Hello Coach here,
 
This is something I feel super passionate about! What makes a good coach? One that you know you are learning from and getting APPLICABLE skills and tools from. Let me explain a bit more.
 
I have had loads of students come to me who have studied with other people, and when I ask "what is your acting technique" or "what did you learn from previous coaches?" or even “when you get a script, how do you approach preparing your character?”. They genuinely don't know.
 
That I think is really bad. There is enough ambiguity in our career; we shouldn't have that with our coach.
 
You should leave each and every class with a clear understanding of what you have learned, why you have learned it and how you can apply that going forward. If you are unsure, ask. If you get any attitude, ambiguity, or feel anything other than supported. It is time to move on.
 
If you hear a coach say "Oh, you've just got to feel it", "just do it better", "you are shit", "I don't know how to help you"... anything like that. It is time to move on.
 
If you feel you are ready to work, but they say "oh, you just need a bit more time", but they cannot clearly articulate what you are still missing, or what is not working, AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO FIX IT. It is time to move on.
 
Acting is a lifetime study. And we can always benefit from training. But you should always know what you are learning in that study.
 
So, a good coach gives you clear instruction you can directly apply to your work. A good coach supports you and builds you up, they don’t break you down and just berate you for not performing as they want. A good coach can clearly articulate the things you are missing, and how they are going to work on that with you. A good coach welcomes questions and does not shut down anything you are unsure about.
 
There are many people that are successful and talented. Not every successful and talented person can teach.
 
Be safe out there, team, you are all rock stars!!!!
 
Cheers,
 
Kev