Why I Take Acting Lessons
I know this is your first question so I’ll get it out of the way now:
Do I want to be an actor?
Yes and no.
Yes, because it would be so much fun to dress up and play someone different every day. I love performing, I always have, and acting is so unique. Plus, who wouldn’t want to go to a job where you just get to have fun every day?
However, I say “no” because it’s never been my goal in life. I’ve never pursued acting as a career and I may never. Right now I’m just having fun and if it leads somewhere then great. If not, that’s ok too.
Acting classes have helped me in a number of ways, though.
It’s taught me more about myself than any therapist or personality test ever has.
It gets me out of my comfort zone and challenges me in new ways each week.
It allows me to be creative in a different way, thereby opening my mind to other possibilities in the creative space.
It helps with my writing. When I’m writing I want my characters to feel as real and natural as possible. What better way to get a sense of that than playing characters from other writers?
It’s helped me work through emotions.
It’s made me a better communicator in my real life.
When I began these classes it was because I felt something was lacking in my life and I wanted to feel like I was headed somewhere. I thought maybe by starting up acting again I could try to become an actor.
Instead, it made me realize how much I love writing. And acting. And cultivating ideas. And storytelling.
Would I recommend everyone take acting classes? No.
If you think you might be interested, then absolutely, yes. But only do it if you’re willing to put in the work.
I have a 3 hour class once a week. Outside of the class we are given homework, usually a script or two, that I spend anywhere from 1-4 hours on outside of class. This is because I want to get as much out of it as possible.
It is because of this viewpoint that I have been able to get so much out of the class.
You get out of something what you put in.
I come to class prepared, excited, and ready to learn. I see other students in the class who have yet to glance at the script prior to class that week and they mostly seem bored the whole time. They don’t ask questions, they don’t engage, and, honestly, they don’t really get any better.
You get out what you put in.
If you’re willing to open yourself up to the freedom of acting, absolutely 100% go for it. But you have to do the work. You won’t receive anything from it if you do not do the work.
You get out what you put in.
