The title of this post may have you thinking "what the hell...?" -- but I promise you, this isn't about morbid or emo thought patterns for the jaded. This is about conducting ourselves as professionals, especially in a field like acting, where emotion is the stock and trade. This is about getting the job done (and getting it done well) in spite of ego, how we feel about the parts we're playing, whether the job will pay the rent, or how much or little talent the person opposite us has.

Nobody in the audience cares how we feel about these things. Nobody in the audience cares about actors one way or the other -- except for how well we show ourselves in the parts that we're playing. They expect us to be nothing less than the person we are committing ourselves to portray. For them, not us.

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Little things often affect what we do in large ways. It's not because they have any innate power of their own, or even that they (often) combine to shake the earth that you walk on. It’s because small things are always indicative of larger works in progress, and we are actively looking for those indications. They resonate with us.

Take, for example, a previously happy married couple who are now bitterly angry over backward toilet paper rolls and improperly squeezed toothpaste. Are these things truly the cause of their unhappiness with each other, or are they simply indicators that show a larger lack of respect for each other's feelings, and an inability to effectively communicate?

What about that small twitch of the mouth or subtle way of moving that seems to signify a character? Obviously, the affectation doesn't really define that character -- there's no detail there, no meat -- but it is a strong indication of who he is and what he's about. There’s a story there, and it gives us gut feeling about what to expect from that person; it makes us want to know more. The simple fact that the quirk stands out hits our body language translators like a fist, turning that small, potentially insignificant thing into a beacon that can make for a truly electrifying performance.

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One of your most precious resources as an actor, singer, or presenter is your voice. It must be protected at all costs, and properly maintained -- otherwise, you may find yourself taking a backseat to your understudy, or worse, unable to properly connect with your audience. Like any other part of your body, the voice can be devastated by improper and extended use, and it is often the most natural of activities, like talking, that will cause the most strain. 

To make sure you are always able to get the most out of your voice, follow the principles and techniques below. 

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In the Owning the Stage series, our aim is to bring you tips, tricks, and techniques that will help you to increase your confidence, power, and presence when performing. The very best tips, however, are the ones that can be applied not only to theatre performances or presentations, but to life in general. After all, when Shakespeare wrote the famous line "All the world's a stage," various versions of the phrase, all with the same meaning and connotations, had already seen wide use. We are all actors, presenting a different face or aspect of ourselves to different people, and are often put into positions where we need to perform for fun, profit, or necessity. We strive to put forth the best face that we can, and there has been many a self-help book written to help us do just that.

All we really need, though, is a few acting lessons and the willingness to broaden our scope of vision, applying the transferable skills we learn there to increase our confidence, ability to articulate, and overall performance in life, the theatre, and everything. In this particular instalment of Owning the Stage, we address how to keep your audience listening, especially in the face of lengthy monologues and speeches -- such as the one you just read...

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Confidence is a lot of smoke and mirrors when it comes right down to it. Everyone gets nervous. Everyone cares, at least to some degree, about what others think; how others see them -- especially when performing something that is truly important to them. When you see someone on stage, in the midst of the performance of their life, you can make a safe bet that person is -- or at least was -- afraid. It's entirely natural, and the best performers are no less human than you are.

How do they do it, then? How do they appear so calm, so cool? How, exactly, is it that they can command such attention from their audience, captivating them sometimes to the point of awe? Can it be learned? Is there some sort of trick to it?

The answer to both questions is yes -- and where tricks are concerned, there are many. Here are five of the most important of them:

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In so many ways, the stage is a microcosm of life. Things are amplified there, which is why even the most seemingly confident person can drown in their own insecurities. Stage fright -- also known as performance anxiety -- is one of the most common conditions in our society. It can be utterly debilitating, and can occur outside of traditional theatre, in any situation that requires you to give something personal of yourself in front of others.

Here are a few tips to help you deal with stage fright:

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