- contributed by Brian R.
Deciding which drama school you want to attend is an important decision! Finding the right school for you can sometimes prove difficult. It will be costly and a waste of time to choose the wrong school, so how do you find the best drama school?
Potential actors should investigate the school's reputation, training standards and other factors before deciding on a drama school. You can do this by visiting the school and speaking with current as well as previous students. You can also research their classes and past productions online.
There are many acting schools in the Greater New Orleans area, and each will bring their own unique offerings to the students, so it's important to do your research. This article will help you decide which drama schools to audition for and which one to choose.
Begin by deciding what you want from a drama school. Do you want the opportunity to be an actor on stage, or would you prefer to learn behind the scenes work such as stage lighting, audio, and set design. Do you want the chance to study modern texts? Would you like to perform on the screen? While some schools may have amazing programs in all areas, usually each school will have more of a focus in one area or another. At LAAPA, our primary focus in our drama department is acting for the stage and screen.
Some drama lessons are foundation courses. These courses are an introductory course that lasts one academic year. They help to develop your basic acting skills and prepare you for more advanced lessons later.These types of classes can also increase your chances of being accepted into a more elite-style training program.
Reputation is crucial for a drama school. It will affect how you are perceived in the professional world after you graduate, as well as your relationships with agents and directors. Some schools have affiliations with larger organizations. This does not, however, mean, the school is better than one that does not have an affiliation. Following certain guidelines is how these schools are made a part of the larger organization. These are the hallmarks of professional training and what you can expect. Ask current and former students about the school's culture.
Although you may feel that schools outside the city are somehow less trustworthy, many of the best drama schools can be found outside the city center in the suburbs. The main reason some schools choose these locations is due to the more affordable rent of commercial spaces outside the city. This means that they can have more space available for you, the student, to learn. You may find that it makes the drama lessons themselves more affordable because these savings are passed on to the clientele through tuition.
Pricing is usually based on location, years of acting experience, years of teaching experience, and accolades. The average cost for acting classes is $45 per hour. Hiring an acting instructor to teach you to act, you will likely spend between $30 and $60 on each lesson. The price of acting classes can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code). Although drama school can sometimes be very expensive, some schools have funding options in place. So it’s important to talk to the administrative staff at the school of your choice to learn more.
Here at LAAPA, we provide our costs/fees in our drama tuition guide.
The key to choosing a drama school is finding one with a great staff, industry connections and reputation, great facilities, a great location, and a friendly environment. It should not be about the differences between schools in terms of how they appeal to you. You can best get a sense of the school's atmosphere by visiting it in person.
If you are interested in our drama/acting classes, we would love to help. Please reach out to usand we will answer any questions you may have. We'd also love to offer youa tour at one of our facilities.