Case Study: How Our VA Helped an Award-Winning Drama School Director Reclaim Her Time

vedrana21
7 days ago
3 min read

When you’re a creative leader, visionary educator, and passionate performer, there are never enough hours in the day.

That was the situation Clare Cairns, the founder and director of Acting Out Drama School, found herself in. Clare’s energy and commitment to her students, her award-winning drama programs, and the wider creative arts scene had led to national and international recognition - including back-to-back wins as Drama School of the Year by the Scotland Prestige Awards and a personal award for Creative Arts Director of the Year.

But with all the success came an avalanche of emails, admin, and team coordination. Clare knew it was time to get some help, so she could focus on what she loved most: coaching, performing, and growing her community.

About the Client

Clare is a multi-award-winning creative leader, educator, and performer. As the founder of Acting Out Drama School, based in Edinburgh, she has cultivated a powerful and nurturing learning space for aspiring actors and speakers of all ages. Her vision, passion, and work ethic have helped AODS grow into a respected international hub for dramatic arts education.

But managing social media, admin, team management, and constant communication alongside teaching and leading was simply too much.

She pictured herself working remotely from a sandy beach in Thailand, cocktail in hand. She wanted to be her own boss, set her own schedule, and make more money—all while enjoying the freedom to work from anywhere

The Problem

As a self-described “creative soul,” Clare grows when she’s coaching students or directing shows, not when she’s stuck in inboxes or behind a website dashboard.

Managing the school’s digital presence, replying to dozens of client messages, and coordinating schedules was beginning to sap time and energy from her core work. She needed someone reliable to handle the operational load, allowing her to stay focused on her strengths and her students.

The Solution

Clare began working with a Remote Bob VA nearly a year ago. What started as simple support with social media quickly grew into a seamless collaboration across multiple areas of the business.

Together, they built a partnership based on trust and aligned values, which allowed Clare to hand off more and more tasks: from communications and newsletters to full calendar management,website updates and even team management.

How the Virtual Assistant Helped:

Social Media & Marketing · Planned and scheduled posts across social media platforms · Shared important announcements and award wins with the AODS audience

Client Communication · Replied to client inquiries and coordinated messages professionally · Managed the growing client base with warmth and efficiency

Website & Newsletters · Updated website content to reflect awards, new programs, and seasonal classes · Created and sent regular newsletters to the AODS community

Calendar & Coordination · Maintained Clare’s busy calendar, aligning sessions, team calls, and events · Assisted in coordinating internal meetings and school projects

Team Support & Leadership Assistance · Supported the team behind the scenes to keep operations running smoothly · Helped Clare step back during key personal moments: like maternity leave

Clare was extremely happy with her VA Blanka and all the help she provided! As a reward, she sent her a massage coupon - what officially makes her the best client ever!

The Result

Clare didn’t just get support, she found space to grow again. With her VA taking care of the behind-the-scenes work, Clare has been able to focus on school’s vision and mission, growing her international reach, and staying present for her students and her family.

And when Clare recently welcomed a new baby girl into the world, she had full confidence to let her VA step in and run the school in her absence.

This year, Clare won the 'Creative Arts Director of the Year' award for the second year in a

row! Here's what she had to say and how she thanked us:

Contact

In case you are interested in acting and want to explore more about their award-winning programs, feel free to contact Clare and her Acting Out Drama School: https://actingoutdramaschool.com/

If you are looking for the best virtual assistant to support you with marketing and admin tasks, contact Remote Bob at customers@remotebob.co.uk or book a free consultation call here https://calendly.com/customers-remotebob/