Things to look for when you audit

A good class will have the actors up doing their stuff for at least 70% of class time. If the students are crawling around "pretending to be the colour blue" for the entirety of the class, run away. Acting class is about acting.

If there's barely anyone in the class, that may be an early warning sign. Come back and audit this one again a few months later. If a teacher is good, word will catch on and the classes will get busy.

Conversely, if there are too many students, individuals may not get the attention they need and deserve - frankly, you're not getting the bang for your buck. 16 is the absolute maximum class size in my opinion. Workshops can afford a little room on this. A successful workshop may have twice as many students, but they're usually set up so they can handle the volume. The important thing is that every actor gets sufficient time working and getting notes (direction).

When you audit a class, you're effectively interviewing the teacher. Some things to look for:

Do they give direction that actually makes the actor's performance better? If nobody in the class makes any improvement, chances are you won't either.

Are they clear and purposeful in their direction? A vague note like: "put some more heart into it," is a sign that they don't know what the hell they're talking about.

At the same time though, a good teacher will encourage the student to explore. They'll have a clear idea of what the student needs, but ideally make the students find it for themselves. Sounds like a catch 22, but it's not. A good teacher gives the students the tools to do their best. If they have to resort to giving line readings, then perhaps they should be acting, not teaching.

Line readings are the lowest form of teaching. However, a director or a coach on set may occasionally give line readings to the actor. This is because the set is neither the time nor place to baby the actor into doing the right thing. The classroom is - you paid for it.

Due to the nature of the work, acting students often find themselves in a state of emotional and/or physical vulnerability. Does the class have an environment of safety, trust and respect? Does the teacher seem like someone you could trust and respect? Ask the other students how they feel about the teacher, and be honest with yourself about what your own gut feelings are. If you're really uncomfortable just being around a teacher, it'll probably be hard to learn from them.

WATCH OUT FOR SIGNS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR OTHER FORMS OF ABUSE. There are "teachers" out there who would abuse their power and their student's trust. Some would have you believe that you must do whatever they say in order to be successful. Don't listen to them. There are lots of good teachers who don't want anything from you other than to do their job. You pay them, they work for you, and they are there to teach you and nothing else. Needless to say if they physically threaten you in any way, get the hell away from them and call the police if need be.

The most important thing about finding a teacher is that they're right for you. Finding the right teacher is a singular feeling. They can be a great source of inspiration and support, and their guidance can be invaluable. No matter how good a teacher is or who recommends them, you still must use your own best judgement. Only you know if you can learn from someone. And even after you've found a good class, you will eventually want to switch. Every teacher offers something a little different, and an actor's needs may change depending on the progress of their development. Don't be afraid to try something else. You can always go back, and there are lots of good experiences out there to be had.

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