Thanks to those who came out to the Real Characters show last night! I had such a fun time doing it and I hope you did too.
I have to admit I was pretty nervous about the show cus I was performing four character monologues and I haven't acted in like...ten years? Maybe more? This feels so insane to me because when I was a teenager, I went to a performing arts high school in Miami where I performed everyday for four years. The stage was my second home. I felt more comfortable on stage than I did in real life. And when you're 16 and insecure, that means everything. But now, fast forward several years later and the stage is like a foreign place to me. What used to bring me comfort and satisfaction brings me nerves and anxiety. Maybe it's because when I was younger, I was so shy and self conscious around people, that I NEEDED the stage as an outlet. But now that I'm older and more comfortable with myself, I feel more self conscious on the stage. It's weird. And I try not to think about it too much but I guess this blog post is not really helping!
Rehearsing was actually a really frustrating process for me because I just felt so rusty and my acting muscles and reflexes were just not as adroit and nimble as they used to be. Why is my timing so freaking slow? Or why am I rushing over these beats instead of really being in it? It's hard to explain but maybe other performers have felt like this. In my head I could hear and see how the characters should be, but in practice, I just wasn't fully realizing them. But acting is like a muscle and I know I just have to keep working at it and practicing and getting out there. And hopefully I'll be like Rocky soon enough. Or whatever athlete is appropriate in this analogy.
Oh and one person who helped me get my acting muscles working again was Leslie Meisel. She is an AMAZING actress at UCB Theatre and an equally amazing coach. She helped me go from merely reading words outloud from a script to creating fleshed out, truthful characters. And she helped me break the script into beats and figure out what the character wanted in those moments. I think it's really helpful to work out comedic pieces with a theater approach because you wanna play it as truthfully as possible and avoid being a one note, cartoon character. And I think the best advice she gave me was to just go for it and commit. Are you gonna play a ghetto character who loves to go clubbing? Then COMMIT. That's why I wore a weave. Also, if you guys are ever looking for a good comedy acting coach, see Leslie!
But I felt good about last night's show. I didn't wanna tell people to come because I was nervous about sucking but I think it's good to have people who believe in what you do. I actually didn't invite my boyfriend because the thought of performing in front of him stresses me out. The man teaches and performs comedy for a living. Not trying to have him see me perform!
Anyway, last night was so fun and that's all that matters. It wasn't by any means perfect but I know I can do better and that motivates me to keep trying. And I can feel myself getting more comfortable with performing the more I do it. But if you guys have any other tips on being more confident on stage please let me know!
I have to admit I was pretty nervous about the show cus I was performing four character monologues and I haven't acted in like...ten years? Maybe more? This feels so insane to me because when I was a teenager, I went to a performing arts high school in Miami where I performed everyday for four years. The stage was my second home. I felt more comfortable on stage than I did in real life. And when you're 16 and insecure, that means everything. But now, fast forward several years later and the stage is like a foreign place to me. What used to bring me comfort and satisfaction brings me nerves and anxiety. Maybe it's because when I was younger, I was so shy and self conscious around people, that I NEEDED the stage as an outlet. But now that I'm older and more comfortable with myself, I feel more self conscious on the stage. It's weird. And I try not to think about it too much but I guess this blog post is not really helping!
Rehearsing was actually a really frustrating process for me because I just felt so rusty and my acting muscles and reflexes were just not as adroit and nimble as they used to be. Why is my timing so freaking slow? Or why am I rushing over these beats instead of really being in it? It's hard to explain but maybe other performers have felt like this. In my head I could hear and see how the characters should be, but in practice, I just wasn't fully realizing them. But acting is like a muscle and I know I just have to keep working at it and practicing and getting out there. And hopefully I'll be like Rocky soon enough. Or whatever athlete is appropriate in this analogy.
Oh and one person who helped me get my acting muscles working again was Leslie Meisel. She is an AMAZING actress at UCB Theatre and an equally amazing coach. She helped me go from merely reading words outloud from a script to creating fleshed out, truthful characters. And she helped me break the script into beats and figure out what the character wanted in those moments. I think it's really helpful to work out comedic pieces with a theater approach because you wanna play it as truthfully as possible and avoid being a one note, cartoon character. And I think the best advice she gave me was to just go for it and commit. Are you gonna play a ghetto character who loves to go clubbing? Then COMMIT. That's why I wore a weave. Also, if you guys are ever looking for a good comedy acting coach, see Leslie!
But I felt good about last night's show. I didn't wanna tell people to come because I was nervous about sucking but I think it's good to have people who believe in what you do. I actually didn't invite my boyfriend because the thought of performing in front of him stresses me out. The man teaches and performs comedy for a living. Not trying to have him see me perform!
Anyway, last night was so fun and that's all that matters. It wasn't by any means perfect but I know I can do better and that motivates me to keep trying. And I can feel myself getting more comfortable with performing the more I do it. But if you guys have any other tips on being more confident on stage please let me know!
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