First Coaching Session? Here's 6 Things to Expect...

You’re here for a reason - and I’m so glad you are.

GODSPELL at Porthouse Theatre - directed and choreographed by Dylan Ratell.

Maybe you’re exploring coaching for the first time. Maybe you’ve felt stuck in your performance journey and you’re ready for something deeper. Or maybe you're a parent looking for the right kind of training for your child who just won’t stop performing at the dinner table.

Whatever brought you here - curiosity, hope, or a love for the arts - you’re in the right place.

I’m Dylan Ratell, and I created Third Coast Studios to offer something I wish I had growing up: real, high-level training that feels personal, welcoming, and accessible. You don’t need to live in a big city or have insider connections to grow as a performer. What you do need is support, structure, and someone who sees what’s already in you - and helps bring it out.

At Third Coast, I specialize in voice and acting coaching that’s rooted in curiosity, clarity, and confidence. With years of experience on Broadway stages, national tours, and in university classrooms, I meet students exactly where they are - whether they're preparing for a big audition, starting from scratch, or simply looking to stretch creatively.

If you’ve been wondering whether working with a coach is worth it - or you've been on the hunt for voice and acting lessons in Michigan - this is your invitation to find out.

Let me walk you through exactly what to expect in your first session - and how this kind of work might just change the way you show up, onstage and off.

1: We Begin Like People - Not Products

You’re not just walking into a lesson. You’re entering a conversation - one built on curiosity and collaboration.

Every session begins with a check-in. No rush, no pressure. Just ten intentional minutes where we slow down and connect. We might talk about what’s going on in your life, what’s lighting you up creatively, what you’re working toward. Are you prepping for an audition? Rebuilding confidence? Just trying something new for the fun of it?

This beginning matters. It sets the tone for a space where you're not performing for me - you're creating with me. My job isn’t to dictate. It’s to walk alongside you as a fellow artist, and guide you toward what’s already waiting within you.

2: If You’re Here to Train Your Voice

Once we’re grounded, we move into a warm-up tailored to you - not a one-size-fits-all vocal drill.

I pay close attention to your posture, your breath, your sound, and how your voice feels in your body. Whether you’re classically trained or figuring it out as you go, your voice is uniquely yours - and it deserves a training approach that honors that.

We’ll use techniques like SOVTs (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract exercises — think humming through a straw) to build range, ease, and strength. These methods don’t just “fix” problems - they unlock possibility. It’s not unusual for students to walk away with a new five-note stretch in a single session.

And yes - we’re tech-savvy. We can gain access to professionally recorded piano tracks from top-tier NYC musicians, so you can rehearse confidently at home (and even perform with them if needed).

Whether you’re a musical theatre lover, a pop vocalist, or somewhere in between, we’ll build your voice with technique that lasts - and artistry that’s entirely your own.

3: If You’re Here to Train as an Actor

Acting at Third Coast is about rooting yourself in truth, not layering on tricks.

We begin with light warm-ups, but the real heart of the work is in the text - finding the emotional engine behind the words and learning to respond honestly, moment by moment.

I draw from tools like Stanislavski, Chekhov, Laban, and kinesthetic methods to help you discover your unique presence. We’ll work not just on “how to act” - but how to listen, how to feel, and how to give. Because great acting, at its core, is about generosity.

I’ll remind you often: your humanity is enough. My role is to help you unlearn the tension that gets in the way, and trust the instincts that already live inside you.

4: What If You Hit a Wall?

Beautiful. That means you’re doing the work.

Growth isn’t always clean or linear. Sometimes we hit a block right before a breakthrough. When that happens, we pause, we reassess, and we get curious instead of critical.

I keep detailed notes after every session - and sometimes even video check-ins - so you can actually see your progress. Watching your early work side-by-side with where you are now can be eye-opening, especially when you’re feeling stuck.

It’s a reminder that no effort is wasted. Every step forward, every stumble, every “off” day - it’s all part of the process.

5: Feeling Nervous? Me Too.

Nerves are a natural part of creating something real.

I work with students of all levels, from beginners to pros, and guess what? Everyone gets nervous. Including me.

We’ll use tools inspired by one of my greatest teachers: dogs. (Stick with me!) Dogs regulate their nervous systems by shaking, yawning, and stretching - and we can do the same. Through full-body movement, breathwork, and intentional silliness, we shake off fear and ground ourselves in the present.

You don’t have to be fearless to do this work. You just have to be willing to show up.

6: Why Choose Third Coast Studios for Voice or Acting Lessons in Michigan?

Because I built this place for people like us.

I grew up in a small Michigan town where training like this felt out of reach. But I worked, I trained, and I found my way to Broadway, national tours, and beyond - not through luck, but through support, persistence, and the right teachers at the right time.

Now, it’s my turn to offer that kind of support to you.

Third Coast Studios isn’t a franchise. It’s a homegrown space with professional rigor and Midwestern warmth. You’ll receive the kind of training you’d get in NYC or LA - but with a coach who knows your name, believes in your story, and wants to help you grow on your own terms.

We’re building something beautiful up here on the Third Coast. I hope you’ll join us.

Curious about coaching? Ready to take the next step?

Whether you're looking for:

• A new creative outlet

• Coaching for a big audition

• Support for your child’s artistic development

• Or a return to the parts of you that felt the most alive on stage...

👉 [Explore coaching options here] www.thirdcoaststudios.coach

👉 Or reach out to me directly: info@thirdcoaststudios.coach

You're welcome here.

Warmly,

Dylan Ratell

Founder, Third Coast Studios