With Academy Award winning actors acknowledging the key people who made their success possible, the acting coach is perhaps one of the most familiar professional coaches in the business world today.

Aspiring stars always ask how to make it in the business, but how do acting coaches make it?
 
Who are the top acting coaches and how do they work?

What methods do the best acting coaches employ, and what draws big-name talent to them?

How can these lessons translate from on-screen success to business or personal success?

This show featured some of the entertainment industry’s top talent and looked at some of their biggest names and best practices.

Highlights of the show included:

•   An overview of the acting coach field.
•   A discussion about the challenges actors experience that coaches can address.
•   What draws big name talent to the best acting coaches.
•   The skills a good acting coach must possess.
•   Why it’s important for executives to not become actors during conferences, presentations, and meetings.
•   Lessons from the acting world that can be applied to the business world.

Featured Guests:

Daniel Henning, Acting Coach and Artistic Director, The Blank Theatre Company
Lynette McNeill, Acting Coach and Director, Lynette McNeill Studios
Jerry Weissman, Executive Coach and President, Power Presentations Ltd.
Adrian Zmed, Actor and Acting Coach, Stella Adler Conservatory, L.A.

The IEC Debrief with Tom Floyd

We began the show with a quote from a USA Today article titled “Even A-List Actors Need a Coach.”  Larry Moss was quoted in the article as saying “I know some very big stars who don’t do a movie without a coach.  To be coached is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.”

As a coaching advocate myself (and a guy who has two coaches at the moment!) – I agree.  It’s absolutely a sign of strength, to know yourself, your areas of growth, and your weaknesses – it’s empowering.  It amazes me how some people feel the complete opposite though!

Lynette McNeill shared some actors are completely comfortable acknowledging and talking about the coaches who have had an impact on their careers and lives. 

However, others are not.  What do you think?

• Would you view an A-list actor or celebrity differently if you knew he or she had an acting coach?

• What would you suggest or recommend to a high profile actor, celebrity, or other well known personality who was concerned about the public being aware of his or her acting coach?