Life as a working actor can make studying your craft feel like a chore.
Actors often have demanding and unpredictable schedules, and the “starving artist” trope survives for a reason, with many artists living paycheck to paycheck, or not far beyond. Besides which, being an actor is expensive: headshots, casting breakdown services, reel edits, self-tape equipment, and the list goes on. Why not add one more expense and tack on acting classes?
Key Insights
- Treat acting like a muscle. Regular training keeps you ready so you’re not scrambling to “get ready” when opportunity hits.
- Explore multiple techniques and teachers to expand your range and avoid getting stuck in a single creative lens.
- Use low-pressure learning environments to take risks, fail safely, and reconnect with the joy that fuels long-term success.
Particularly post-college or conservatory, young actors might understandably feel they have invested enough into their artistic education, and pay-to-play opportunities offering exposure do little to instill trust in the community. But while there certainly can be predatory institutions, continuing to invest in your acting education is one of the most important things you can do for the quality and longevity of your career.
There is always more to learn. Developing new skills, working new techniques, and learning how to learn from different instructors, all make you more hireable as an actor. Stanislavski is not the only acting technique out there. The more you try, the better informed you are on what methods help you access what you need.
Acting is like any other muscle. It must be worked to remain strong. Continuing training makes the difference between getting ready, versus staying ready. The more consistently you work off-set, the quicker you’ll be able to adapt to new directors, new teams and new ways of working. And the faster you are able to spring into action, the more likely you are to be hired again.
The more artists you learn from, the better. Collaborating with new artists, taking classes at different studios and learning from a variety of coaches keeps you well rounded. If there is only one voice in your head, you’re limiting your perspective, something any actor should be keen to avoid.
Beyond the skills you acquire, intentionally studying and working on your craft when it’s free from the pressures of being hired is a wonderful way to rekindle the joy in your work. It gives you the freedom to practice taking real risks, and to fail without fear of professional consequence.
It allows you to stretch in ways you might not be afforded the opportunity to do in the fast-paced world of film and theater. Moreover, it’s a good way to keep checking in with yourself. If you stop loving the learning of your craft, you have lost love for the craft itself.
Remember, training and professional development can look different as your career evolves. Traditional acting classes can be wonderful, but they are not the only way to learn, and not all lessons come with a price tag. Collaborating with more experienced artists, taking on jobs that demand you learn new skills, reading books on acting, studying media and working with artists from other cities and countries are all experiences that can shape your growth as an artist.
Knowing yourself as a student will help guide you to the kind of training that works best for you.
