Studio Policy and FAQ

Do you offer make-ups?

Students are permitted to make up one class each month at the studio in a given session. For make-ups the student may attend any class in their age bracket. For example, a student enrolled in Kids Master may make up in Kids/Tween Core, Kids/Tween Craft, Kids Dramatic Improv. Please e-mail alex@zakbarnett.com to schedule make-ups. No more than two make-up students will be allowed per class. Make-ups will not be rolled over from session to session (Pilot, Spring, Fall, Summer). Make-ups may not be exchanged for private coaching or lessons. Students must be enrolled in class at ZBS in order to make-up class. There will be no make-ups in Master Class the final two weeks of the session, as we will be coaching for our industry classes. Refunds or class credit will not be issued to students who have make-ups at the end of a given session.

What if I am going to be absent from class?

If you are going to be absent from class please e-mail studio@zakbarnett.com so the absence can be recorded.

What if I will be late to class?

If you are going to be late for class please call the studio at 323-746-5059 so the instructor can be notified. If a student arrives unexcused more than fifteen minutes late the instructor reserves the right to only permit them to observe class rather than participate.

What are your studio hours?

Studio hours are Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm. Please note that these are not class hours, but hours in which our office is open. If you have questions regarding payment, make-ups, or classes please call the office at 323-746-5059 during studio hours only. ZBS offices will be closed on select holidays, the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas.

What should I bring to class?

Please consider wearing clothing that allows you to move freely and does not hinder your work in class. The air conditioning may be running so bring a light sweater or jacket.  Other materials include a highlighter, a pencil and paper to take notes.  Your instructor will inform you of any other materials needed for class work.

Do you offer private coaching?

To schedule private coaching please e-mail studio@zakbarnett.com or call 323-746-5059 during studio hours. If you need to request a coaching after studio hours, please call Alex’s personal cell phone at 323-717-1573. Do not call this number unless it is an emergency and past studio hours. Coach availability is not guaranteed. Please consult www.zakbarnett.com/coaching for current ZBS coaches and rates. Private coaching payment will be charged to the student’s card on file. The studio has the right to increase pricing for private classes that do not involve audition prep, as the instructor will need to spend more time tailoring curriculum for the individual student. The student will be notified of this hourly rate prior to confirming the appointment.

What sides and scripts do students work with?

In order to provide you with relevant material we will often use scripts from previous television shows, films, and plays. These materials are for class and educational use only and are not to be used for personal or professional use. We also do our best to seek out material that is challenging and will continue personal artistic growth; because of this, some class material may not be suitable for all audiences. If you feel uncomfortable performing or watching any content for any reason at all please contact the studio manager at studio@zakbarnett.com or speak directly with your instructor: they will make sure that a different scene is assigned to the student that week.

What if my class is cancelled?

In the event that a teacher needs to cancel class the students will be e-mailed at least 24-hours in advance. The teacher will then schedule a make-up class next time they are in class. If the student is unable to attend the make-up class they will be able to attend one free class at ZBS free of charge (excluding Master Workshops). In the event of an emergency where class needs to be cancelled in less than 24-hours students will be both called and e-mailed. Please check your e-mail and phone messages regularly. If the instructor decides to bring in a substitute for class rather than cancel, a re-scheduled class will not be offered. We firmly believe that new teachers bring new experiences to our students, so students will not be notified in the event of a substitute.

What age bracket do I fall under?

KIDS (Ages 9-13)
TWEEN (Ages 13-14)
TEEN (Ages 14-18)
YOUNG ADULT (Ages 18-23)
ADULT (21+)

Can I audit a class?

At ZBS we want to make sure that as an audit you are not only observing but participating.  This allows the instructor to correctly place you in class as well as for you to get a full feel of the instruction.  Because of this, we encourage audits to pay for the first month of class (CORE rate), after which if they do not enjoy their experience they will then be refunded payment for the remaining classes.  If you would like to observe a class, you are welcome to do so as well.  It is a $30.00 audit fee to observe class; you may or may not be asked to participate based on time.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule an audit please call the studio at 323-746-5059.

You may audit any MASTER class suitable for your age bracket (Kids 9-11, Tweens 12-13, Teens 13-18, Young Adults 18-23, Adults 20+).  If you wish to audit a CRAFT or CORE-level class please call the studio and make arrangements.  The course calendar for Fall Session is below for reference.  Please know that out of respect for our students we limit the number of audits per class.    After completing class, please wait around after to discuss your class experience with the instructor and to get placed if necessary.

On the day of the audit there is no need to prepare anything.  Please arrive at the studio at least 15-minutes before the start of class and check in with the office to get a studio tour.

CORE and CRAFT
ZBS CORE and CRAFT classes are designed to be taken in 12-week increments. The student will be evaluated every twelve weeks to see if the student is ready to progress to the next level of class. The current cost of CORE classes is $325 every four weeks with a 12-week commitment, and the current cost for CRAFT is $400 every four weeks with a 12-week commitment. If after the first week of class the student decides that the studio is not for them, the future payments may be cancelled- but no future payments will be cancelled past the first week of class. If a student can only take class a month at a time (without the three month commitment), the monthly tuition cost will increase to $400.00 per month for CORE and $425 for CRAFT.

All students are required to have a credit card on file. This card will be charged the current ZBS monthly-ongoing-rate every four weeks (of class, studio closures will not be counted as a week). Students are responsible for updating their card information once their past card has expired or in the event of a lost or stolen card. If declined, the studio manager will notify the student via e-mail; after which the student will have one additional week before payment is processed again. If payment declines a second time, the student will then be charged an additional late fee equivalent to 5% of the student’s monthly tuition. You are welcome to pay using check or cash, but a credit card must still be placed on file for any outstanding balance at the end of a given session. Outstanding balances will be charged to cards the last day of each session (Pilot, Spring, Fall, Summer).

If for some reason you have difficulty making monthly payments, or need payments to be broken down into a payment plan please contact the studio manager at studio@zakbarnett.com.

Agent referral discounts can only be used on your first twelve-week spread. Students may not reuse agency referral discount codes. Unfortunately if you have already paid for class we can not issue refunds or adjustments based on later promotions or discounts.

ZBS reserves the right to change their prices at any time for any reason.  Students who are locked into a 12-week pay cycle will not have their payment amounts affected until the 12-week class is finished.

Duration of CRAFT Class: CRAFT classes are often in private and semi-private formats. The pricing of the class will stay the same ($400/4-weeks), even if the length of class decreases, as students in the private and semi-private class formats are given more one-on-one attention. The duration of classes will be as follows: 1-3 Students: 1 1/2 Hours, 4-6 Students: 2 1/2 Hours, 7+ Students: 3 Hours.

SCENE STUDY
SCENE STUDY classes are all designed for students to be enrolled in ongoing monthly study. Because of this design, after the first 30-days of class, students will automatically be enrolled in class month-to-month until they request cancellation with the studio manager by e-mailing studio@zakbarnett.com. Unless it is the student’s first month of class, cancellation requests must be submitted at least thirty days before the next month’s class begins, otherwise the student (or guardian) will be responsible for the next month’s payment. This includes vacation. Unfortunately we cannot grant any refunds to students who request cancellation less than thirty days, as we hold a spot for that student on the rosters and have to turn down potential new students if the class is at capacity. If a student progresses from CORE to CRAFT or from CRAFT to SCENE STUDY their automatic monthly payment will continue with them into their next level class. If a student progresses to the MASTER level class, their ongoing payment will be credited towards their first payment of class.

All students are required to have a credit card on file. This card will be charged the current ZBS monthly-ongoing-rate every four weeks. Students are responsible for updating their card information once their past card has expired or in the event of a lost or stolen card. If declined, the studio manager will notify the student via e-mail; after which the student will have one additional week before payment is processed again. If payment declines a second time, the student will then be charged an additional late fee equivalent to 5% of the student’s monthly tuition. You are welcome to pay using check or cash, but a credit card must still be placed on file and will be charged if the amount due has not been paid by the first class of the month.

If for some reason you have difficulty making monthly payments, or need payments to be broken down into a payment plan please contact the studio manager at studio@zakbarnett.com.

The current ongoing study rate for SCENE STUDY is $400 every month. Proration will be taken on a case-by-case basis. Agent referral discounts can only be used on your first month of class at the studio. Students may not reuse agency referral discount codes. Unfortunately if you have already paid for class we can not issue refunds or adjustments based on later promotions or discounts.

MASTER
ZBS MASTER classes are designed as an overall arc that ranges from 9-weeks to 14-weeks. To reserve a spot in the MASTER level class students must place a deposit down on the class. This deposit will be equal to one third of the session tuition (example a $1300.00 session would need a $433.33 deposit). Session rates will be e-mailed to the students at least six-weeks before the next session starts.

All students are required to have a credit card on file. This card will be charged the additional payments on the first day of class for the session and one-month after the session begins. Students who are currently enrolled in MASTER level classes at ZBS will automatically be signed-up for the next session and will be charged their initial deposit a month before the next session starts. Students must notify the studio manager at least thirty days in advance if they plan on not continuing in class at ZBS. If the student cancels with less than thirty-days notice the deposit will not be refunded. Unfortunately we can not grant refunds to students who request cancellation less than thirty days before the next session begins, as we hold a spot for that student on the rosters and have to turn down potential new students if the class is at capacity.

No refunds will be given past the first week of class into any given session. If a student drops out of class past the first week of the session they will be responsible for the entire session tuition. A student who withdraws during the first week of the session will only lose their deposit.

Students are responsible for updating their card information once their past card has expired or in the event of a lost or stolen card. If payment is declined, the studio manager will notify the student via e-mail; after which, the student will have one additional week before payment is processed again. If payment declines a second time, the student will be charged an additional late fee equivalent to 5% of the declined transaction. You are welcome to pay using check or cash, but a credit card must still be placed on file for any outstanding balance at the end of a given session. Outstanding balances will be charged to cards the last day of each session (Pilot, Spring, Fall, Summer).

Agent referral discounts can only be used on your first session at the studio. Students may not reuse agency referral discount codes for multiple sessions. Unfortunately if you have already paid for class we can not issue refunds or adjustments based on later promotions or discounts.

If for some reason you need a different payment plan than the one offered for MASTER study please contact the studio manager at studio@zakbarnett.com.

A part of our philosophy is a strong community where artists can create together.  A whole community that we want our students to help us create.  To facilitate this, we have designed the ZBS Referral Program:

Step 1

Refer a friend.  Have your friend sign-up for a class at ZBS.  They will need to use your name when signing up to receive benefits. If they don’t use your name, you are out of luck!

Step 2

Get them involved. Once y our friend completes the initial CORE class, you will get $40.00 off your monthly payments (per referral).  This is good as long as your friend stays at the studio.  There also aren’t any caps.  So if you get enough referrals, you could be taking class for free.

The ZBS Referral Program is only good for referrals after June 1, 2017.  Unfortunately, we can not honor this policy for referrals before June 1, 2017. The ZBS Referral Program is not eligible for students on scholarship or work-study.  Referral credits may not be applied to private coaching or private classes. 

In order to safely secure the studio while class is in session the front door will be locked after office hours. To prevent fire hazards, the door can still be opened from inside, but cannot be opened from the outside. If you have an emergency and you are locked out of the studio please call 323-717-1573 and the studio manager will contact the instructor to have them let you in.

Student Forms

Please be reminded that the current ZBS policies and procedures are notated on this website.  By signing our policy agreement, you agree that you accept all terms and conditions, including changes to this policy.  Changes to the policy will be e-mailed out to all students upon effectiveness.  We will never make changes in the policy that lock you into our studio forever (as much as we love having you here). We want you to be a happy and fulfilled artist with an inspiring community.

New Paperwork Packet

ZBS classes, intensives, workshops and SEA Talks are learning experiences. They are not an audition or employment opportunity. When the class is over the casting director/casting associate/casting assistant, agent or manager will not be taking home your headshot, resume or any other promotional material.