Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah -Lee Dobbs.
Hi Sarah -lee, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my business as an acting and musical theatre coach around nine years ago .
I had started doing British dialect coaching prior and then some of those clients asked me to help them with their audition material for jobs. My son at the time was playing tennis, and through that, I met another tennis mom and when I told her that I was an actor and coach , she asked if I would be interested in starting up a homeschool class for kids . It definitely wasn’t anything I even considered before so I gave it some thought and started with one acting class and one musical Theater class. By the following semester I had two full classes of each and then started to meet really talented kids and that is when I started to do private classes. Through word-of-mouth, my business started to grow as I was coaching these children not only in their skills, but getting them placed with some of the best agents in Florida , LA and New York and for those wanting to get into college .. prepping them in the whole audition process and helping guide not only the students, but also the parents.
I currently have 70 students and over 200 on my wait list.
I am so incredibly proud that this business that I didn’t even know I wanted, grew through word of mouth marketing and the wonderful students and families that started with me from the very beginning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There really hasn’t been a struggle because it wasn’t a business that I had set out to do.
The business came to me and I ran with it.
I think the main struggle at the beginning was transitioning myself from being a full-time actor into a coach and actor and then realizing , “Oh my gosh, I’m actually pretty much running a schooI!” I have to sacrifice acting jobs that I would potentially take because I have to put my students first and it surprises me to say that I am happy to do so.
When I take on a student, not only do they become part of The Sarah – lee Dobbs Studio they also become part of my personal family . My husband and my children support my students in their shows and their achievements .
I still have to act because it’s in my heart but I look for jobs and opportunities that will work with my coaching schedule. I never want any of my students or parents to think they are second best.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an owner of an acting and performance Studio , the business part is the scheduling of all the classes and selecting other professional performers and teachers to come in to run workshops.
The coaching part is teaching all the skills for on-camera work, film , tv , and commercial . Theater training from Shakespeare, to acting through song for musical theatre to recording studio training for my pop singers.
A big part of my coaching is filming self tapes for auditions. Most auditions now for any film , TV , commercial or stage jobs usually starts with a videotape.
The mentorship part is not only to guide my students to the right agents, the right headshot photographers , the right jobs , but to also be there for them emotionally.
This is an incredibly difficult job with many, many rejections. I always say to everyone when they first start with me, that I am very honest, but I am kind. I want my students to be excited to see me and be happy when they leave my class, but in between there will be honesty and hard work .
I think what I specialize in as a coach and what sets me apart from others, is that through my own career as an actor and singer that started professionally at the age of 11, is that I am able to coach all aspects of this industry, and have many good connections. I truly believe that to be able to make this industry work as a job is having as many skills as possible.
What I am most proud of is a question that is so hard to answer because I am proud of so much . The number one thing has to be knowing I can make a difference in a student’s life. Whether it be coaching them for that big film or TV spot or Broadway tour role that they booked, or them just walking out of the studio feeling that they have grown in their art.
I think this year, I had a particularily proud moment. While I was in Nashville with one of my girls auditioning for American Idol ( she made top 40 ) , I received an email from a top New York agent wanting to meet my students from hearing of my reputation as a coach to Central Florida top talent. To me, this was confirmation that I am doing a good job.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I am really hoping we get more film and TV opportunities here In Florida. Locally here in Orlando, we desperately need more professional theaters . We have lost a few over the last few years partially due to arts funding cuts. Other than that, I’m hoping we can continue to get these amazing young artists as many opportunities as possible..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesarahleedobbsstudio.com/
- Instagram: thesarahleedobbsstudio
Image Credits
Scott Dentinger
Michael Cairns
Erick Jose Perafan
