Actors don’t work alone, yet many see private acting lessons as the fastest way to improve.
One-on-one coaching helps with audition prep and fine-tuning technique, but acting is about human connection. Without scene partners, an actor misses the unpredictable moments that make performances feel alive.
A private acting coach can offer guidance, but they can’t replicate the experience of working with different personalities and energies that come with a classroom setting.
Group acting classes challenge actors to collaborate and work with the professional expectations that exist in the industry.
The best actors have craft and technique; they don’t just memorize lines. They have an artistic way of working, which allows them to respond truthfully, adjust in the moment, and bring depth to every performance. These skills come from working in an ensemble, not in isolation.
Which approach is right for you?
This blog breaks down the benefits and limitations of both training methods when private coaching is useful, and why actors looking for success in stage and screen work rely on group classes as the foundation of their training.
Key Takeaways
Great acting isn’t learned alone. Real growth happens in group classes where actors listen, react, and take risks. You learn just as much by watching others work.
Private coaching can sharpen skills, but ensemble training builds the instincts and confidence needed for any stage or set.
Training like a professional means challenging yourself in a structured, collaborative environment with real-scene work.
Private Acting Lessons: Focused but Limited
Many actors turn to private coaching, thinking it will fast-track their growth, but acting is more than technique. Here, we break down what private lessons offer and where they fall short.
What private lessons offer
Personalized feedback: One-on-one instruction allows actors to focus on their specific strengths and weaknesses. A private acting coach can identify habits that may be holding an actor back and provide targeted exercises to improve technique and the presence that comes with stillness and simplicity.
Audition preparation: A great private acting coach can help refine monologues and scene work to make auditions stronger and more memorable. Private lessons provide a space to rehearse, receive detailed notes, and adjust performances to meet the expectations of casting directors and industry professionals.
Flexible scheduling: Private lessons offer more control over training time, making them a good option for actors with demanding schedules. Sessions can be arranged as needed, whether for ongoing skill development or last-minute audition prep.
Why private lessons have limits
No real interaction: Acting depends on genuine exchanges between scene partners. Without another actor to respond to, performances can come across as controlled and coached rather than spontaneous.
Creates a controlled environment: A private acting coach can only work on auditioning, camera technique, and maybe some individualized exercises that deal with craft and process. There are limits to what an acting coach can do. If you do not know how to act, if you have never trained before, coaching isn’t the way to go. If you have craft and need things fine-tuned, coaching can be incredibly beneficial.
More expensive, less immersive: Often, a coaching session is one hour. Private lessons provide fewer hours of training at a higher price. Group acting classes allow for more opportunities to work, provide diverse scene partners, and offer exposure to different acting styles, leading to faster growth.
Eliminate the power of observation: Watching others perform is just as valuable as doing the work itself. In private lessons, actors have only the coach. Watching classmates struggle and listening to their notes can spark a revelation about your own work. The classroom is invaluable and cannot be replaced with private coaching.
Six Benefits of Group Acting Classes
Private coaching has its perks, but group acting classes bring something to the table that no one-on-one session can match: the energy of working with others, learning how to rehearse, and understanding how to collaborate professionally.
Acting is not a solo art. It is dependent on a collective effort, and requires the ability to navigate wide-ranging personalities, and the conflict that can come from creative differences. Here’s why group training is an essential part of becoming a well-trained actor who has the craft and technique to sustain a long and productive artistic career.
1. Acting is about listening and responding
Acting is not just about delivering lines. It is rooted in the ability to listen and respond personally at every moment. A real scene partner or classmate brings unpredictability, challenging actors to respond truthfully rather than relying on rehearsed choices.
Private coaching provides valuable feedback, but it cannot recreate the give-and-take energy of real human interaction.
2. Learning from observation
Some of the best lessons happen by watching your classmates. In group acting classes, each student has their individual issues and struggles. Watching how a teacher addresses these can unlock something about your own work. I find that watching your classmates is just as important as your own work. It’s invaluable and cannot be duplicated in a private acting session.
Seeing someone else struggle through a scene or have a breakthrough moment teaches valuable lessons that can’t be learned in isolation.
3. Gaining confidence in a real performance setting
Performing in front of an audience is part of an actor’s job. Whether it’s a small audition room or the big screen, confidence under pressure is key.
There is inevitable pressure and an activation of nerves when you are getting in front of a class, and the teacher, to present your work. Navigating these feelings, while also learning to cultivate public solitude is essential when it comes to acting training.
Group classes help actors get comfortable in front of others, making the transition to auditions, rehearsals, and performances much smoother. Private coaching may feel safer, but true confidence comes from repeated experience in front of people.
4. Scene work with different partners
No two actors approach a scene the same way. In group acting classes, such as with the Meisner Technique, students work with numerous partners throughout their training. Not only is this invaluable when it comes to working with different personalities and energies, but it also demands a level of professional collaboration.
At MFS, I expect my students to rehearse twice a week, be on time, and be accountable to themselves and to their partner. This is what a professional student should do. You cannot instill these important fundamentals working individually with a private acting coach.
Private coaching limits an actor to working with only the acting coach. Only so much can be accomplished with this format.
5. Building a professional network
Connections in the entertainment industry start in the acting studio. Group classes introduce actors to mentors, peers, and future collaborators.
Many professional projects, from indie films to theater productions, begin with actors who trained together. Having a strong network can open doors and lead to unexpected opportunities in the acting industry.
6. More training for less money
Acting requires hard work, consistency, and practice. Private lessons are valuable, but they are often expensive and provide less overall training time. Group acting classes offer structured, ongoing practice at a lower cost per session.
More hours in the classroom mean more chances to experiment, refine skills, and prepare for real-world acting challenges.
When to Supplement Group Training with Private Lessons
Group classes lay the foundation for strong, adaptable actors, but sometimes extra attention is needed to refine specific skills.
Private coaching can be especially helpful to trained, working actors who are struggling with a particular audition or need more insight while approaching a character & script.
Personally, I will only coach well-trained, professional actors who need help with a script. I am not going to waste time trying to get someone to understand how to act. It’s a waste of their money. The key is knowing when to use it without letting it replace the depth and unpredictability of group training.
Preparing for a major audition or callback
Auditions are high-pressure moments where every detail matters. A private acting coach can fine-tune a monologue, refine a cold read, or adjust your work so that you are at your most confident when the time comes.
This is especially helpful for actors auditioning for major roles or even preparing for college auditions, where precision and confidence can make a difference.
Breaking through a personal acting block
Every actor hits moments where something feels stuck. It could be trouble with fundamentals, difficulty accessing emotions, issues with a specific acting technique, or a pedestrian habit that needs breaking.
A coaching session can provide focused work on these challenges, helping actors move past limitations and bring more truth to their performances.
Polishing a monologue or scene
Actors working on a monologue for an audition or preparing for a complex role may want extra feedback outside of class.
Private coaching offers time to focus on script analysis, body language, and creative expression without the structure of a group setting. This can be especially useful for experienced actors fine-tuning their work for professional opportunities.
The Best Training for Dedicated Actors
Many actors struggle to break free from self-conscious performances or feel stuck rehearsing in isolation. Acting isn’t about going through the motions alone—it’s about connecting, listening, and responding truthfully in the moment.
At the Maggie Flanigan Studio, we provide the structured, ensemble-based training actors need to bring depth and authenticity to their work. Rooted in the Meisner Technique, our program grounds the actor in craft and instills a consistent process for creating organic, vivid, fully realized human behavior.
Through rigorous training, including scene work, character development, and emotional truth, students build the instincts, craft, and confidence required for a real acting career. Private coaching can refine certain skills, but real growth happens in a supportive environment where actors challenge each other and learn through experience.
If you’re serious about reaching your full potential and training at a level that prepares you for film, theater, and beyond, call the Maggie Flanigan Studio today to learn more about our program.
Conclusion
Private lessons can refine technique, but acting is about connection and collaboration. Without scene partners, performances can feel controlled rather than spontaneous. The strongest actors train in ensemble settings, where they learn to listen, react, and take risks in unpredictable moments.
Group classes provide the challenges and collaboration that shape a better actor, while private coaching should be used to sharpen specific areas without replacing the challenges and benefits of ensemble training. The strongest actors know how to use both, making them prepared for any stage, set, or audition room.
At the Maggie Flanigan Studio, actors receive the highest level of professional actor training, grounded in the belief that acting is learned through experience, discipline, and meaningful collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is too late to start acting?
There’s no expiration date on becoming an actor. I have current students in their 60’s! Some people start as kids, while others find their passion later in life. What matters is dedication, training, and a willingness to take risks.
Many successful actors began in their 20s, 30s, 40s, or beyond—what counts is the work you put in, not when you start.
Can you learn acting on your own?
You can practice on your own, but learning how to act happens in collaboration. Reading scripts and studying performances can help, but without scene partners or an acting teacher guiding you, it’s easy to develop bad habits.
Great acting comes from possessing a solid craft, which also includes self-discovery, working with others, and pushing beyond your comfort zone in a supportive, creative environment.
Can I learn acting in 3 months?
No, you cannot learn how to act in three months. It’s like asking a musician, a doctor, a lawyer, you name it, “Can I have a career in 3 months?” It’s ludicrous and misinformed.
You can make minimal progress in three months, but acting is a craft that takes multiple years, and a decade of hard work on yourself and your process. It’s a lifetime commitment, if you are serious.
A short coaching session or workshop can introduce techniques and perhaps build some self-confidence, but mastering camera work, character development, and emotional depth requires consistent training.
Acting isn’t about rushing to get famous—it’s about commitment and growth over time and a dedication to artistry.
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