Oct 15, 2026 · 25 min · 15 segments
**How do you know whether an acting class, workshop or teacher is actually right for you?** In Episode #443 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, teacher, author and former actor Jeffrey…
Jeffrey DreisbachHostThe first thing to do is to start with the need, and here's where I think actors sometimes get this backward.
If you wanna start by looking for a problem, that sounds rather unpleasant, doesn't it? Congratulations, we've identified your problem.
Ask yourself, "What am I trying to improve?" So for example, maybe you freeze during auditions.
Maybe you're terrific when you've had three weeks to rehearse but fall apart when somebody hands you four pages and says, "We'll see you tomorrow." So you see? That's useful information, because now you're not simply looking for an acting class.
You're looking for training that addresses a specific need, and that changes everything.
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, "What can't I do yet that I want to be able to do?" There is your starting point.
For example, who do you study with? Or you have to take this person's class.
And word of mouth can be useful, absolutely, but here's the problem: your friend isn't you.
The first thing to do is to start with the need, and here's where I think actors sometimes get this backward.
If you wanna start by looking for a problem, that sounds rather unpleasant, doesn't it? Congratulations, we've identified your problem.
Ask yourself, "What am I trying to improve?" So for example, maybe you freeze during auditions.
Maybe you're terrific when you've had three weeks to rehearse but fall apart when somebody hands you four pages and says, "We'll see you tomorrow." So you see? That's useful information, because now you're not simply looking for an acting class.
You're looking for training that addresses a specific need, and that changes everything.
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, "What can't I do yet that I want to be able to do?" There is your starting point.
For example, who do you study with? Or you have to take this person's class.
And word of mouth can be useful, absolutely, but here's the problem: your friend isn't you.
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