Talent: Born with or Grows
Talent: Born with or Grows
#0Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 7:37pm
Kinda weird question, may seem very obvious.
This really is bothering me. I have been working on my performing/acting skills for years, and I seem to be improving however so many people I know seem to supass me with talent without any effort at all.
It takes me a long time to read a passage in the form of a character and be convincing, many people I know can whip out lines perfectly without any practice at all.
Do you think someone who is not born with natural acting/performing talent be able to be as good as someone who is born with acting/performing talent?
#1re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 7:39pm
I think that, as cliche as it may sound, some is born with talent, and others are not. Those who are born with natural talent have to work less to achieve their goals, but those who aren't, who still dream big, have to work twice as hard to obtain the same achievements as those who have god-given talent...
at least, that's my look on it...
and eponine, i am EXACTLY like you...just keep working hard, and that's all you can do! :)
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
#2re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:13pmI agree. I think that all talent has to be shaped and honed somewhat, but some people may have an easier time of it..IE, a soprano has an easier time hitting a "C" than an alto, but if an alto works really hard to develop her voice, then that person may be able to reach a "c'...does that make sense?
#3re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:15pmI think it's something people are born with, but it can be improved with practice. And of course, some people are born with more talent than others, just as some people are more athletic or more artistic. For example, take this guy I went to high school with. He started out as wooden as you can be (a fellow actor said he had "the stage presence of half a Saltine"). But he worked at it and by the time high school was over, he had improved a lot. Hope that helps!
#4re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:22pm
A good study of this question is the woman who played Golde in the staged reading of FIDDLER that I did recently. She hadn't performed since high school, close to 40 years ago, when she was cast as Adelaide in a production of GUYS AND DOLLS in 2002 (same company that did our FIDDLER). She knows nothing about acting or singing technique, can't read a note of music...but has a wonderful, powerful, consistent singing voice, completely inhabits any character she takes on, and has a charisma that extends to the back of the house. That's natural talent.
I have natural singing talent, but I've worked hard over the years to stretch and improve it.
broadway andi rose
Swing Joined: 12/22/04
#5re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:32pm
I belive that "talents" can be improved upon with lessons but that doesn't mean that you will reach "star quality". However, I know that stage presence is a gift from God at birth.
God has blessed me with stage presence and quite a nice voice but yet my voice is not as wonderful as the Broadway voices. However, I know I would be an asset in the chorus....singers who move well. One of the days....watch out Broadway! lol
Andi Rose
andirose0@yahoo.com
#6re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:37pmYou're born with talent. It can obviously grow and blossom, but you can't be born talentless, then pay thousands of dollars for lessons and suddenly be talented. Isn't the definition of talent something that you have naturally? Or would that just be a natural talent? I don't know, but it's something you're born with instinctively. Atleast to me.
#7re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:34pmMaybe I'm just doubting myself cause I keep getting called back but never get the part...
#8re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:38pmI was born with natural talent for singing and music but unfortunately, I have to work really hard at acting and my dancing is hopeless. But I know other people with the reverse talent, so I think you're born with talent but you can manufacture it.
#9re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:03am
"Talent!...Where does talent come from? Is it a product of environment, something you pick up off the steet? Or is talent something you're born with, something passed down from generation to generation, something in the blood? I wonder...."
~ Ruthless! The Musical
Those are the opening lines.
I think talent is something that you have, but must be nurtured. Some people just come out of the womb and have that quality - but not many. Me? I'm vocally talented. And I'm learning how to dance (emphasis on learning). But I can't act. I have no talent. So no nurturing will help. Good thing I know, and don't think I can get to be on Broadway!
judy_in_disguise
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/31/04
#10re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 8:31am
andi rose, i'm with you.
I've always believed that you're born with stage prescene. You can't force it. You can try, but when it comes right down to it, it's only the naturals who can captivate an audience.
As for singing and dancing, it depends largely on how your body and vocal structures are built. There's not much you can do. It's what distinguishes a soprano from an alto, and it's why one person may take to ballet but be horrible at hip hop.
There's a lot to be said for working hard though. I'm lucky because I've had it relatively easy so far. I've been training since I was literally two and a half but it's never been difficult for me. I have a friend who isn't as strong in the three areas of her talent but works so incredibly hard, I've never seen such dedication. And we're always trading off roles, I'll get the lead in one show and she'll get it in the next.
So yes, you're born with talent. But for those lacking in the God-given department, willpower and perserverance will go a long way.
Unless you're tone deaf. Then there's no hope 
.
#11re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 8:35amI believe you are born with it inside of you. That does not mean it shows itself right away. Some people, including me, have to work harder for it to sruface. Others understand their talents better so it surfaces more quickly.
#12re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:15am
Personally - I believe that you are either born with it or you are not. You can certainly improve on your technique - but the basic inherent talent must be there to begin with. Some say that anyone can learn to act, but if they are not born with talent, I don't believe they'll ever learn to act WELL.
Thats just a personal opinion based on many years in the business and observing coutless thousands of other performers in their search for improvement over the years.
#13re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:24am
I ditto redhot. Folks are born with it, some are not -- but the care of it is up to YOU.
Things have always come easier to me, performing-wise, piano-playing-wise, than to other people. I wouldn't have to work nearly as hard as other folks. But I was never arrogant about it -- it was just a part of who I was. Conversely, I absolutely struggle with all things mathematical, while other folks can sail right through balancing their checkbook.
My older brother was the athlete of the century -- basketball, mainly. Very talented athlete. I was the "artsy" one, and absolutely refused to do anything with sports during my school years. It didn't interest me, and truth be told, I think I tried to distance myself from him and his "greatness".
Fast forward to when I was about 30. I went over to some friends' house, and their teenage sons were playing basketball. I walked up and spoke to them, and they threw me the ball and said come join us (I'm 6'4", so the assumption is that I played basketball at some point). I joined in the game, and found -- to my great SURPRISE -- that I was good. I could maneuver, I could shoot, I could sink baskets. To me it was like dance -- all in the coordination. No one was more surprised than I was, and it made me realize that we all have hidden talents -- ones that we don't know that we have. And is the desire to do it part of having a "talent"? I think so. Very interesting re: the untapped potential in all of us -- even for something negligible like playing basketball.
[Wow, that was a weird, esoteric post]
#14re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:31am...but very well said!
#17re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:34pmLF! I won't hear you talking that way.
#18re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:47pm
Talentless hack is how I feel sometimes. It's alright, I still try.
I am by no means giving up...
#19re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:49pm
Eponine--how old are ya?
Sometimes, one's talents just don't come into focus until their 20s. And the voice doesn't reach its maturity until your 30s.
#20re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:49pmYou've proven that you're not a talentless hack, LF. Stop that now.
laactress
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/7/04
#21re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:07pmI agree with Redhot and I also believe that everyone has something they can do well, weather it be sining, or acting or photographing well, and then all you need to do is improve the other things you are not so good at and it will eventually all come together. Just be positive about it and good things will come your way!
#22re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 5:51pmAnd then there's people like laactress, who are talented, and are just amazing people as well!
#23re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:54pmi think that people can work on skills and become amazing, but i truly believe that there are people that are just born with an incredible stage presence. they are those people that you just can't take your eyes off of when they're on stage. some people can eventually aquire that, but some seem to be lucky enough to just have it.
#24re: Talent: Born with or Grows
Posted: 2/9/05 at 8:40amHave to be born with the potential for example if you have a voice that makes people cringe by your talking, your voice, no matter how techniqually trained....might not be able to be "saved". But if you are born with a decent voice and you are motivated enough, I think that through training a voice can get better, you can't make a voice great if it wasn't great though
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