In the acting industry there has always been a big question mark over the heading of acting classes. Actors can have a hard time finding the right one that is a fit for them, but agents and managers say that they are totally necessary. Not every acting class is created equal and there are many, many different approaches and techniques to acting. I wanted to weigh out some of the pros and cons of acting classes for some of you who may be newer to the industry and wondering what the best choice is for you. Actors can be taken advantage of by some of the mean people in the industry who do not have the best intentions, and here at My Acting Site, that is exactly what we are working toward doing away with for good! So take a look at these pros and cons, and weigh out the options for yourself!

      Pros:
            -Meeting other actors: this is great because you can introduce yourself to other people in the industry and have a strong group.
            -Getting advice on your craft: the whole point of taking an acting class in the first place is to improve your acting.
            -Maybe finding someone who can be a good mentor for you: if your teacher is great they can perhaps help you in your whole career.
            -Learning more about your industry: finding out about the ins and outs of the industry and making sure you know what is right and what is wrong.
            -Staying involved as an actor: keeping your craft practiced and up-to-date.
            -A safe place to bring auditions: a great chance to get your rehearsal time in for auditions.
            -A safe place to try something new: if there’s something you wanted to try that you didn’t feel comfortable doing anywhere else you can do it in your class.

      Cons:
            -Can be time consuming for little payoff: if you aren’t getting your work commented on, or the teacher doesn’t have enough time for you, you need to find a new class.
            -Not being able to find a class that fits your needs: this can effect a lot of actors as there are so many classes to chose from.
            -Feeling upset after notes: sometimes notes can feel more upsetting than anyting, this also falls under te category of a class that doesn’t fit your needs.
            -A teacher that is just a failed actor: this is not great because everything they teach will be instilled with failure and a desire to not move forward in your career.
            -Classmates that aren’t really involved: this makes getting interested in your own scenes a drag and can really lower morale.
            -When your class isn’t a safe place: having classmates that make you uncomfortable, or a teacher that isn’t great is not conducive to a safe work environment.
            -If it isn’t effective: if you find you have been taking the class and not booking, getting called back, or are getting less auditions.

      So there are some of the pros and cons that acting classes can possibly bring. There are many options in Los Angeles and New York especially for great classes, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that fits your needs. There are also alternatives to classes if you haven’t had any luck with them in the past. The best alternative there is to taking acting classes is to work (no matter what type of role it is, anything you can get, from a student film to a national commercial) and keep working as an actor. When you keep your craft going, there isn’t always a need for a class! I wish you luck in finding the class, or the jobs, that are right for you!