Starting a drama school and educating the next young batch of talented actors and performers is a really rewarding endeavor to get into. It allows drama enthusiasts to engage more with drama but to also pass down their knowledge and expertise while benefiting the community.
However, much like starting any other business – and opening a drama school can be considered a business – there are going to be many challenges and difficulties to overcome to make this school successful. Here’s a guide on the stuff you need to do and sort out early to make sure your drama school has the greatest chances of being a success.
Hire the Right Staff
The success of your drama school is going to be dictated drastically by the reputation that the school receives. To gain a good reputation and become a school that parents would want to send their children, you need to get the right teachers, coaches and instructors.
Make sure to look for people who not only have suitable drama experience but also look for personalities who can teach and entertain. If you’re considering opening a top, high standard drama school, make sure to look for teachers who have a PGCE qualification. This will ensure that they’re able to teach at the highest standard and be able to control and manage children effectively. Furthermore, you want to make sure that you get your applicants’ background tested, to ensure that they’re allowed to and are suitable individuals to teach children.
As well as this, to help you save money, think about letting in younger trainee teachers or drama instructors looking for work experience, as you’ll be able to pay them a cheaper wage, or not even have to pay them at all, as some might enjoy volunteering.
Consider the Expenses
There are a lot of costs associated with running a drama school. The most obvious being licensing, rent, business fees such as taxes, and pay towards the teachers. As well as this, many drama schools also pay for the uniform and equipment needed for the students, and some even have end of year shows that they need to fund. This is why a lot of the schools charge a membership fee to help them afford this.
However, one of the biggest expenses that a dramas school needs to worry about, especially if they’re using their own private space, is utility costs. This includes things like gas, electricity, and water. These expenses can add up, so make sure you’re getting the cheapest deal on your electricity, heating and water supply for businesses by using comparison services.
Figure Out Your Curriculum
As much as you might want to, you won’t be able to teach everything at a drama school. This means that you’ll need to choose your schools identity and what they specialize in. Will your school teach contemporary dramas techniques, or will it stick to Shakespeare? Will you teach young children or more experienced teens? Figuring out your curriculum is especially important, as it will dictate who will be interested in attending.