Fame And Fortune Don't Come For Free
When you imagine your life in years to come, do you see yourself with a fast car, a big house and fancy clothes? While that could be you, it is important to note that there is a price to pay before you reach that level of success as a performer!
When I say price, I not only mean the cost to you financially, I also mean the value of your time and efforts (like doing free acting for a time)... but that is something you will learn and experience on your own when it comes down to it. Right here and now, I am here to inform you of the estimated costs involved in starting out as an auditioning actor.
Before we begin, and before you get scared off by the idea of investing hard into your future, you should know that some truly passionate trained actors will go to the end of the Earth in order to find fame... literally!
Some will turn their entire lives upside down and relocate to bustling international neighbourhoods, like Hollywood blvd, Beverly blvd and the heart of New York City, at times with their entire family in tow, so that they are in the right place at the right time for those top-notch auditions and opportunities.
Just think of how much money these people spend on their careers in the entertainment industry even after all of their acting class expenses, before you start to worry about if paying for acting school or a class in acting is too much of a stretch. While it is not always necessary to pick up and move for an acting career, unfortunately, there is no getting around shelling out for some training or qualifications as this is a prerequisite for the job.
Whether you are feeling very cautious about your spending or money is no object to you, I will try to explain how much you are looking to pay for different types of drama curricula and other aspects of the life of a training actor.
On the plus side, if you do end up making millions, you can enjoy a life of jet-setting around the world and choose where you make your home. Then, you will look back on these days of confusion and struggles and wonder why you were ever worried about funding the start of this fantastic, fulfilling and life-changing career!
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The Cost Of Training To Be An Actor At Drama School
A certified drama school in the US will offer you a two-three year course on all things related to the dramatic arts, like vocal training, spontaneity and improv classes, becoming an actor and physical and emotional expression. They will also teach you about acting and the different types of acting techniques, including the Sanford Meisner Technique, the Alexander Technique, Lee Strasberg, Method Acting and more.
You will also learn about different qualities and aspects of acting like cold reading, script analysis and listening to instruction.
At some of the top acting schools or colleges, you can expect to pay more than $15,000 per term, however, some theatre schools offer a year of tuition for $9,000 or less. Meanwhile, there are less costly solutions for training to be an actor too.
The Yale School of Drama - full-time
The Yale School of Drama is a must-have on any list of the top institutions for the performing arts. The MFA Acting program at this university is well-known throughout the world, therefore I wouldn't recommend enrolling in the more general BA degree since you won't have access to the same professors or performing possibilities.
With a very impressive drama program, Yale is very difficult to get accepted to and once you are in, your hard work doesn’t stop there; you need to continue working hard to be able to stay and train.
Programs in every facet of performance, from on-stage acting to technical design and stage administration, are available through the MFA program.
Along with a long list of notable graduates, the School of Drama can also point to Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, Sigourney Weaver, Paul Giamatti, and Lupita Nyong'o. Students in their final year perform in showcases in front of industry executives in both New York and Los Angeles as part of the school's significant investment in networking opportunities for students.
It comes as no shock the list of famous actors that have graduated from Yale’s drama program. A year’s tuition at Yale for 2020 can cost around $55,000 per year.
One could also look overseas for their acting school, perhaps the very well-known London-based school is the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School, where famous figures like Tom Fletcher of McFly, Matt Willis of Busted, the late Amy Winehouse, Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Kara Tointon, Keeley Hawes and Nicole Appleton (formerly in the music band All Saints) attended, not to mention a long list of EastEnders actors.
These stars switched school life in Marble Arch for a famously chaotic one in the fictional borough of Walford.
Admissions to this theatre school normally take place aged seven or aged eleven and the cost per term is just under $11,000.
Performing Arts School, Julliard - summer session
On the east coast, a university that needs no introduction to the acting industry is Juilliard School in New York City.
Securing a place is by no means an easy task with only eight to ten students being chosen for the BFA Acting Program, eight to ten for the MFA Acting Program, and roughly 24 students chosen for the BFA Dance Program.
This school has been considered the best drama school in the world. It is even said that it is harder to get accepted into Juilliard than at Harvard. It features an astonishingly extensive list of prominent alumni who have won more than 105 Grammy Awards, consistently ranked near the top of both the drama and dance rankings and more.
They train around 800 students annually and are proud to have some of the most notable graduates. Some of their graduates include Robin Williams, Val Kilmer, Kelsey Grammer and the original Superman, Christopher Reeve.
The school has 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 26 Bessie Awards, 24 Academy Awards, 16 Pulitzer Prizes, and 12 National Medals for the Arts. That's quite a pedigree!
The drama program hosts numerous plays and senior showcases for industry professionals like casting directors, agents, and managers in both New York and Los Angeles. Julliard is a great option if you're seeking for a curriculum that can put you on the fast track to a fantastic career.
Tuition for attending Juilliard is around $47,000 per year.
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Pauline Quirke Academy, various locations - weekend classes
The Pauline Quirke Academy, or PQA, was set up by the famous actress to provide after-school tuition for kids and teenagers aged between 4 and 18 because the star's best memories of when she was younger were from attending drama classes.
In a bid to recreate this warm environment for other generations, Pauline has set up weekend drama schools across the country covering topics such as Comedy and Drama, Musical Theatre and Film and Television. The pupils are taught by specialist tutors, and modules benefit from Pauline's 50+ years of experience within the field.
For three hours a week, 44 weeks of the year, a primary school-age child will accumulate fees costing $88 per month.
Training To Become An Actor With Classes For Adults
You will find various postgraduate courses at universities and academies, with applicant and admission information being found on individual establishments' websites.
Acting classes Los Angeles, on the other hand, are extremely difficult to put a price on. There are so many factors that come into play, that it is almost impossible to give a rounded figure as guidance.
Some coaches in the inner city of New York might be at liberty to charge far more than those working in smaller towns or cities, whilst a private acting tutor who has a wealth of experience can understandably be expected to charge more per semester for their expertise. It doesn't matter how talented you are, you will have to pay the same as everyone else on the course unless you have been picked to receive a scholarship.
Even when searching for private acting coaches on Gumtree, prices are very rarely disclosed. This is to protect you as much as themselves, as they don’t want to give an estimated number that scares people off when in fact they can be flexible and look at building courses around your needs.
Pricing your Acting Classes
Pricing for young adult acting lessons is around $700 for 8 sessions. You can definitely try a class for free to see if this studio will be perfect for you.
If you are looking to enrol in some improv classes, you may want to try another LA studio, Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio. This studio offers four improv classes for the price of $200 with film actor Dan Stransky.
It is best to look for acting classes atlanta that go perfectly with the field of acting that you wish to get into.
The Barrow Group in New York City offers many different levels of acting courses throughout the year; it is just up to you to find which one will work best for you. A year acting program at the Barrow Group is around $7,000.
Also located in the Big Apple is The Actors Studio a membership organization for professional actors and is best known for teaching method acting. Actors here work together to develop their acting skills in a private environment, which is why many actors call this studio a sacred place. Students here can take risks as performers without the pressure of commercial roles.
Current co-presidents are famous actors themselves such as Ellen Burstyn, Alec Baldwin, and Al Pacino. Some of their famous graduates include Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson, and Bradley Cooper, among many others. The price to attend The Actors Studio is a rough estimate of $45,000 per year.
See how you can discover some of the best acting classes chicago here.
Financial Aid For Student Actors
Student Finance is a popular way for most students to pay for elements of their degree and training.
A Tuition Fee Loan is designed to fund your course in full, only needing to be repaid once you start earning money from the profession you then choose to enter. Any US citizen can apply for a loan, and with a means-tested Maintenance Loan on offer too, some can receive even more money than others to help them with living costs for the duration of their course.
A Maintenance Grant does not need to be paid back, while Maintenance Loans do.
If accepted for a Tuition Fee Loan, your fees will be paid to the school, college or university of your choice in instalments.
What Other Costs Are Involved In Starting Out In Acting?
Aside from the obvious coaching tuition, there are several other things that you can expect to add to your long list of expenditures when training to become a confident actor or actress.
Headshots, for one, are surprisingly costly but are a requirement for the industry. Your headshot needs to be done by a professional, but you only need to do it a couple of times a year, unless you change your appearance drastically (like chop your hair off, grow a beard or get a visible tattoo or piercing that changes the way you look).
You might also want to sign yourself up for casting websites, especially if you don’t have an agent representing you. You will need to pay the agency a fee, so research which casting sites are the best instead of paying various fees.
Some actors may attend workshops from time to time, to keep adding new skills to their resume. These aren’t mandatory, but it’s another consideration when you are looking at numbers.
Finally, I can’t mention the fundamental cost of living, which of course applies to all, no matter their profession. The difference for trainee actors, however, is that they often aren’t working professionals as such. Most aspiring actors will hold down part-time jobs whilst applying for various auditions, so they somehow need to find the money for rent, food, social outings, etc…
In addition, as an actor, you will most likely be very aware of your appearance and understand that you must look after your body. As such, gym memberships, personal trainers, hairdressers, stylists, beauticians and many other costs will no doubt come into play.
Get Acting Lessons with Superprof!
One last thing we want to discuss is your option of hiring a private acting coach near you.
Here is where Superprof comes into play. Superprof is an online community of tutors all over the world in all sorts of industries, including acting. You can simply go online and search for acting tutors near you.
The good thing about using Superprof to find your next acting tutor is that you can view their pricing, experience, client reviews, and a tiny biography, all at once. You can view past client reviews and see how they did with other students. You can also read what type of acting they specialize in.
Superprof will also connect you to tutors near your area or wherever you wish to complete your sessions. In Los Angeles and New York, acting tutors through Superprof cost anywhere from $30 to $100 per hour. The benefit of using Superprof is that your first sessions will be free.
This gives you a chance to meet your potential acting tutor face to face and see if there is a connection between you two.
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