What is Spacious Acting™?

Go to this page.

What do you cover in the weekend?

See the schedule here.

What makes your program different or better than my other alternatives?

Read about it here.

Do I need to have any experience to participate?

Not at all.  If you’re completely new to acting, you’re simply a blank canvas.  That’s its own advantage.

I have a lot of acting experience.  Won’t I be bored if there are some newbies in the class?

Unlikely.  The great thing about acting classes is that everyone learns by doing the work themselves and by watching others work.  In fact, watching others work is an integral part of the process.

When I watch actors who are further down the road than I am, I learn where I am going.  When I watch actors struggling with my own issues, they help to illuminate the solutions.  When I watch actors who haven’t reached my own position on the continuum, I deepen my understanding of what I know, which improves my own acting.

What if I find that I already know some of what you’re teaching?

Not a problem.  I’ll recognize that fact pretty quickly and modify the program to accommodate your needs, while sticking to the basic structure for everyone else.  I’m all about tailoring the work to meet you where you are.

Is there a minimum number of people you need to participate?

No.  I charge a flat rate for the weekend, plus travel costs, so the more people who participate, the lower the per-person cost drops.  On the other hand, the fewer people in the class, the more personal attention everyone gets, so the increased value is really worth the increased cost.

I’ve got more than 12 participants.  Can you make an exception and increase the size of the class?

Not without dropping out some of the material or skimping on the personal attention everyone gets.  If you don’t have enough people to justify a second weekend, I am willing to entertain a non-participating auditor or two.

Do you need a stage for the workshop?

Not at all.  A room large enough to accommodate 12 students, a table for my materials, and enough space to allow actors to move around without too much restriction is all that is necessary.

What else do we need to provide?

Aside from chairs for each participant and a small table and chair for me?  A white board, chalkboard, or large pad on an easel isn’t essential, but would come in handy.

Some basic furniture that can be used as set pieces.  A few chairs and a table or two, at a minimum.  If you can provide a loveseat, a coffee table, and a couple of stools, that’s great, too.  Everything should be easy enough to move, so we can change the configuration quickly in between scenes.

A box or two of basic props that people can use in their scenes would come in handy.  The actors can bring what they need from home, but it’s my experience that they usually don’t bring enough.  So having some options available to everyone would be great.

That said, I would like you to provide the following:

• A bag or two of groceries (dry goods, please, nothing that needs refrigeration)
• A deck of playing cards
• A stack of old magazines (20 is a nice number, but it’s not critical)
• A laundry basket of towels

Before the weekend, I’ll email you a small amount of written material to print out in advance for each participant.

I’m 16.  Is there a minimum age limit to participate?

The seminar is fun, but it’s also serious work.  If you’re serious about your craft, I’m delighted to include you.  The local event organizer can better determine your suitability than I can.  But 16 is as low as I’m willing to go in terms of age, unless it is strictly a group of high school students.  In that case, ninth-graders are welcome!

Should the actors prepare scenes in advance?

If you want to prepare a memorized scene or monologue beforehand, that would be terrific.  Prepared scenes should last between 3 and 4 minutes, and monologues should last no more than 1 minute.

However, you don’t need to prepare anything in advance.  I bring plenty of material with me, and you’ll get a lot out of the seminar no matter what scene you do.  But if you do prepare something, I’d like to know the play it’s from when you choose it, so I can read it in advance.

What does it cost?

It depends.  Let’s figure out what you want and I’ll make it as affordable as I can.  I can guarantee that you won’t find better value for your money.  The cost of getting to your location may increase the cost, but generally speaking, it’s going to cost substantially less than $100/person — and that’s for the full weekend.

How do we pay for the seminar?

I take a 50% deposit upon booking, and the rest the week before the workshop.  Alternatively, you can give me a Cashier’s Check or cash at the start of the workshop.  Travel costs need to be paid as they arise.

What is included in travel costs?

I’m not high maintenance, but it does cost me something to get to you.  If I can drive, I’ll charge you the standard mileage rate; if I fly, I’ll do it as cheaply as possible and ask you to shuttle me from wherever I’m staying to where the seminar is being held and to make sure I’m fed (I can buy my own food, just need access to restaurants if I’m car-less.)  I’m flexible about accommodations; let’s talk.  But whatever the total cost, it’s still great value for the money and much less than you’d pay for that amount of class time just about anywhere.  Plus, you get to sleep in your own bed!

How do I get in touch with you to arrange a date?

Email me at scenestudystx@gmail.com.