Hi,

I've been acting for a few years and now am moving down to LA in the spring to study theater at USC. I know that weekly classes are one of the most important things an actor can do. My current acting coach recommended Kate Stewart McGregor and Warner Loughlin. I'd like to do both, but I might just start off with one and then add the other in after I get more settled. What do you guys think? Secret Agent Man? Which one is better?

Why don't you study with both and get a feel? Just because Kate Stewart McGregor coaches a lot of name actors, doesn't mean that she'll be for you. Maybe Warner's teachings and views don't work with yours. You won't know until you've actually studied with them.

Do people not train one on one with coaches anymore, like, for example, Brad Pitt did with Ray London? I mean not a one day before audition, but weeks of training.

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:
Why don't you study with both and get a feel? Just because Kate Stewart McGregor coaches a lot of name actors, doesn't mean that she'll be for you. Maybe Warner's teachings and views don't work with yours. You won't know until you've actually studied with them.

I would love to. However, as I'll be paying for school and living expenses, I don't really want to add another $700/month for acting classes before I get some input on what people think of them. I've researched them and read the testimonials on their websites, and my acting coach takes lessons from them, but I wanted to see what other people thought. Who do you study with? I know Ivana Chubbuck and Aaron Speiser are also really good.

I'd check to see if you can audit the classes you are interested in. You can't go by what others say about a teacher or a class as it's a personality and style thing. What one person loves about a teacher may be what you hate and vice versa.

Everyone throws around big "name" teachers but there's no guarantee they are going to do anything for YOUR acting.
1. Audit at least 3-5 classes and see how you feel, how you connect.
2. Ask good questions-Will you be studying with the "name" teacher, or one of their underlings?
3. What's the progression in a particular studio? Is it a technique like Meisner all the time, or is it on-camera all the time, etc. Some things work for some people and not others.

At the end of the day, don't study with a name teacher if it doesn't feel right for you. Why waste the money.

There are tons of name teachers who may be awesome but if they don't work for me, they aren't getting my money.

quote:

Originally posted by toonaive:
Do people not train one on one with coaches anymore, like, for example, Brad Pitt did with Ray London? I mean not a one day before audition, but weeks of training.

Brad Pitt studied with ROY London in a CLASS!