Blog Post #99 - The Many Faces and Moods of Performing

         As performers, whether actors, speakers, or singers, it is a NECESSITY to be able to communicate a LOT, a PLETHORA of different emotions, moods, and “feelings”. Those “entertainers” who sing or speak utilizing only one volume, positioning their arms the same way throughout each piece, maintaining the identical demeanor during every single performance are BORING, monotonous, and, honestly, failures. I’m sorry, but your JOB as a performer to take your audience, whether one person or one million, on a journey. This journey SHOULD be an “adventure” of sorts that helps or allows an audience member to follow YOU through an experience to some kind of encouraging, hopeful conclusion. People’s lives, are MOSTLY about routine and even struggle and stress. When they come out to hear and see a show of any kind, they want to be lifted beyond their daily lives, perhaps taken to a place of their dreams. This could be anything from a wonderful love story to an up-beat and up-lifting dance song that brings folks to their feet. Below, I’m going to do my best to explain the variations that make these expressions so distinct.

·      Exhausted – drained of energy and strength, used up or empty, extremely tired or fatigued

·      Confused – having no understanding of a given subject; bewildered or disconcerted

·      Ecstatic – overpowering joy

·      Guilty – appearing or showing that a person has committed a crime or done something else wrong

·      Suspicious – depicting questionable or mysterious behavior

·      Angry – being extremely enraged

·      Hysterical – acting radically and uncontrollably emotional

·      Frustrated – displaying great confusion, dissatisfaction, and/or annoyance

·      Sad – showing unhappiness. Disappointment, or regret

·      Embarrassed – being uncomfortable and showing that discomfort in a social situation

·      Disgusted – showing offense or being sickened by something

·      Confident – exhibiting certainty, self-assurance, or a very positive outlook

·      Happy – being cheerful or delighted with a situation or circumstance

·      Mischievous – exhibiting playful, devilish expressions

·      Frightened – showing fear for something or someone

·      Shy – appearing bashful, quiet, and/or circumspect in a situation

·      Shocked – appearing aghast, astonished, and/or amazed

·      Enraged – very angry; furious

·      Cautious – appearing to be careful, circumspect, or guarded

·      Depressed – exhibiting despondency, being morose, and discouragement

·      Ashamed – showing regret, remorse, and/or shame

·      Overwhelmed – being overcome or overpowered

·      Anxious – showing worry, concern, and apprehension

·      Jealous – exhibiting possessive or un-healthy anxiety toward something or someone

·      Hopeful – showing optimism, being eager and enthusiastic

·      Bored – looking and/or feeling uninterested, detached, and uninvolved

·      Surprised – appearing as if you are taken off-guard or startled

·      Lovestruck – exhibiting the qualities of being “Smitten” with someone

·      Lonely – despondency of being solitary or without companionship

·      Smug – overly confident of your own opinion or conceited

You’ve got your work cut out for you with all these emotions. My BEST advice is to PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A MIRROR!!! As I always tell my students, what YOU see when you work in front of a mirror is EXACTLY what your audience sees. If you are “playing with your hair” too much; you will see yourself doing it, so you can correct it. If you are “shifting back and forth between your two feet”, you should be able to see yourself constantly moving back and forth across the mirror. Also, really important, though, you need to CATCH YOURSELF if you are “furrowing your brow”, “lifting one brow or the other on HIGH notes”, or WORST OF ALL, using NO EXPRESSION WHATSOEVER! A mirror can be ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS! Don’t listen to anyone who teases you or criticizes you for practicing in front of a mirror. There is NO BETTER “Practice Partner” and it’s FREE; almost every bathroom has one! You should have a DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT look for each of the above expressions and emotions. Once you’ve practiced with your Mirror Partner, move on to practice with a sibling, another family member, and/or a friend. Think of your performance as a REGULAR, PAYING JOB. IF and when it is, these qualities will be even MORE crucial. If you treat every aspect of your performance “Tools” as ESSENTIAL, serious, and nothing to be embarrassed about, you will be much more likely to approach each component of those Tools as critical to your success. If you were in a play, which called for you to FLY, and wear Fairy Wings (you’d have to be pretty secure, is you were a male, for one thing), you would INSIST upon rehearsing multiple times in your costume, and your Flying Rig. Working on facial and whole body emotional expressions is NO DIFFERENT; without these elements, your performance is not complete and WON’T be GOOD! Neither of us want that!

Thank you for reading this; I HOPE you’ll put it into practice, as well. PLEASE send me any and all of your comments and questions. I SO appreciate each and every one of you! As always, if you have any questions about my lessons OR me, check out my website at www.SingitForward.net. This is Blog Post #99! Be on the lookout for #100 very soon! Till then, Sing it Forward!