#1
Posted: 8/25/08 at 1:16pm
Do you get really self-conscious while acting because you're in front of people or what? If not, how do you break the self-consciousness?
Are you aware of the audience when you're acting?
#2
Posted: 8/25/08 at 2:07pm
Well, it's a lot easier to be less aware of the audience when you're in a straight play...and don't have to smile cheesily out into the audience while doing kicklines and whatnot. =P
Otherwise...you just gotta get over it, I guess.
In straight plays, it's no problem for me. I've only had a semi-problem once or so with a musical.
Otherwise...you just gotta get over it, I guess.
In straight plays, it's no problem for me. I've only had a semi-problem once or so with a musical.
#3
Posted: 8/25/08 at 6:53pm
Only when my friends call me before the show and are like "I'M COMING TONIGHT..LAWLAWLLAWL".
That screws me up a little.
That screws me up a little.
#4
Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:22pm
Only whenever I get a big reaction from a line, or something else that generates audience noise. And whenever that happens, I just pretend that they're just voices inside of my head that don't really exist and continue with the scene.
#5
Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:46pm
That's funny, because I realized this summer when I was in a show that I NEVER hear audience laughter on stage. I always walk off and I'm like "I GOT NO LAUGHS...." and someone will usually be like "yes...you did..."
#6
Posted: 8/26/08 at 11:33am
Of course. A live audience is a huge aspect of live theatre. While I act for my own enjoyment, and try my best to be truthful to whatever peice I do, I still have to take the audience into consideration otherwise I'm just being self-indulgent. We wouldn't put on plays if we didn't want the audience to get something out of it. It is easier to forget the audience is present when I'm in a drama as opposed to a comedy or musical, but I am always aware there are people watching me. Even in film you're going to have a live audience to some degree. Producers, directors, writers, camera men, are ALL going to be on set. It's just something you need to get used to. Having an audience shouldn't make you self-concious. Having NO audience should.
Updated On: 8/26/08 at 11:33 AM
#7
Posted: 9/1/08 at 5:45pm
There may be small moments when I'm acting that I'm actually aware that there are people staring at me, but other than those moments, not really.
"You have two kinds of shows on Broadway – revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion King a year in advance, and essentially a family... pass on to their children the idea that that's what the theater is – a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theater at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar.... I don't think the theatre will die per se, but it's never going to be what it was.... It's a tourist attraction." Stephen Sondheim
#8
Posted: 9/1/08 at 11:27pm
I've only had one truly bad experience with audience nervousness, and that was when the person I truly looked up to at the time was in the audience. I was completely out of breath because I had to run across the stage and fight to get the mic to the right height, and add that to my nerves, and I was almost crying. it was awful.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I?
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
#9
Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:42am
In every school or theatre I've performed at, the stage lights have been so bright that I can't see the audience at all, but I have to admit, I really am conscious of the audience. I'm a much better performer when there are more people there, especially people whose opinions matter to me, because I'm an insufferable show-off. So if I'm auditioning in front of the people I'm up against, I tend to do a lot better than if I'm just auditioning for the director.
I was in one show that only had six performances, and my friend, who I'll call Crawford (that's not his real name, I just think it's a hilarious name) told me he'd come to my second-to-last performance. I was really excited because I don't get to see Crawford very often, and I think he's a great performer, and knowing he was in the audience, I did the best show I've done in my life. I was basically performing to him. When I bowed, I got a lot more applause and cheers than at any other show, so I assumed it was Crawford cheering.
Well, I get home and there's a message on the answering machine from Crawford saying he couldn't make it and he'd be at the next day's show instead. I guess Crawford is my equivalent of Dumbo's feather.
I was in one show that only had six performances, and my friend, who I'll call Crawford (that's not his real name, I just think it's a hilarious name) told me he'd come to my second-to-last performance. I was really excited because I don't get to see Crawford very often, and I think he's a great performer, and knowing he was in the audience, I did the best show I've done in my life. I was basically performing to him. When I bowed, I got a lot more applause and cheers than at any other show, so I assumed it was Crawford cheering.
Well, I get home and there's a message on the answering machine from Crawford saying he couldn't make it and he'd be at the next day's show instead. I guess Crawford is my equivalent of Dumbo's feather.
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy
#10
Posted: 9/14/08 at 6:03pm
is it weird that the audience is my favorite part?? i try to be 100% aware of the audience, and i LOVE when they laugh/respond. I'm much better with an audience than in rehearsal....
thats just for acting since i'm very comfortable with it, or musicals where i don't have a big song to sing solo
since i'm not am amazing singer, but i still get singing leads sometimes, then i'm nervous since i don't think i'm that good, but i think i'm still better WITH an audience
thats just for acting since i'm very comfortable with it, or musicals where i don't have a big song to sing solo
since i'm not am amazing singer, but i still get singing leads sometimes, then i'm nervous since i don't think i'm that good, but i think i'm still better WITH an audience
#11
Posted: 9/14/08 at 9:55pm
The lights are way too bright for me to see anything!!
#12
Posted: 9/14/08 at 11:08pm
Well i'm sure i will be in the show i'm working on right now since the audience is going to be sitting throughout the set.
"I'll show you a laughgasm. I'll gasm all over this stage!"
"Interesting choice"
"Interesting choice"
#13
Posted: 9/15/08 at 10:37am
I think it depends. I did High School Musical here in Fl. We were the smallest highschool to ever do it. We had the MTI honchos and the writers come to see us. (I've got pics somewhere) So that incident, when you know they have set a standard for what they paid you, you are undoubtly aware. But I think in other shows, when you know they love it, no. I.e. Grease. And usually, the lights are so bright I can't see crap!
#14
Posted: 9/21/08 at 5:28pm
i just really become the character entirely. if they would be nervous then be nervous. it will actually make you look better and more believable if you ahve a terrified look on your face. And if youre supposed to be proud just think "they came to see me stun them!" and just help boost your confidence. and the lights are too bright to see anything anyway.
#15
Posted: 9/22/08 at 10:06pm
If I'm doing a play I really don't notice. Obviously when something is funny then you work with the audience and get them to laugh. Some plays you are more connected to the audience than others. In musicals I always feel the audience.
#16
Posted: 11/9/08 at 4:50am
I actually do better with an audience. I literally just closed our production of Sly Fox tonight. I was Ms. Fancy, and I was really self-conscience in rehearsals. But once I got in front of an audience, I tend to be more risky with my roles, because I play for the audience and for the laughs, so it comes a lot easier! But I do admit, it sucks when you look out into the audience briefly and see someone you know.
Dancing through life...
For the next ten minutes
#17
Posted: 11/9/08 at 9:45am
I always take off my glasses and I can see basically across stage the pit and everything else is pretty blurry and the lights help with that. I also remember I am a character not myself so who cares how my friends or family think I look I am the charecter I am playing.
#18
Posted: 11/9/08 at 5:41pm
I agree with Juliash
Or especially if my family is there, its distracting. I usually find my family early so I can avoid them
Or especially if my family is there, its distracting. I usually find my family early so I can avoid them
"I told you, NO Rodgers and Hammerstein!"- Bart Simpson
#19
Posted: 11/10/08 at 12:57am
My parents have this uncanny ability to screw with my head. Partly because I know they don't enjoy seeing shows. Even if i'm in the smallest role I'm a nervous wreck if I know they're in the audience.
"I'll show you a laughgasm. I'll gasm all over this stage!"
"Interesting choice"
"Interesting choice"
#20
Posted: 11/16/08 at 7:55pm
This is actually a very interesting topic, because there are a few different schools of thought to it. The first thought is that you should be so "in the moment" that you don't notice the audience. But that seems a little ridiculous to me. If you are completely unaware of the audience, then you are forgetting why we are up on that stage in the first place, right?
Schools for Theatre
Schools for Theatre
#21
Posted: 11/17/08 at 5:31am
I say stay aware of the audience and harbor that nervous energy and work with it. A live audience is one of the few things that defines theatre from movies and (most) television shows, a world of theatre actors that are unaware of the fact that there's an audience right there is the sort of thing that threatens to be the nail in the coffin of legitimate theatre. (imho)
So, yes, I'm aware of the audience and I don't really try to fight it.
So, yes, I'm aware of the audience and I don't really try to fight it.
Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.
-John Patrick Shanley
#22
Posted: 11/18/08 at 12:31am
I doused our "pseudo" audience with water accidentally at our crew watch last night. Needless to say i'm a little more aware of them now.
"I'll show you a laughgasm. I'll gasm all over this stage!"
"Interesting choice"
"Interesting choice"
#23
Posted: 11/19/08 at 7:45pm
lol.
I cant stop staring at the video thing to the right withrosie o donnell on it. She needs to take care of that freaking neck fat!
I cant stop staring at the video thing to the right withrosie o donnell on it. She needs to take care of that freaking neck fat!
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