Return to main Advice page

Dear John

Confidence coaching

First published 25th May 2006

Question:
I want to improve and build up confidence in my performing and I'm prepared to pay for one to one coaching. But how do I find the right coach? Would joining a class be better value for money?

Answer:
If you buy something tangible, whether it's a bar of chocolate or a bungalow, it's not too hard to work out whether you've got your money's worth. However, with something more personal and intangible like 'improving and building confidence in my performing' it can be a lot harder to judge. Here are some guidelines from two very experienced and respected teachers.

What the experts say:

JB Rose

Singer and songwriter JB Rose has toured Europe and the US as a solo artist. Her vocals on a wide range of live and recorded projects regularly attract reviews along the lines of 'heartwarming' and 'powerful', so she knows a thing or two about getting the most out of her instrument. JB continues to offer one to one singing lessons to a range of clients.

When I started singing myself learning was very much by trial and error. And after considerable damage to my bank account, what did I learn? All kinds of confusing and contradictory ideas and techniques and the fact that the best tutors are not necessarily the ones who claim to have taught celebrities or have the flashiest ads.

One of the best ways to find a good coach is to get a recommendation from someone you respect. If you have seen someone sing and you have enjoyed their performance, ask them if they've had lessons and who their teacher was.

You could also join a course at a reputable music institution. A lot of teachers also give one to one coaching but even if you can afford one to one, singing with other people helps you develop valuable skills including harmony work. Just as importantly, you learn to collaborate with others - there are very few genuinely 'solo' projects in this business. A good place to start searching is the website of the Association of Teachers of Singers www.aotos.co.uk, and of course The Stage and the music press.

Before you start calling tutors up, make sure you identify what you feel you need as a singer. Discuss this with your potential coach and see how you like their answers. If you're not sure, then go with your instincts - maybe they're not for you.

If you are going to a lesson with someone who has not been recommended, make sure someone knows where you're going, or better still, bring a friend with you.

Any type of singing lesson should always start off with looking at posture, taking you through breathing techniques and a series of scales and exercises.

If you find yourself skipping straight to the 'nice bit' and your tutor hasn't made sure you have correct alignment and good vocal habits, you might develop vocal faults in the long term.

Simon Dunmore

Simon Dunmore is a freelance theatre director, writer and teacher of acting as well as the author of An Actor's Guide to Getting Work and an editor of The Actor's Yearbook, both published by AC Black.

Acting coaches advertise in The Stage and in Contacts, and some drama schools will also make recommendations. Before approaching a coach, you should be clear what you want.

Teaching acting is almost always better done in groups - after all it is mostly an interactive process. However, if you are looking for help in order to solve specific problems, such as help with audition speeches, a private acting coach could certainly be the answer. But before committing your time and money, do some research. Don't be beguiled by the fact that someone trained at a prestigious drama school or has impressive acting credits themselves. The crucial question is can he or she teach?

Personal recommendations are very valuable here. Ask around. If the acting coach has a website, read it. When you contact someone who you think might be viable, have a list of things you want to know worked out in advance. Find out exactly what he/she offers, how much they charge, where they're based, whether will they help you find suitable audition speeches - don't be embarassed to ask the most basic questions.

This dialogue is to try to work out if you'll work well with a potential teacher and can often be the most important factor in the success of your relationship. As with any other service, you are weighing the value of what you get against how much you are paying.

The person who charges more may not be the best person for the job, but equally, cost cutting isn't always wise in the long run. For instance, there may be someone who lives only ten minutes away, but will they spend all their time talking about themselves? I've also been reliably informed that there are those who simply hand out the same old audition speeches over and over again.

Another factor is what 'after sales service' a coach offers. For instance, will he or she be happy to respond to follow-up queries after you've met?

Finally, does he/she seem to have sufficient current knowledge of drama schools and/or the profession?

John sums up:

Some weeks I use this 'summing up' section to add an extra tip or two to what our experts have to say but there are other times where the best help I can give you is simply to repeat what both our contributors have pointed out - performance is never a one person activity. This applies just as much to stand-up comedy and other solitary professions as it does to being in band or a dance troupe. One to one coaching can certainly be valuable, as can working in your home studio or practicing in front of the mirror but any experience you can gain of interacting with other people will greatly increase the viability of your business in the real world. Taking the time to find the right teacher or coach is a good first step in discovering how to combine your talent with their teaching ability to achieve the results you want, which is why it pays to have a clear idea of what result you are aiming for.

* JB Rose maybe contacted on telltarra@yahoo.co.uk

* Simon Dunmore's website, with many useful resources for actors, is: www.simon.dunmore.btinternet.co.uk

* Feedback/queries are welcome to dearjohn@thestage.co.uk

Also on The Stage online:

* An extract from An Actors' Guide to Getting Work

* An extract from The Actors' Yearbook

* An extract from Secrets of Performing Confidence

* How To Guides: How To Cope With Nerves

Click here to go back to the Dear John homepage.