Learning any skill is most effectively done in a professional environment. Acting is no exception. A beginner actor may have a high opinion of himself, and his audience in the amateur acting studio may admire him. But only by getting into the circle of professional actors, directors, and coaches, he can truly grow through discovering his weaknesses and correcting them by developing the necessary skills.
What Happens in Acting Workshops?
Acting workshops must be distinguished from acting courses. The latter involves regular meetings, for example, 2-3 times a week for several years. During this time, the participants master the basic skills of an actor in order to continue their professional growth afterward. 
The acting workshop assumes a different form of organizing meetings. They are more intense and pass within a short time, for example, it can be a week or even a few days. However, future actors can dive deeper into the specifics of the profession, because the meeting can take place throughout the day. The task of instructors during such workshops is not to talk about everything in the world, but to focus on some specific issue. For example, it could be the following:
- features of romantic heroes,
- stage battles,
- actor’s work on diction,
- how to memorize a role,
- acting vocals.
Online or Offline Acting Workshops: Which Is Better
- If you have the time and opportunity to attend personal meetings with the masters, then it is better to choose the offline format. They are more effective but more expensive: group meetings start at $20 an hour, and individual meetings start at $80.
- But if you live in a remote area or your study or work schedule does not allow you to attend offline courses, opt for online classes. They are cheaper but still worth it. They will also allow you to move forward in the acting profession and make you much more confident.
![Online or Offline Acting Workshops]()
Are Acting Classes Useful?
The advantages of attending acting class are that real professionals work with future actors. During their career, they have known many secrets that they are ready to share with listeners. Moreover, the format of the acting class does not imply the form of a lecture, as at the institute. This is real work with each of the participants to improve their skills in one or another aspect of acting.
How Long Is an Acting Course?
If you want to connect your life with theater or cinema, then it is very important to take full-fledged acting courses. They usually take 2-3 years and immerse participants in the magical world of the stage, from which real actors do not want to leave later. You will be able to continue your education further, having received a certificate of completion of the courses. If you need acting courses just for general development, your perseverance hardly lasts for several years. Then choose shorter ones, for example, semi-annual or annual. After all, acting courses are attended not only by those who are going to subsequently play on stage:
- Some participants visit them to overcome their shyness,
- Others — to become more appealing,
- Still others — to feel themselves confidently during public speaking.
Acting workshops are undoubtedly worth it. Even when the actor is already acting on stage, he should attend them periodically. They inspire, give new skills and new friends, in whose company the actor wants to create with even more energy!