Ten Ways Jo Kelly Coaches People To Be Great Actors - Online
Jo Kelly isn't your average acting coach.
In fact she isn't using the term "teacher" in any way "I don't do anything in the way of teaching people how to act" she adds. "I assist people in not acting."
Through exercises that are experiential, Jo coaches mainly actors and artists of all kinds and non artist "seekers" in how to discover their inner peace and be their authentic self. This way, actors are able to stop performing and begin being. "I prefer to think of myself as a midwife more than a coach, because I help people come back to their authentic self, and become renewed," she explains.
She believes the success of an actor depends on their ability and satisfaction in committing themselves fully to their character. "When your character is protected completely, the story is told and the public is affected," she says.
Her unique way of guiding performing artists, she assists them in tapping in to their childhood curiosity, wonder, and even play. What does this mean? They give truthful, alive, and raw shows.
In 2016, Jo transitioned from in-person coaching to establishing an online-based business through . Since then, she's led three consecutive learning journeys and has provided over 8,000 individuals. Their students have experienced incredible success since working with Jo, and have landed roles in some of the largest studios in the game like Netflix, HBO, Disney, Showtime, ABC Studios, and more.
This is how she created an online enterprise in the field she's passionate about:
Skip ahead:
- She conducted her own research
- She began as a coach.
- She built an online enterprise that offered her flexibility in lifestyle
- She created subsequent journeys
- She worked with performers of all types
- Her clients let her talk to her
- She opted for a price that is value-for-money
- She was in her area of genius
- Her creation came from her heart
- She was honest to her profession
She conducted her own research
Jo had an unusual path into acting.
Born in Belgium Her birthplace was in Belgium. She completed her MBA before specializing in human resource management and psychosystemic psychology. After that, she worked in corporate coaching. "The corporate world never felt exactly like the one I was used to," she shares. "I chose to quit everything and move to Paris, and start over ."
A big part of her new beginnings was trying her hand at acting, which she fell in love with. She was a hard-working, passionate person, and put all of her time and money in acquiring the skills to be the best actor she could possibly be.
Despite her dedication to the craft her mother says she was a decent actor, but not an outstanding actress. Like other actors, she was plagued by stage anxiety. "Most of my actors suffered from the same thing," she says. "We had all been very passionate, however when it came time to perform the part, we were scared. ."
The actress was curious to know the obstacles that were preventing her, and other actors from becoming great actors. "My curiosity became an obsession" she says. "I wanted to know the reason actors who are committed and devoted reduce their play ."
In the following years, she researched why so many actors felt restricted. Her research led to an understanding that when children play, they're free. While when adults are playing, they've lost their freedom due to the societal norms. "When I realized that I spent the rest of my time really aiding actors to break out of their conditioning so that they could perform and show their true selves and have that youthful energy they once had," explains Jo.
She began coaching
Jo's experiential research led her to explore various techniques for somatic healing and then tested them with other clients through private and group coaching in the early 2000s. After a few years, she named her business to Be Or Not To Act.
She soon realized those she coached were lacking accountability. "No regardless of how committed my colleagues were, they weren't able to attend every day. Even though we had meetings three times a week however, there wasn't any accountability between sessions. The ball would be dropped quickly if they weren't around me." Jo says. Jo.
It was her idea that online courses can help students be more consistent with the way they practice. She refers to her online courses to be "journeys," and the first journey she takes people to will be The Reset: From Resistance to Freedom--which she developed in 2014. "I created The Reset so that I could help people through an entire 33 days," she explains.
"Since that it's on the internet, individuals are able to do this on their own time and set their own agenda."
Jo is of the belief that humans are born with a true nature, but societal conditioning asks us to behave as we think, feel, and act a certain way. According to her, the purpose the purpose of The Reset is for people to perform daily exercises that help to remove their conditioning and return to their instinctual nature. Every day, in The Reset, Jo offers pre-recorded exercises. Jo also offers two Q&A sessions, two sessions of working in groups via pods and one semi-Q&A where she answers recurring questions in an exclusive Facebook group.
Being able to adjust the timing of the online experience makes it possible for Jo's members to participate in the lessons at any time in time; when they wake up, before they sleep, or whenever they have free time during the day. "The most appealing aspect is the fact that you can tailor them fit in with their daily routines," she explains.
She started an online venture which allowed her to live a more flexible life style
When Jo first began her own online Reset journey, she was able to log each daily session through her site. In the following years she changed to Reset after being recommended to the site by her coach. "You guys know what you're doing, and I don't," she chuckles.
In the last few years, since she entered coaching via the internet Jo's lifestyle has changed. At the time of her interview with us, she was calling from the hospital, in which she was accompanied by her daughter. "Eight years ago my child was born to a genetic specification this means she requires hospital treatment each month," she shares.
" allows me to be mother and be in charge of my life while keeping my business going, even when I'm in hospital, while my daughter gets her monthly transfusions," she says. "Working online lets me take care for my daughter in the way that I want to and be in her home all the time for her. It allows me to travel for hospital needs, and yet be a part of a profession I'm enthusiastic about, without stress. ."
She created subsequent journeys
After people have completed The Reset, they have the option of entering A three-month program named The Intentional Actor. The program offers a daily 3 hour session over 12 weeks. "The participants here have a bit more independent in terms of accountability and proving themselves. They still have some practices to follow every day, but they can't rely on my energy to do the work; they must come up with their own motivation, which is what the purpose." Jo shares.
Jo will also be hosting Q&A sessions throughout The Purposeful Actor journey and each week for three weeks. Once people have successfully completed the Purposeful Journey you can choose to join a yearly membership named BAMF Actors In Action, which stands for Bad-Ass Mother F***king Actors In Action. "I made this membership in order to help people who had finished these two walks wanted to pursue their training on this path," she says.
The membership program has been operating for the past four years. it offers a content-based program every month, group work via weekly pods, a monthly Q&A session with Jo, and a six-hour summit once every three months. "The membership lets people decide what they'll do to go out into the world, accomplish what they're supposed to be doing, to connect with industry professionals, write the content they want to create, and elevate the standard of their game," she explains.
She worked with performers of all types
According to Jo Jo, the vast majority of her clients during her sessions include actors. There are others who are artists like writers, dancers, storytelling artists, and musicians, as well regular people who "want to move through their physical limitations," such as mothers and professional athletes like pro-athletes television hosts, pro athletes, and therapy professionals. "Freedom is a concern to anyone who wants to be fully expressed," she says.
Because the tours are conducted in English and in English, they draw people all over the globe. "We get people from all continents, but mostly America, Europe, and Australia," she shares.
The majority of her listeners are in the 20-50 age bracket. There are also people at the end of their third decade of life join, and it's not uncommon to see her welcome people who are in their 70s or 80s to her adventures.
She let her clients do the talking
When it comes to marketing her journeys, Jo says the word has spread mostly via the word of mouth.
On the homepage of her site, she's included a video testimonial reel. This adds social proof and adds credibility to her efforts. Additionally, visitors to the website can subscribe to her newsletter via her website. To collect email addresses, she offers a couple of free workshops as lead magnets to get people interested. an Excellent Actor to Give Yourself the Chance of Being Excellent and The Instinctive Actor. Not only do these trainings assist her in capturing her target audience's information, but they also provide people a taste of how she coaches.
Also, she posts to her Instagram page--which has over 10,500 followers--and gets external press by interviews on various blogs, podcasts, and in magazines.
She picked a value-for-money price
Jo strives to ensure that her travels are cost-effective for everyone, as actors typically be in a state of flux with their income. "If you attended an acting studio once a week, you'd pay around $300-$400. Mostly, you sit watching other actors perform scene and occasionally you're given an opportunity to take a turn" she says.
"These online journeys offer a lower cost alternative," continues Jo. "The worth of our trips are 10 times more than what we sell to customers. ."
The Reset costs less than $1,000 USD. The Purposeful Actor cost $1250 USD, and the membership is $270 USD a month.
She stayed in her zone of the greatest genius
Despite being the CEO of To Be Or Not To Act, Jo is firm in wanting to only spend time in her zone of genius--which is coaching and creating material. Jo doesn't think she's tech-savvy preferring to stay "in flow" doing what she does best. "The other aspects of running a business I'm not interested in because this isn't my field of expertise" she says.
Jo attributes her success by hiring a coach from early on. In the end, when it came time to create evergreen journeys Jo took the risk and enrolled in a class of $20k in order to master the art of doing it. "It was an enormous amount of money that required me to take on a loan of half the amount. However, I'm happy that I did it," she shares.
She believes that it's possible that anybody can build an online course that is successful. However, she warns people that this isn't an easy task.
"It requires dedication and perseverance It's also important to be really passionate about what you're working on. For me, it's all I've ever been doing since switching jobs in my 20s, and it's all I'll ever do. This passion makes it so that even when things get tough and I'm not going to give up. ."
She created from the heart
She advises online creators to be realistic about the hard work that they'll need to create an online business--and recommends that they do so only if the topic they're teaching is close to their heart.
"The risk now is when you go on social media, everyone is an expert and everybody is selling you how possible it is to make millions in two minutes, and that's just not true," says Jo. "It is a fact that if you have something dear to your heart and you want to share it with an audience that is bigger than that of your neighbors. But it takes legwork, and that includes falling down and then getting up. The process involves coaching and working hard and money until your foundation is constructed. ."
Just like Jo If you start a business from your heart It will give you the determination to stick with it--even through difficult times.
"An online company isn't merely the opportunity to work for profits. It should be developed by your heart, based on what you're meant to be doing. If you don't, you'll drop the ball since it'll appear too heavy." She explains.
"If you're really serious and you're determined, you'll have the confidence to take on the challenge. If you're out there seeking a quick cash grab it won't be possible to accept these challenges. I suggest you apply what is very dear to your heart. It is essential to perform at the highest level in your job because you're facing such a huge amount of competitors. You have to trust what you do ."
Her integrity was maintained with her art
When asked about how we can expect to be seeing in 2024 Jo thinks there will continue to be over-use of programs online. She believes that the major difference between "McDonald's" classes and "gourmet" classes will be the ones that have been designed in a way that is honest.
"When you have an overabundance of things, there will be two types of work online. There will be McDonald's kind of courses. Then there will be the reliable and gourmet classes. Everyone is going to have a program to do this or that with your life. It won't come out of a genuine source, and then there will be people who've been doing it for quite a while," she says.
In order to create an exquisite gourmet dining experience the best way to do it is to return to your heart.
"There is incredible potential for those who are grounded by their hearts and desires to serve others," she continues. "The people who will need what you have to offer will come across you ."
"I'm thankful for this, which allows us to connect as humans with what is important to us. It's incredible."