership!)
- Industry Advice. Coaches are equipped to answer any and all questions you might have about finding jobs, networking, seeking opportunities and generally navigating you through the performing arts industry. Come to them with your thoughts, plans and worries and they’ll guide you well.
- Support. Finally, an acting coach can offer some comfort and reassurance in times when you feel downtrodden by the actor’s life. They are no substitute for a mental health professional, but they’ll listen and see and understand in those tougher moments. Having certainly been there themselves.
What Can’t an Acting Coach Help With
For everything an acting coach can offer you, it’s worth knowing their limitations as well. Many actors will jump into a session with a coach expecting something from the list below, only to find themselves sorely disappointed. So take a second to review these points and save yourself the upset.
- Industry Contacts. An acting coach is not going to open up their address book for you, no matter who they might know in the industry. This is nothing personal: it’s a matter of privacy, not to mention good manners. If your coach knows somebody you’re keen to connect with, you may be able to ask them for advice on how best to approach them yourself. But asking more than this is simply not done.
- Getting Work. Coaches can direct you to spaces in which you might find work opportunities, including hidden gems like indie theatre and student films (trust us.) However, they’re not going to be able to throw you interesting, paid opportunities as part of their regular services. Occasionally, you may hear about something from a coach that you can apply or audition for—perhaps something they’ve recently seen and thought of for you. But this isn’t something to rely on for your next acting gig.
- Additional, free help. Respect your acting coach’s time. Outside of the time you book with them, remember that their time as a freelancer in this industry is precious. So if you want additional expertise from them, compensate them accordingly. Once your relationship is established, an emailed query or two is perfectly fine. But sending through an essay of a message with a list of questions that should probably be its own session is just greedy. And you’ll never get the kind of focus or detail you’d actually want when they’re trying to reply between paid engagements.
- Miracles. Perfect accent work after a week. Memorising a monologue after an hour. Acceptance into all the best drama schools. Manage expectations when working with a coach. Just because you pay them doesn’t mean you can expect everything—especially when the things you’re hoping to work on actually require effort on your part rather than the expertise of a coach. Don’t show up demanding miracles. Work for ’em.
An Acting Coach’s Perspective
Hi! My name is Alex, and I’m an acting coach here at StageMilk. I actually wrote the rest of this article as well, but I thought I’d take a moment to speak directly to you—coach to actor, straight and unfiltered:
The best work we can do together comes from setting clear and achievable goals. It’s doubly important if we have a regular session together, otherwise it’s easy for it to become a bit of a chat and a check-in. (Which is fun, but hardly gives you your money’s worth.) Know what you want to do, and I can help you determine a path there.
I also want to mention that all the sessions in the world won’t help if you don’t do your own work in between. At best, a coach is a guide for the work you, as an artist, need to put in under your own steam. It probably goes without saying: the more you put in, the more we can offer you in turn.
That’s all. All the best—we may even find ourselves working together in the future!
Conclusion
So there you have it: everything you need to know about working with an acting coach! Before we wrap, let us leave you with one very important point. The world’s best acting coach is no substitute for the kind of experience you’ll get working with your peers in group settings.
Never discredit the power of taking an acting class, doing scene study with friends or diving into a workshop. An acting coach can be a powerful member of your creative community. But keep on growing that circle. Keep backgrounds and expertise and opinions diverse. And they will push you to grow in kind.
Good luck!
