How to Know if Your Acting Coach is Legit

With the proliferation of acting “coaches” in the Atlanta market, I’m seeing a lot of people advertising their services.  Some of them are legitimate, and some are not.  So, how do you know the real coaches from the scam artists?  I’d like to offer my opinions.

First, when considering a coach, look at their experience.  A good coach should have plenty of verifiable acting credits and should have received a tremendous amount of training.  After all, how can you teach if you haven’t been on set and you haven’t trained yourself?  You can’t.  Here’s the thing… acting teachers aren’t required to be certified, licensed, or credentialed, so anyone can call themselves an acting teacher.  For that reason, it is important to do your homework.  

A quick glance at IMDb should tell you most of what you need to know, although you should take what you read there with a grain of salt because ANYONE can post a credit on IMDb.  But, as a start, take a look at their acting credits.  If they’ve done two Investigation Discovery shows and some background work, they are probably not qualified to teach.  Also, Google their name.  You should find, readily available, a website that breaks down their resume in more detail than IMDb.  If they have four co-star credits and no training, they are probably not qualified to teach.  Yeah, some people are better teachers than they are actors, so if the person you are considering training with hasn’t booked much, but has had a lot of training, they may be an option.

If you can’t find verifiable credentials online, make sure to ask for them.  Be very skeptical of someone offering coaching services if they seem reluctant to provide their credentials.  That normally means they have none.

Also, consider what type of work you want to be doing.  If it is theatre, you should find someone with some real theatre experience.  If it is television/film, you’ll want someone with a great deal of experience in front of the camera.  Believe me, the style of acting for theatre and camera is much different.  If someone did theatre 20 years ago and has not worked much in film, chances are they have no place coaching you for on camera.

Ideally, you will also want to consider if the coach is also a working actor.  I think this is a big plus because they will know what is expected from casting directors in the market and their information will be more up to date than someone who quit acting and became a teacher ten years ago.  I think it’s important that coaches stay up to date and the best way to do that, in my opinion, is to be working.

It should also be noted, that while an actor may have tons of credits, they may not necessarily be qualified to teach.  Teaching in a way that gets results and resonates with students is an art in and of itself.  Many actors need to find “day jobs” and think, “I’ve got credits, so I’ll teach.”  Just because someone has credits, doesn’t mean they can effectively teach.  Hell, I’ve got a pretty decent resume and I’m a good actor, but I don’t think I’m qualified to teach others to act.  Again, do your homework and check credentials (and see if you can find other actors who have had good results) of anyone you are considering studying with.

You should also carefully consider what your potential coach is claiming in their advertising and posts.  If they are saying that they can guarantee you’ll get work or be seen by casting, you may want to reconsider.  They have no control over whether you’ll book or be seen.  Of course, if you have talent, great headshots, and some solid training, that will certainly increase your odds of success, but nobody can guarantee that you’re going to book.

So, how do you find a great acting teacher or class?  Well, ask your colleagues (especially those who are having success) who they are training with. I think that is the best way to find a class.  You should also audit a class (most reputable acting classes will let you audit for free).  How does it feel?  Are there successful working actors in the class?  Is it a positive, nurturing environment?  All things to consider.  Look at all of the popular classes, of course, but look at some of the lesser known coaches as well.  The bottom line is that the teacher should have experience that qualifies them to teach, but they should also be able to inspire you and speak a language that resonates with you.  Even if a teacher has a reputation for being brilliant, if you feel uncomfortable or uninspired, they may not be right for you.

Your agent, if you have one, can also guide you on reputable acting classes.

When choosing a class or teacher, ask questions.   Will the person I am auditing be my teacher?  If not, then who? What is their experience?  How big is the class?  Classes that are too large (more than 12 or 15 people) won’t give you much one-on-one time with the teacher.  Will I work in every class?   What is the cost?  Do you offer payments?  What if I have to miss a class?  All questions you should know the answer to before signing up.  All of that, of course, in addition to the teacher’s credentials.

A great coach could be the key that unlocks something in you and allows you to break though to something amazing.  But, a bad coach could leave you uninspired, misguided, and misinformed.  We’re all watching our pennies, so it is important to invest wisely.   And the first part of that, is doing your homework!

The proliferation of unqualified “coaches” and others preying on actors hopes and dreams can be a bit unsettling, to say the least, so it is our job to protect each other from scams.  If you see something that doesn’t look legit on social media, ask for credentials or call them out on it.  We have to let these folks know we are not going to let our fellow artists be taken advantage of.

Now, get out there and break some legs!  See you on set.