Drama Dojo

05/28/2024

LESSON LEARNED : DO THE RESEARCH

In 2019, I taught three acting classes and had great turnouts.

Then... Lockdown happened. I didn't feel I could teach online so, other than one Zoom class for CLO, as a sub, I moved on to other things.

More recently, I spent months working on a foundational acting course for intermediate actors. I licensed Drama Dojo as a DBA, bought the URL, built the website, and started to offer classes.

People responded enthusiastically to the graphics and ads, but ONLY 2 students registered.

At first, I wondered if I have some kind of sour rep with the local acting community.

THEN, I did the Market Research. Which I should have done before anything else. (Yes, also working on MarketING Research, now.)

And I discovered that there are now 11 studios or organizations offering the usual acting classes, most of the time. And most of them are run by people or groups who are more locally established than I am.

I don't know how many actors Pittsburgh has (and I've tried to get an estimate), but I imagine that 11 hot spots for classes probably has them covered.

Of course, I fault only myself for not having done the research before jumping into the development. And it's not like I don't have plenty of other projects to leap into. I don't cuddle the "sunk cost fallacy", and am usually content to move on to the next thing.

However, I DO have valuable insights into acting, and methods for coaxing and inspiring the best out of any given actor's potential. So, Drama Dojo will remain "virtually" open. (And I'll be conducting some workshops in other cities and states.)

I'm available for private audition and performance, for partner and group scene work, and for your craft, generally.

If you want a taste of what I have to offer, call me and ask me a question about one of your acting obstacles or mysteries. Then decide for yourself if I'm worth it. :)

Thanks for your feedback and best wishes!

And on to the next endeavors.

And this time, I'm doing the market research and A/B testing FIRST.

(This is NOT a plea for condolences. My Drama Dojo misfire is infinitely the least of my losses this year.)

03/27/2024

I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK, PLEASE !!!

See the Post for TEST AD "A" for more details.

TEST AD "B" For Acting Workshop:

03/25/2024

For now, the Place is wherever We gather.

And the definition DOJO fits because we use:

• Immersive Learning - Sessions designed to get freedom & flow into an actor's muscle memory.

• Experiential Learning - More action than talk, working through every tip and technique.

• Meditation - Being easily present, seeing what's around us, Paying Attention, and Drawing Energy - like Breath - from our Targets.

Find your Mojo in the Dojo, Jojo.

03/18/2024

http://www.dramadojo.com

The DRAMA DOJO WEBSITE is LIVE!

You can register for the Upcoming THE MASK & THE TARGET workshop directly through the site.

You can also find all & book any of my available Classes & Services, Contact Me for more info, see pictures, videos & read news there about all things Drama Dojo.

May this be the beginning of some beautiful working relationships, and a springboard to the next level for many actors on their journeys to more relaxed, profound & fluid rehearsals & performances.

I so look forward to all that we are about to learn from each other. And to the dazzling sparks about to fly.

Please check out the site. Let me know what you love, don't love, and what else you'd like to see there.

WELCOME!

freedom and flow in performance

03/16/2024

A Quick Note to clear up some confusion:

"The Actor & The Target" Class is NOT a traditional mask class. It isn't even mainly about masking. Most of the workouts and games don't even involve masks.

I introduce a few masking exercises for specific reasons. Masks serve as a Gateway to a kind of Freedom. One part of a ritual for safely Letting Go of the rigid self-narrative we maintain & defend in our off-stage, off-camera realities.

And for Putting On a New Persona, that of The Mask.
Or The Character.
To allow us to unlock our Others, and to see through their eyes.

So masks are A feature of my class, but not THE feature.

They're one of many means to an end.

I mention this because the only objection I've had from out-of-state venues is that they don't want to schedule a Mask class.

The misunderstanding is my fault, due to a lack of marketing/branding experience. Heck "MASK" is the first thing in the title!

So, for those of you who may be hesitant, thinking The Mask & The Target is a dedicated traditional masking class...

Don't. We'll try a few on. We'll see what they enable us to do and to see. And we'll try lots of other approaches.

Thank You!