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| East Farndon Church |
One of my actor friends uses his daily walk to practise his lines, declaiming loudly to the birds and bees and no doubt bemusing any passers-by. When I first moved to London I joined a drama group as a way of making new friends, but I was never comfortable on stage, and I'm envious of those people who have a natural ease as performers. My mum has it, but I don't seem to have inherited it.
In reply to a comment left on the 'Under the Fable' blog, author Andy Gibney tells me that reading in public is easy: 'You just have to have faith in yourself and your words.' That's all there is to it, apparently. I've written some monologues that one day I'd like to share with the world, but for now they lie filed away.
What are your experiences of performing at spoken word events?
I'm not bad at speaking in public, but would love to hear your monologues some day!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could give me training, Elaine.
DeleteI love a bit of karaoke, but then you're sort of hiding behind the person that you're impersonating; and a bit of ale helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim, but it's a fine line between Dutch courage and slurred words.
ReplyDeleteI've done some acting on and off over my life and while I absolutely LOVED it I can't say I ever did it without A LOT of preparation (thus reciting one's lines everyday while out for a constitutional is an excellent way to hone your skills). I'd say start with one of two folks who you know love you unconditionally and then make your way to bigger endeavors as you get more practice with it. If you really want it though, do it. The fears we overcome are the greatest lessons we can learn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice, Beverly. I'll let you know if I ever pluck up the courage to take to the stage.
Deletewell that sounds like a great advice. I am not one for talking in front of a crowd, but I guess that advice also could be taken to heart by a writer? Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI just don't think I'm ready to perform, Claudia - but what this space: you never know!
DeleteOh, you've made me cringe, Julia. When the children were young, I used to go along to the local church, to get them an idea of how it goes. The vicar pounced and asked, 'Would you like to do a reading next week, we're stuck and got nobody else' That's because nobody else would do it, I discovered later. So I practiced the piece aloud, and learned it off by heart. That one that goes, "I'm not a clanging gong" etc. But everytime I read that bit, I though, well, I am going on like this.. and wanted to laugh. It was easy..ish because I learned it word for word, but as soon as possible, I dropped out of it. I'm more of a chatter natter box than a public speaker.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, Susan.
ReplyDelete