Choosing a Group Class

Why do group classes remain a popular choice for actors?

What she was missing was knowledge found in a great acting class! Had she not taken an acting class, the world may never have been graced with the humor that is The Carol Burnett Show. This kind of discovery is exactly why this month at TAS we are focusing on our upcoming group classes. Let’s dive in together to see what the benefits of joining a group class are!

Discovery

Taking a group class is an excellent way to discover more about yourself as an actor. Take our Improv Foundations class where a lot of the class time is spent doing group exercises and playing games. We focus on games that get actors to create personal characters, think and react quickly, and explore ways to tap into their emotional ranges. Acting is inherently a collaborative art form, and practicing in a group setting allows actors to learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. You can discover as much about yourself from what choices you make in class as watching what others chose in a moment.

There’s more to discovery than just self-discovery. It is also important to experience the discovery of technique and of the business side of the industry. If the idea of self-discovery through improv games excites you, but you also want to want learn about the business, you need something more like the other two TAS Newcomer courses: On Camera Foundations and, introducing this year: Theatre Foundations. These courses begin the process of helping you discover who you are as an actor while getting you familiar with the ins and outs of working on camera or working on stage.

Community

Being an actor means you will be collaborating with people constantly and who you are working with will constantly change on top of that. You will get to be a part of a tiny community that develops quickly. Being part of a group class can help you find the start of that community. For example, the On-Set Experience class bridges the gap between education and experience by giving students the tools to produce, write, direct, and act in their own short film! Just like on a real set, you may not know who you are working with beforehand. Students learn skills and how to work together with new people and people with different backgrounds and capabilities. The success of your project is due entirely to the success of your community.

Choosing the actor life can also be incredibly difficult. It doesn’t work the way a traditional 9-5 job does which can be hard to for your traditional support network, who may come from outside of this industry, to understand. That’s what makes having an acting community or “family” so important. One of the easiest ways to find an acting family is to take a group class. Working closely with others week after week creates bonds and relationships which for many actors can lead to finding “your people”.

Above and Beyond Competition

Let’s face it, the more you know the better equipped you are to succeed and participating in group classes puts you above and beyond the competition. Through self discovery, proper training, and education for how to navigate your career, you are putting yourself ahead of the rest.

Take our Meisner & Beyond class for example. The Meisner & Beyond class is designed to introduce seasoned actors to a variety of classical techniques in order to help them personalize their craft. Actors study the greats while working to become great! Taking this course with a group allows you to hear the questions asked by other actors and to watch them succeed or fail which is crucial exposure to learning you cannot receive by yourself.

Also try really diving into working with a proper film crew by taking The Creator’s Lab, a class that cannot function without a group. It relies on people working together just like a film/TV set or theatre production.

These are merely a few of the benefits of taking a group class. If it’s your time to discover, find community, or get above and beyond the competition, (click on the class of interest for more information) or contact the TAS Front Desk today. Get your future started with one of our amazing 32 week class today!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

770-904-6646

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About The Author

Kirsten Krehbiel

Kirsten Krehbiel is an Atlanta based actress, director, and writer who enjoys bringing people new truths through the art of storytelling. She has a love of acting both on camera and on stage, having been lucky enough to be a part of incredible productions in both worlds. Kirsten joined the TAS team in 2020 as a coach, a job she loves because it lets her watch first hand as students grow and gain self confidence as actors. When she is not creating or coaching, you can find Kirsten hanging out with her grumpy cat on their back porch.

Choosing a Group Class