Hitting an emotional wall?

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Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 7:52pm

Hello, I am performing "Losing My Mind" tomorrow, but I seem to have hit a "Wall". Last week, I felt as if I OWNED the song, everything came from my gut, and my voice teacher said it was the best thing I've ever done. Ever since then I've been trying to get that sort of connectivity and focus again, but I can't seem to do it. I've been playing it more angry, which isn't right for the song as it's about disappointment and hurt, as well as a nostalgic and bittersweet, almost like a reverie that they can't wake up from.
Do any of you have ANY tips on this? I really want to have a good performance and give it my all. This performance is also special as it's in honor of a local performing arts patron and teacher, who started a school for the performing arts and has received acclaim, so I really want to be able to honor him a good way. Thank you all so much in advance.

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 7:58pm

I'm not an actor or an actor's coach, but sometimes it helps to rehearse a number differently than you intend to perform it. Try it scared, crazy, defiant, sarcastic, comic, etc.

You may (a) discover new things in the material, but more importantly (b) find you are able to return to the song with a fresh outlook.

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 8:24pm

Substitution usually works for me. Think of someone who's hurt you in the way Sally has been hurt, and sing as if you were talking to them. I know it's a lot easier said than done.

I know you. I know you. I know you.

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 8:28pm

The thing is, I DO have someone whom I think of as Sally thinks of Ben. The whole thing git to the point where I'm kind of ashamed of it and I try NOT to think about him, but it doesn't work. I know it sounds as though this IS the character of Sally, but I can't figure out how to sing to HIM, even if I'm performing it basically to HIM literally (I'm not looking right at him, but I can see him in the corner of me eye). It's as though my body won't let me feel the full extent of my feelings when I sing, although they come alive a lot more when I'm alone and have nothing else to occupy my time.

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 8:34pm

I agree with Gaveston. Whenever my coach sees me "hitting a wall" or getting into an inappropriate routine with a piece, she has me perform it completely outlandishly. Something that you would never do in performance, such as rolling on the floor and jumping around and playing it with complete "wrong" intentions can really open the piece back up (at least in my experience).

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 8:53pm

Read the text aloud, as if it were meant to be spoken. Read it as a poem. Then immediately have the piano come in, and sing it. Don't over think it when you sing it. Just mean the words. Be honest and true to each word, each sentence. The emotion will come if you're being true to the text. Don't analyze too much... Simplicity is key.

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 9:11pm

Be a Jedi. Don't over think it. You know the song perfectly. Just let the emotion flow through you as you sing it. Sing the words, but also SAY them- think about what you're singing and the emotion will follow.

Good luck!!

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 9:25pm

"it's about disappointment and hurt, as well as a nostalgic and bittersweet"

Aren't you disappointed and hurt that you can't remember what you were onto before? (nostalgia) And won't performing it be bittersweet? That's what I infer from your post. Let all that in. Really take in the stakes about how you feel about this performance, and use that. Not only is it appropriate in this sense, but it's all you can do truthfully.

If you tap into how you feel and dig deeper into what you said then you'll realize that you're already feeling the things that you say the song needs. You have to get over yourself, and trying to be the character. Add yourself to the work.

Updated On: 5/31/13 at 09:25 PM

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 9:26pm

duplicate post (below)

Updated On: 5/31/13 at 09:26 PM

#10

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 9:26pm

Don't play/reach for/plan the emotion. Play the action/objective.

BELIEVE/TRUST that If you commit to the action then the emotional truth will be there.

Finally, don't try to replicate the qualities of your most successful/gratifying performance. Just play the action you have committed to. Different things may come up for you each time you do the song and different qualities may be expressed. Don't plan those things or try to reproduce them. Just play the action.

#11

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:19pm

I've sung this song in the past and it is tough. It's hard to be so emotionally naked. You'd be surprised how much you might improve once you get out there in front of the audience. At least when I get an audience in front of me, the truth just flows out. I can't control it. Everything I've been worrying about disappears.

I always second guess myself if I have a performance/rehearsal where it's just not coming naturally. This is typical of all performers. The best you can do is just realize you've got what it takes and just let the words flow through you. I can't stress the importance of just re-reading the lyrics over and over again. Especially with this song, which seems so simplistic.

#12

Hitting an emotional wall?

Posted: 6/1/13 at 1:42am

As Sondheim himself said many times, "Just trust the words."

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