Four connected parts

The TAM
System.

Discover how it works
Derek Barr in a close portrait with a cinematic film-set background
Derek Barr
Actor, coach & founder of TAM
A TAM actor performing in a kitchen scene filmed during the Showreel Experience
TAM actors putting their work into practice at the Showreel Experience.

Build the actor
you want to become.

Immersive events, coaching, daily practice and community.

Four connected parts that help you develop your craft, strengthen your mindset and give your career a clear direction.

How it works

The TAM System has four connected parts.

Part 1

Immersive Events.

Step out of your routine and into the work. Focused experiences to stretch your craft, create something real and move forward together.

Your 2027 experiences

Events and in-person experiences may be booked separately. Contact the team for dates, access and availability.

Ask about events

Part 2

Coaching.

Bring your work to someone who can help you take it further. From performance and auditions to the practical details of your career, find the support you need.

Your coaches & specialists

Private coaching and specialist services are available to members across all tiers and are booked and paid for separately. Contact the team to discuss availability.

Find your membership

Part 3

Daily Practice.

Build your own rhythm. Work through the Craft, Mind and Business programmes at your pace, then put the learning into practice in live online classes.

Your programmes & live classes

Training programme

Master Your Craft

Develop character preparation through SDA and The Core: Read → See → Tell. Then listen and respond in the scene.

What will I work on?

The Core develops through Read → See → Tell. Read for the facts. See the world in imagination, first as an observer and then as the character. Tell the inner story as preparation. In the scene, return to the scripted dialogue, listen and respond.

You develop one Core over time, adding the layers that the role needs:

The Core
Develop a repeatable foundation for preparing and bringing a character to life.
Actions & Activities
Give your character truthful physical behaviour within the scene.
Circumstances & Senses
Make the character’s world specific, vivid and believable.
Moments & Expectations
Explore what brings your character into each scene and what they expect next.
People & Places
Build meaningful connections to the relationships and settings in the story.
Needs & Attention
Clarify what drives your character and where their focus goes.

Training programme

Master Your Mind

Explore your patterns, rehearse useful responses and build habits that support your confidence and enjoyment of acting.

What will I work on?

Programme highlights include:

The Movie Star & The Mentor
Explore the qualities you admire and the actor you want to become.
Self-Reflection & The Five Steps
Recognise your current patterns and practise a more useful response.
Mental Rehearsal & Relaxation
Prepare yourself to approach auditions and acting work with greater calm.
Thoughts & Limiting Beliefs
Examine the assumptions that hold you back and build a more supportive outlook.
The Habit of Happiness
Develop everyday habits that support your confidence and enjoyment of the journey.
The S.U.C.C.E.S.S Formula
Build constructive habits that help you respond to challenges and keep progressing.

Training programme

Master Your Business

Develop your materials, professional habits and a clear direction for the work you want to pursue.

What will I work on?
CV & Spotlight
Present your experience and skills clearly.
Headshots
Understand what your photographs need to communicate.
Showreel
Review your footage and identify the next useful improvement.
Actor branding
Bring consistency to how you present yourself.
Online presence
Connect your professional profiles and materials.
Actor visibility
Build a sustainable approach to sharing your work.

Live class · All members

Morning Momentum

Monday–Thursday, 9–10am UK

Start the day with focus, momentum and your TAM FAM.

What will I work on?
Focus for the day
Check in, clarify your priority and set a clear intention for the work ahead.
Mindset and obstacles
Use coaching and state work to reset your focus, work through obstacles and strengthen your professional identity.
Action and accountability
Share wins, get quick support and commit to a useful next action alongside the TAM FAM.

Live class · Premium & VIP

Master Your Craft

Monday, 12pm UK

Develop your craft through the SDA Method.

What will I work on?
The SDA Method
Work through the core preparation process and bring it into your acting.
One technique at a time
Isolate a key technique, practise it and integrate it back into your performance.
Truth and connection
Develop awareness, control and connection through practical craft work.

Individual working and review opportunities depend on available space. VIP members can pre-book eligible opportunities.

Live class · VIP

Master Your Performance

Monday, 7pm UK

Work on your performance and bring your choices to life.

What will I work on?
The performance hot seat
Perform live in this VIP class with Skye Hallam.
Coaching and direction
Receive specific feedback on your work and explore the choices available to you.
Apply it immediately
Perform again with the direction, developing truth, confidence, responsiveness and freedom.

Live class · Premium & VIP

Master Your Industry

Tuesday, 12pm UK

Understand the industry and how to work within it.

What will I work on?
Inside the industry
Hear from casting directors, agents and other industry professionals about their work and what they look for.
Your questions, answered
Ask questions live and develop a clearer understanding of professional expectations.
Your next steps
Use those insights to review your positioning and decide which industry actions to take.

Individual working and review opportunities depend on available space. VIP members can pre-book eligible opportunities.

Live class · Premium & VIP

Master Your Portfolio

Tuesday, 7pm UK

Develop the materials that represent you as an actor.

What will I work on?
Your professional materials
Bring headshots, showreels, your CV, casting profiles or other career materials for review.
Live feedback
Identify what is helping your positioning and what needs attention.
Clear improvements
Make stronger choices about your materials and leave with practical actions to improve them.

Individual working and review opportunities depend on available space. VIP members can pre-book eligible opportunities.

Live class · VIP

Master Your Career

Wednesday, 12pm UK

Connect your current work to your career direction.

What will I work on?
Your 90-day career plan
Use your weekly VIP check-in to connect the current week to your personal career plan.
Progress and obstacles
Review what you have done, celebrate wins and identify what is getting in the way.
The week ahead
Adjust your strategy and commit to clear priorities and actions with accountability.

Live class · Premium & VIP

Master Your Self Tapes

Wednesday, 7pm UK

Practise self-tapes and learn from feedback on the work.

What will I work on?
Real self-tape review
Review tapes with Chris Thorpe and explore what strengthens or weakens a performance on screen.
Performance and technique
Work on choices, framing, eyelines, connection and delivery.
Your next submission
Leave with practical adjustments you can apply to your next tape.

Individual working and review opportunities depend on available space. VIP members can pre-book eligible opportunities.

Live class · Premium & VIP

Master Your Zoom Auditions

Thursday, 12pm UK

Prepare for the demands of auditioning online.

What will I work on?
A live virtual casting room
Practise performing under Zoom-audition conditions.
Preparation and connection
Strengthen your preparation, eyeline, connection and responsiveness.
Taking direction
Receive immediate direction and practise adapting confidently in the moment.

Individual working and review opportunities depend on available space. VIP members can pre-book eligible opportunities.

Live class · Premium & VIP

Master Your Improv

Thursday, 7pm UK

Play, listen and respond in the moment.

What will I work on?
Games and exercises
Take part in fast-paced improvisation work that asks you to respond in the moment.
Presence and connection
Build spontaneity, listen and connect with the people you are working with.
Trusting your instincts
Practise getting out of your head and making natural, confident choices.

Individual working and review opportunities depend on available space. VIP members can pre-book eligible opportunities.

Times are UK time. Programme and class access depend on your membership.

Part 4

Community.

Share the work, celebrate the wins and enjoy the journey with people who understand it. This is your TAM FAM.

TAM members smiling and celebrating together at the online Christmas party
Moments from the TAM FAM Christmas Party, 2025.

In their own words.

Members reflecting on their year, together.

“This is what every actor needs.”

Hugh Bennett

On finding support

“Enjoy them rather than fear them.”

Charlotte Wyman

On auditions and confidence

“Show up for myself without anyone pushing me.”

Claire Calverley

On showing up for herself

Members describe their own experience at the time of recording.

Explore TAM membership

Discover more about TAM

The story behind it.
The research informing it.

Derek Barr in a reflective studio portrait

The Story

Meet Derek and discover the experience that led to The Acting Masters.

Explore the story
A visual reflection on attention and inner preparation

The Science

Explore five research findings on mental practice, memory, stress, breathing and self-image.

Explore the science

Watch a member’s story